SAINTS FALL TO ROCHESTER 19-18

Sept. 30: The Saints fell to 2-2 and 0-1 in the Liberty League after getting outlasted by Rochester 19-18. The Yellowjackets jumped out to a 7-0 lead after a 12 play, 78 yard drive capped off by a six yard touchdwon run by running back Matt Beliecki.

 

The Saints tightened the Yellowjackets margin in the closing minutes of the first half. St. Lawrence marched 84 yards in 16 plays, finishing the drive with a 10 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Matt Bezio to tight end Brett Young. After a failed PAT, the Saints pulled within a 7-6 margin going into halftime.

 

The Saints had the ball to start the second half, but were unable to get a first down and were forced to punt. A strong special teams play however, put the ball back into the Saints hands. The Yellowjackets fumbled the punt return and the Saints recovered at the Rochester 40 yard line. One play later, Bezio tossed the ball to wide receiver Mike O'Donnell behind the line of scrimmage. O'Donnell threw a perfect 40 yard pass to a Connor Hackett, who was wide open downfield. Despite a failed two-point conversion, the Saints took a 12-7 lead with 12 minutes left in third quarter.

 

Rochester responded quickly, scoring on a seven play, 57 yard drive engineered by running back Matt Beliecki, who scored on a one yard touchdown run. That gave the Yellowjackets a 13-12 lead with eight and a half minutes left in the game.

 

Their lead did not last long. Led by freshman running back Josh Izzo, who carried the ball 11 times, caught two passes and rushed for a 12 yard touchdown run on the 14 play drive, the Saints took an 18-13 lead into the fourth quarter.

 

Both teams traded possessions in the last 15 minutes of the game, unable to muster any offense. Rochester finally got some momentum in the last five minutes of the game, putting together a game-winning scoring drive. Led by back-up quarterback Aaron Molisani, who passed for 42 yards and rushed for 15 yards and a touchdown on the drive, the Yellowjackets scored with just 41 seconds left on the clock. A failed two-point conversion gave Rochester a 19-18 lead and the Saints little time to rally.

 

Forty-one seconds was not enough for the Saints to drive down the field and St. Lawrence fell to Rochester 19-18, moving to 2-2 on the season.