SCOUTING THE ENGINEERS: Rensselaer, the top-seeded team in the East bracket of the NCAA playoffs, is looking for the program's first NCAA playoff win (the Engineers lost to Rowan in 1999). Sophomore quarterback Dan Cole has thrown for 2,156 yards and 18 touchdowns in eight games, completing 150 of 235 passes and tossing only seven interceptions. His 292.4 ypg of total offense ranks 16th nationally. Junior Evan Cochran (53 catches, eight touchdowns, 14.4 yards per catch) and senior Kevin Siska (51 catches, nine TD's, 18.8 yards per catch) lead the team's receivers, with Siska ranking seventh nationally with 119.9 receiving yards per game. Defensively, senior linebacker Marc Blevins averages 10.3 tackles per game and has recovered six fumbles. Defensive linemen John Menjik (49 total tackles), Tim Westcott (29) and Ramses Jiminez (28) have each recorded at least 10 tackles for loss. Westcott owns eight sacks. The Engineers own Division III's third-best turnover margin (averaging + 2.25 per game) and have intercepted 21 passes, with senior Chris Speck (six, good for ninth nationally) and sophomore Jai Echols (four) leading the way. They have broken up 13 and 12 passes, respectively. Junior Chris Comisky averages 37.1 yards per punt and junior Jim Sears ranks 21st nationally with a kickoff return average of 25.7.

LAST WEEK: Senior running back Dave Maddi (Seton Catholic/Binghamton) scored three touchdowns as the Bombers upset host Montclair State in the first round of the NCAA playoffs. Senior quarterback Greg Sheeler (Gloversville/Gloversville) came off the bench in relief of an injured Brian Young (Hornell/Almond) and threw for a career-high 129 yards. Ithaca scored on five of its six first-half possessions and held the Red Hawks to minus 34 yards rushing.

OFFENSIVE RECAP: Maddi rushed for 134 yards on a career-high 25 carries and also posted career-best totals of four catches for 72 yards. He scored Ithaca's first two touchdowns, capping the Bombers' 14-play, 68-yard drive that ate up the first 7:41 of the game by scoring on a three-yard run. On Ithaca's next possession he caught a 14-yard pass from Young. Maddi also scored on a 56-yard run. Young, who left the game twice with injuries (once after the game's second play and again after the Bombers' first drive of the second quarter) took just 20 snaps. He threw for 72 yards, completing five of seven passes. Sheeler, who had taken just 71 of a possible 721 snaps during the regular season, posted career-high totals of 23 attempts, 13 completions and 129 yards and led Ithaca on three scoring drives. He threw a two-yard touchdown pass to senior tight end Cory Corrado (Seton Catholic/Bridgton Academy [Maine]/Plattsburgh) with 24 seconds left in the first half, capping a seven-play, 67-yard drive that began with 2:08 left in the second quarter. Senior tight end Conor Mulkeen (Pittsford-Mendon/Pittsford) and senior wide receiver Mike Marks (Elmira Southside/Pine City) each caught four passes. Sophomore wide receiver Peter McCaffrey (Ithaca/Ithaca) matched his career-high with three receptions. Senior fullback Kyle Tedeschi (McQuaid Academy/Fairport) rushed for a career-best 58 yards on nine carries. He scored on a one-yard run on a fourth and goal play in the second quarter.

