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Football Looks to Stay Unbeaten in Liberty League at Rochester on Saturday

10/2/2025 6:34:00 AM

   
ALL-TIME SERIES:
The Ithaca College football team travels to the University of Rochester at Fauver Stadium this Saturday for the third Liberty League game of the season. The Bombers are 7-0 all-time against Rochester and average 39 points per game against the Yellowjackets. IC won last year's matchup, 24-0, which was the second shutout win for the Bombers against UR in the series. Rochester has averaged just over six points a game in the rivalry.

LAST TIME OUT: Ithaca posted a statement win in the Liberty League last Saturday with a 13-7 victory over Hobart. The win moves the Bombers' home record to 19-0 all-time against the Statesmen as IC allowed just 222 yards to Hobart.

A first quarter touchdown from Chris Scully, who finished the game with 98 yards rushing, gave IC the lead and then Hobart tied the game late in the second quarter. IC came out of halftime with another score, this time a 16-yard pass from Matthew Parker to Nicholas Matos. The PAT was botched to account for the 13-7 score.

Ithaca's defense took over from there and forced a turnover on downs inside the red zone with less than four minutes left in the game to preserve the win.

Parker threw for 140 yards on 13-of-19 attempts and Tian Murray led the receivers with 39 yards on two receptions.

The IC defense had seven pass breakups in the contest, led by three of them by Andrew Mellis. The Bombers also logged five tackles for loss and a sack for 14 yards.

TOURANGEAU HONORED: On Monday, the Liberty League selected Sam Tourangeau as the Defensive Performer of the Week as he recorded 13 total tackles, including seven solo stops, and a pass breakup against the Statesmen. It's Tourangeau's second career honor as he received the same award during Week 1 of the 2024 season.

STIFILING DEFENSE: Since the Week 1 loss to Johns Hopkins, the IC defense has shut the opposition down. Over the past three games, the Bombers are allowed 8.0 points and 192.7 (123.0 passing, 69.7 rushing) yards per game. Ithaca has also notched 22 tackles for loss over the last three games.

IN THE DIII RANKS: Heading into Saturday, the Bombers rank top 25 nationally in the following team categories: Completion Percentage (13th – 71.1%), First Down Offense (16th – 91), 3rd Down Defense (19th – 24.5%), Passing Yards Allowed (29th – 141), Kickoff Returns (32nd – 25.0 YPR), Team Passing Efficiency (33rd – 164.5) and Total Defense (34th – 248.8).

LIBERTY LEAGUE KICKS OFF: Last Saturday was the first week of Liberty League action for all eight teams. IC currently leads the standings at 2-0, while RPI, Union and Buffalo State are 1-0. Rochester, Hobart and St. Lawrence are 0-1 and Hilbert is 0-2.

IN THE LIBERTY LEAGUE RANKS: The Bombers lead the Liberty League in scoring offense (34.3), scoring defense (16.5), total offense (401.3), total defense (248.8), passing offense (250.3), passing efficiency (164.5), punt returns (12.6). first down offense (22.8), first down defense (13.5), third down offense (44.2), third down defense (24.5) and red zone offense (17-for-20).

FASTEST TO 30: Head coach Michael Toerper earned his 30th career victory last week to match the fastest to 30 wins in program history in just his 39th game. Dan Swanstrom (2017-2021) also started his coaching career at Ithaca with an identical 30-9 record.

SCOUTING ROCHESTER: The Yellowjackets are off to a 3-1 start and are 0-1 in the Liberty League. UR has wins over Olivet (38-17), Morrisville (30-14) and St. John Fisher (28-21), but is coming off a 31-3 loss to RPI last week.

UR averages 24.8 points and 306 yards of offense, and the Yellowjackets allow 20.8 points and 364.3 yards per game.

The two offensive players to watch in this matchup are Cole Raux and Aidan Papantonis. Raux has rushed for 320 yards and two touchdowns, while Papantonis has 20 receptions for 284 yards and four scores.  UR has been running a two-quarterback system between Shawn Bellenger and Victor Moran, who have combined to throw for 492 yards and six touchdowns.

Defensively, Rochester boasts six players with more than 20 tackles on the season. Braydon Felsinger leads the way with 40 tackles, while Jack Diggins and Luke Herter have logged 26 and 23 tackles. Victor Little has a team-high five tackles for loss and three sacks. Jordy Tawa, a 2024 All-American, has 17 tackles and six pass breakups.

UP NEXT: The Bombers will remain on the road next Saturday, October 11 with a trip to the North Country to take on St. Lawrence at 1 p.m.