GAME COVERAGE

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ALL-TIME SERIES: The Ithaca College football team and SUNY Cortland will meet for the 82nd all-time meeting dating back to 1930 and the 65th occasion since the introduction of the Cortaca Jug in 1959. Ithaca leads the all-time series, 43-35-3, and is 38-26 in Jug games, but Cortland has won two of the past three matchups.

THE CORTACA JUG: The Cortaca Jug was officially introduced to the already competitive rivalry between Ithaca and Cortland in 1959 by the captains of the two teams. While driving in nearby Homer in 1959, Cortland football captain Tom Decker stopped at a yard sale and purchased a $2 jug from a local farmer that he thought could be used as a trophy during the annual game between the two schools. After meeting up with friend and Ithaca football captain Dick Carmean, the two painted the jug blue, gold, red, and white in honor of both schools' colors.

MORE ABOUT THE RIVALRY: Throw out the records when it comes to the Jug. Over the past 31 meetings, 17 of those games have been decided by seven points or fewer, and two of those – 2005 and 2006 – went to overtime.

Over the past three contests, one or both teams have been nationally ranked. This year, Cortland is No. 2 in Division III. In 2022, both teams were undefeated at 9-0 when they met at Yankee Stadium.

OFFENSE VS. DEFENSE: Saturday's game features the classic high-powered offense against a stout defense. Ithaca enters this year's Cortaca Jug ranked third nationally in fourth down defense (18.8%), 11th in scoring defense (10.8 PPG), 11th in passing efficiency defense (98.6) and 21st in red zone defense (63.2%).

On the flip side, Cortland second nationally in first downs (253), fourth in total offense (535.3 YPG), fourth in scoring offense (53 PPG), fifth in third down conversion (58.1%), seventh in red zone offense (93.2%), seventh in turnovers lost (6) and seventh in passing efficiency (186.5).

The Red Dragons also possess a strong defense which could cause some problems for the rising IC offense. During Ithaca's five-game winning streak, the Bombers have averaged 34.2 points and 441 yards per game.

IC will be going up against the nation's top first down defense (97), fourth third down defense (25.0%), 10th total defense (230 YPG) and 19th passing defense (155.7 YPG).

RECAP FROM ST. LAWRENCE: The Bombers dominated last Saturday's Liberty League finale at home against St. Lawrence in a 41-0 shutout. It was the third shutout – and second straight – of the year for IC, which is the first time a Bomber team has blanked three opponents in one year since 1988. The victory also extends the Bombers' winning streak to 29 straight games over the Saints.

The Bombers racked up 462 yards of offense and 23 first downs in the win. Matthew Parker was once again the driving force of the offense, going 16-for-20 for 264 yards and three touchdowns. His first touchdown pass was on the second play of the game on a 41-yard completion to Nicholas Matos.

IC then put up three touchdowns in the second quarter on a 6-yard run from Jake Williams and touchdown passes of five yards to Sam Kline and 14 yards to Nicholas Lang. Jalen Leonard-Osbourne scored from 15 yards out in the third quarter and then Derek Baldin booted a pair of field goals in the fourth quarter.

A FINAL JLO UPDATE: Heading into the final game of the regular season, Leonard-Osbourne sits on the cusp of surpassing many career milestones. He is 81 rushing yards away from moving from ninth to fifth on the all-time list, one rushing touchdown from fifth and 23 rushing attempts from eighth. He also needs just 90 all-purpose yards from No. 2 all-time. Leonard-Osbourne's current 6.0 yards per carry for his career is second in program history.

BALDIN REPEATS: After his two-field goal performance against St. Lawrence, Baldin repeated as the Liberty League Special Teams Performer of the Week. In that game, he drilled a 48-yard field goal in the middle of the fourth quarter and then added a 31-yard field goal in the final two minutes. Baldin also made all five PATs and notched four touchbacks in eight kickoffs. Baldin currently ranks third in the nation in field goal percentage as he has made 8-of-9 attempts.

In his two years with the program, Baldin has been named Liberty League Special Teams Performer of the Week five times.

OTHER APPROACHING RECORDS: Outside of the records that Leonard-Osbourne has surpassed and is currently chasing, there are five other Bombers who will cement their names in the IC record book at the conclusion of their careers.

Jake Williams is currently tied for ninth on the career rushing touchdown list and seventh in career touchdowns scored. He is also just seven points of 11th all-time. Baldin has made 18 field goals and is two away from sixth on the career list.

Owen O'Neill is tied for 10th in career sack yardage and is four yards shy of cracking the top 10 in career tackles for loss yardage. Jake Connolly is in a tie for 10th all-time in forced fumbles with five, while Tommy Moran is tied for fifth in career passes defended with 30.

PROFICIENT PARKER: Parker has been one of the nation's most accurate quarterbacks over the past four games as he has completed 80.4% (82-for-102) of his passes for 1,049 yards and nine touchdowns to one interception. He currently ranks ninth nationally in completion percentage at 71.9%

MORE ABOUT CORTLAND: The Red Dragons are the defending NCAA Division III national champions and bring a 21-game winning streak into the 65th Cortaca jug. Cortland has been ranked No. 2 all season by D3football.com and just secured its place in the upcoming tournament after defeating Brockport, 29-28, to win the Empire 8 Conference.

Zac Boyes is what makes the Cortland offense go. The 2023 First Team All-American is one of the nation's best players and has only thrown one interception all season, compared to 24 touchdown passes. He has thrown for over 2,400 yards this season and completes nearly 72% of his passes. Along with that, Boyes has rushed for 380 yards and five touchdowns.

In the backfield, Ethan Gallo has amassed 862 yards and 19 touchdowns, while Jaden AlfanoStJohn – a former running back – leads the receivers with 44 catches for 876 yards and 11 scores.

The defensive front for Cortland is exceptional and holds opponents to 74.3 yards rushing per game, while linebackers Jack Winey and Jaden Martinez lead the team with a combined 126 total tackles. In the secondary, Nazair Jean-Lubin is the player to watch as he was just named Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Week.

Mike Baloga is the specials teams for Cortland. He has made 7-of-8 field goals this season and is 57-of-59 on extra points. Baloga has booted 27 touchbacks on 72 kickoffs and averages nearly 40 yards a punt.