DEFENSIVE NOTES: Sophomore cornerback Seth Molisani (Canandaigua Academy/Canandaigua) led Ithaca with a career-best eight tackles, including six solo stops. Senior linebacker Mark McDonough (Liberty Corner/Ridge, N.J.) collected six tackles and broke up a pair of passes. Freshman Jeffrey Welch (Ithaca/Ithaca), a wide receiver pressed into the first defensive duty of his career because of injuries in Ithaca's secondary, played nickel back on passing downs and recorded five tackles (four solo). Senior defensive end TJ Jalbert (Bonny Eagle/Windham, Maine) batted down two passes and junior cornerback Justin Daly (Warwick Valley/Warwick) added two pass break-ups. Senior defensive tackles Matt Layton (Geneseo Central/Groveland) and Scott McVean (Penfield/Penfield) each had two tackles for loss, including a sack. Senior defensive end Justin Snyder (Northport/Northport), senior defensive tackle Dave Shaughnessy (LeRoy/Stafford) and junior defensive end Dan Puckhaber (St. Francis/Eden) each added a sack. Senior free safety Tim LaRoche (Oakmont Regional/Deerfield Academy/Westminster, Mass.) had a hand in two fourth-quarter turnovers: he intercepted a pass at the Ithaca 32 and forced a fumble that junior strong safety Tommy Kenney (Canandaigua Academy/Canandaigua) recovered at the Bomber 16.

SPECIAL TEAMS REPORT: Sophomore Chris Pride (Dansville/Dansville, Pa.) converted extra points after all five Ithaca touchdowns (he has never missed an extra-point attempt in his career, making 48 straight. He put three of his five kickoffs inside the Red Hawk 15-yard line. Sophomore Pete Celebre (Strath Haven/Wallingford, Pa.) collected three special teams tackles. McDonough, sophomore Peter Mayer (Hubbardsville/Hamilton) and Gavin Stackhouse (Spencer-Van Etten/Van Etten) each had two special teams tackles. Daly forced a fumble on a Montclair State kickoff return. Senior Tommy Giorgio (Sachem/Holtsville) returned kickoffs for the first time in his career and averaged 18.0 yards per return on three tries. Junior Brian Bicher (Montclair Kimberly Academy/Paramus, N.J.) punted six times, averaging 41.0 yards per punt.

ITHACA IN THE NCAA PLAYOFFS: The Bombers are making their 13th NCAA playoff appearance and playing in their 34th NCAA playoff game. The Bombers are now 24-9, winning national titles in 1979, 1988 and 1991. The 1974, 1975, 1980 and 1985 teams also played in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, with the 1986 team also reaching the NCAA semifinals. The only schools to play in more NCAA championships are Central [Iowa] and Mount Union (16 each) and Washington & Jefferson (14); St. John's [Minn.] is also making its 13th playoff trip. The Bombers have played in and won more NCAA playoff games than any school except Mount Union (29-7 in 36 games). The Bombers have won all seven of their NCAA playoff games on the road (winning at Dubuque, Wagner, Susquehanna, Plymouth State and twice at Union before last week's win at Montclair State). Ithaca now owns a record of 10-3 in first-round playoff games.

POSTSEASON RECORD BOOK: Ithaca set three school playoff records (encompassing NCAA and ECAC playoff competition) and tied another. The Bombers held Montclair State to minus 34 rushing yards on 13 rushing attempts; both figures topped marks posted by Montclair State in a 1985 NCAA playoff game at Ithaca (minus 20 yards on 14 attempts). The Bombers also set a school playoff record with four first downs by penalty and tied a record (set in a 31-10 win over Glassboro State on Nov. 21, 1991) with 18 pass completions.

POLL POSITION: Ithaca is ranked 19th in the latest American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) poll.

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: Ithaca's win over Cortland marked the final regular-season game for Ithaca's 23 seniors. The 28th straight class to appear in a playoff game, the group is making its third postseason trip (to go along with ECAC berths in 1998 and 1999) helping, the Bombers to a 33-10 record.

NATIONAL RANKING: In the latest national statistics released by the NCAA (through games of Nov. 10), freshman Matt Tosh (Abington Heights/Clarks Summit, Pa.) was tied for eighth in punt returns (averaging 16.8 yards per return) and junior Brian Bicher was tied for 26th in punting (38.0 yards per punt).
     As a team the Bombers were tied for sixth in total defense (222.0) and ranked eighth in pass efficiency defense (78.4), 16th in scoring defense (12.6 ppg), 19th in scoring offense (38.4 ypg) and 23rd in rushing offense (223.1 ypg).

WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS: Award winners for the Montclair State game, as chosen by the coaching staff, were Outstanding Back: Maddi; Outstanding Lineman: sophomore right tackle Tariq Ahmad (Holmdel/Holmdel, N.J.); Specialist of the Week: senior long-snapper Drew Davidson (Morristown/Morristown, N.J.); Hustler of the Week: Jeffrey Welch; Honorary Offensive Captain: Sheeler; and Honorary Defensive Captain: Daly. Play of the Game awards were given to Kenney, defense; and freshman Jamie Free (The Gunnery School/Brookfield, Conn.), special teams.

MAKING THE GRADE: Two Bombers have been named to the GTE District I College Division All-Academic Team: Jalbert and senior cornerback Anthony Melville (Binghamton/Binghamton). The District I All-Academic Team honors student-athletes with a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.20 from NCAA Division II and III and NAIA Division II schools in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont. First-team selections to the nation's eight all-district teams are now eligible for academic all-America honors.

RECORD WATCH: With 2,395 career rushing yards, senior running back Tommy Giorgio finished his career fourth on Ithaca's list (statistics from playoff games do not count toward single-season or career statistics). The seventh Bomber to rush for 2,000 career yards, Giorgio ranks second on Ithaca's career list with 540 carries, trailing only all-American fullback Jeff Wittman (586 from 1989 to 1992).
     With his 36 career rushing touchdowns Giorgio ranks second on Ithaca's career list. All-American Jeff Wittman rushed for a school-record 44 from 1989 to 1992. Giorgio raised his career total to 244 points, second to Wittman's school-record 270 points.
     Giorgio's 76 career receptions are 11th on Ithaca's all-time list and a school record for career catches by a running back.
     Junior wide receiver Mike Marks has caught 65 career passes, good for 14th on Ithaca's career list. He needs 12 receptions to move into the program's top 10.
     Senior quarterback Brian Young raised his career total to 4,949 career passing yards, second on Ithaca's career list. The program's third 4,000-yard passer, Young also ranks second in career total offense (5,227 yards), completions (401) and touchdown passes (49). Mike O'Donovan (1995-98) holds Ithaca's career records for passing yardage (5,379 yards), total offense (5,345 yards), completions (405) and touchdown passes (53).
     Senior quarterback Brian Young raised his career totals to school-record figures of 417 completions and 5.478 yards of total offense, passing former teammate Mike O'Donovan (405 completions and 5,379 yards of total offense from 1995 to 1998). Young finished his career second in passing yards (5,203), touchdown passes (50) and pass efficiency rating (127.6). O'Donovan holds Ithaca's career records for passing yardage (5,379 yards) and touchdown passes (53); Neil Weidman compiled a school-record pass efficiency rating of 132.4 from 1994 to 1996.
     Senior linebacker Mark McDonough raised his career total to 286 tackles, good for sixth place on Ithaca's all-time list. Against Cortland he passed All-American linebackers Joe Marra (269 tackles from 1984 to 1987) and Mike Sansone (282 from 1995 to 1998). McDonough's 103 tackles this fall is Ithaca's eighth-highest single-season total.
     Junior Brian Bicher has raised his career totals to 149 punts and 5,381 yards, extending his school records in both categories.
     Senior tight end Conor Mulkeen has 38 career catches, tied for third among Ithaca tight ends. His 14 career touchdown catches and his nine this season are both school records for Bomber tight ends.
     Senior placekicker Scott Hutz (Orchard Park/Orchard Park) finished his career with 50 points, tied for 10th among Ithaca kickers.
     Sophomore placekicker Chris Pride has scored 61 career points, good for eighth among Bomber placekickers. His 48 straight extra points is the second-longest streak by a Bomber, trailing only Seth Steinberg, who made a school-record 77 in a row between 1997 and 2000. Pride also ranks second on Ithaca's list of single-season extra points, trailing only all-American Ed Mahoney (46 in 1992).
     Senior running back Dave Maddi finished his career with 1,167 rushing yards, good for 19th on Ithaca's career list. Against Buffalo State he became the program's 22nd 1,000-yard rusher.

ITHACA ITEMS: Ithaca clinched the school's 31st straight winning season with the win over Utica. The Bombers own the nation's eighth-longest active streak of winning seasons (sixth-best among Division III schools).
     In the past 12 years, the Bombers are 27-15 (.643) during November (regular-season record: 22-12), including 15-9 under Mike Welch.
     Saturday's win was Ithaca's 10th of the season; the program's last 10-win season came in 1994. Ithaca has won at least 10 games in a season 10 times, including 1988 when the Bombers set a school record with 13 wins.
     Dave Maddi's 134-yard rushing effort was the highest by a Bomber in an NCAA playoff game since all-American Jeff Wittman ran for 159 in the Stagg Bowl win over Dayton on Dec. Dec. 14, 1991. Maddi is the 11th Bomber to run for 100 yards in an NCAA playoff game; Ithaca is now 83-6 when a player rushes for 100 yards in a game, dating back to 1984.
     Ithaca now owns a 9-2 series advantage over Montclair State. The Bombers have won three of the four games played in New Jersey, and have eliminated Montclair State from the NCAA playoffs three times (including the 1985 and 1986 East Region title games).
     This weekend Ithaca has a chance to spoil Rensselaer's undefeated season with a season-ending playoff loss; the Bombers have done that to 13 opponents over the past 26 years, ruining previously unbeaten seasons by Widener (1975), Dubuque, Carnegie Mellon and Wittenberg (1979), Union (19985, 1986 and 1991), Cortland and Ferrum (1988), Dayton (1991), Plymouth State (1994) and Worcester State (1996). The win over Worcester State came in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Northeast championship; the first 12 came in NCAA playoff competition.
     Ithaca scored 31 rushing touchdowns this fall - the most since the 1992 team tied the school record with 37. The total of 10 Bombers who have run for a score this season matches the school record set in 1978.
     Senior quarterback Brian Young rushed for five touchdowns this fall. The last Ithaca quarterback to run for more than five scores in a season was all-American Todd Wilkowski, who scored seven touchdowns for the 1988 national champions.
     Sophomore Chris Pride kicked seven field goals this fall; the last time a Bomber kicked more was when Matt Sullivan tied the school record with nine in 1989.
     The Bombers have won seven straight regular-season games played on artificial turf, including a 17-16 win at Springfield six weeks ago.
     Last weekend marked Ithaca's first trip to New Jersey since posting a 21-14 win at College of New Jersey on Sept. 25, 1999. The Bombers have now played 19 games against schools from New Jersey (going 14-5), but only seven of those games were on the road.
     Over their past 45 regular-season games, the Bombers have converted 95.4 percent of their extra-point attempts (146 of 153).
     The 2001 season marks the 10th anniversary of Ithaca's third national championship team. The 1991 team, which finished 12-1 under coach Jim Butterfield, was honored during Homecoming festivities.

UPSTATE UPDATE Ithaca is ranked third in the final Upstate New York poll, as voted on by the region's sports information directors.

BROADCAST NEWS: The Rensselaer game will be broadcast by WICB-FM (91.7 FM) in Ithaca. Senior Zac Gershberg and junior Seth Cantor will call the game, beginning at 11:20 a.m. with the Countdown to Kickoff pregame show. WICB's coverage is available through RealAudio over the Internet, which can be accessed at http://www.ithaca.edu/radio/wicb/ and can be heard through TEAMLINE, a pay-per-listen service, by calling 800/846-7000. Ithaca's access code is 3945.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please contact Mike Warwick in the Ithaca sports information office at (607/274-1401) or mwarwick@ithaca.edu, or at home (607/275-8157) or Rensselaer SID Kevin Beattie (518/276-2187 or beattk@rpi.edu).