Cortaca Jug: Senior QB leads Ithaca over Cortland on record-setting day at MetLife Stadium

With an NCAA Division III-record 45,161 fans at MetLife Stadium, senior quarterback Joe Germinerio rushed for three touchdowns and threw for two to lead Ithaca College’s 32-20 football victory over SUNY Cortland on Saturday.

Germinerio all but sealed the Bombers’ third straight Cortaca Jug victory on a fake-reverse pass to Andrew Vito that resulted in a 46-yard touchdown reception. It capped the scoring with 3 minutes, 6 seconds left.

A game that was more than a year in the making and put together by New York City’s chapter of the National Football Foundation, the 61st Cortaca Jug broke the previous Division III football attendance record of 37,355 set in September of 2017 by Minnesota colleges St. Thomas and St. John’s at Target Field.

“The electricity was unreal,” said Cortland senior running back Zach Tripodi, who scored all three of the Red Dragons’ touchdowns. “… When I scored, I don’t think I’ve ever felt something like that. You really felt the crowd.”

Added Ithaca senior linebacker Nick Garone: “It was an unbelievable experience. It had a D-I-type feel to it. … It was unbelievable to go out that way.”

Germinerio rushed for a game-high 163 yards on 34 carries and completed 21 of 27 passes for 251 yards.

His first touchdown pass, a 23-yarder on a fade to Will Gladney, gave IC a 26-6 lead with 9:49 left in the third quarter.

Cortland rallied on a pair of short touchdown runs by Tripoldi, the first a 2-yarder late in the third quarter and the second on a 3-yard run inside the left pylon with 6:53 left that closed the Red Dragons’ deficit to 26-20.

But Ithaca answered on its ensuing possession, getting a pair of first downs as Germinerio carried five times on the first seven plays of the drive, finding creases for consistent gains that moved the chains.

“I knew what I was going to ask him to do today as a quarterback,” IC coach Dan Swanstrom said. “For him to go out and do it the way he did it with 34 carries and 27 passes, it says a lot about how he was able to stay in the game and take that much punishment.

“That’s a pretty special performance. It’ll go down as one of the great quarterback performances I’ve seen.”

On third-and-6 from Cortland’s 46, Germinerio accepted a shotgun snap, faked an inside handoff right to Donte Garcia, turned and faked a reverse handoff to Austin Hedglen heading left before delivering a deep pass down the left hash to a wide-open Vito, who continued into the end zone.

“Yes,” was Swanstrom’s one-word response when asked if he’d been saving that play.

“If I had to pick one play, it would be Vito’s touchdown,” Gladney said. “… On that stage, he made that play. It was awesome to see.”

First half

Three touchdowns run by Germinerio helped the Bombers to a 19-6 lead.

Ithaca drove 80 yards on the game’s first possession. The 13-play drive included four completions by Germinerio, the biggest a 15-yarder on a crossing route to Gladley for 15 yards to Cortland’s 27.

Germinerio carried the last three times, including a sneak from 1 yard for points. Nicholas Bahamonde’s PAT made it 7-0.

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Cortland answered in the second quarter on a 6-yard scoring run by Tripodi, who carried six times for 33 yards on the 57-yard drive. The extra point was blocked and Ithaca led, 7-6.

A 76-yard drive by Ithaca followed and this time Germinerio went 6-for-7 for 47 yards. He hit Jacob Cooney for 9 yards on third-and-4 and found Vito over the middle for 14 yards, that play taking it to Cortland’s 23.

Five plays later, Germinerio sneaked across from the 1 and the Bombers had a 13-6 lead 1:55 before halftime.

Perhaps the half’s biggest play was turned in by Ithaca defensive back Khiry Brown, an Ithaca High graduate.

Cortland quarterback Brett Segala threw deep along the right sideline and Cole Burgess made a leaping catch around Ithaca’s 30. The Bombers’ Cade McDermott stood up Burgess and Brown ripped the ball free, returning it to Cortland’s 46.

“You talk about a classic takeaway,” Cortland coach Dan MacNeill said. “It was a wrestle-away. That can’t happen, we have to hang on to that ball. We’re the ones who have to come down with that. They made the play, we didn’t, so it was hurtful.”

Added IC defensive lineman John Hadac: “My favorite play was Khiry stripping that ball. That was a man’s play. I’m really proud of him.”

Four plays later and afforded about 8 seconds to survey the field by Ithaca’s offensive line, Germinerio looked right initially, then rolled left, then scrambled right and eventually turned it up field on a 10-yard scoring to make it 19-6 with nine seconds left in the half.

Ithaca’s offense dominates possession

The Bombers ran 78 plays from scrimmage to Cortland’s 52, hogging the ball with time-consuming possessions.

Ithaca took advantage of a Cortland defense that had to be wary of playmakers outside such as Gladney and Vito and that opened room for Germinerio to find holes.

“You have to pick your poison,” MacNeill said. “We know the danger when you play two deep safeties the entire game that you’ll open some (running lanes).”

Added Swanstrom: “It was clear they were going to make it very difficult to throw the football. They were going to play numbers in the pass game.”

Etc., etc.

Ithaca holds a 37-24 lead in the Cortaca Jug series. … The Bombers held a 44:26-15:34 advantage in time of possession. … Tripodi finished with 61 rushing yards. … Vito made 12 catches for 124 yards and Gladney had four receptions for 59. … Brown led Ithaca with nine tackles and the fumble recovery.

Ithaca 32, Cortland 20

At MetLife Stadium

Cortland ….. 0 6 7 7 – 20

Ithaca ….. 7 12 7 6 – 32

First quarter

IC – Joe Germinerio 1 run (Nicholas Bahamonde kick), 8:25

Second quarter

C – Zach Tripodi 6 run (kick blocked), 10:18

IC – Joe Germinerio 1 run (kick failed), 1:55

IC – Joe Germinerio 10 run (kick blocked), :09

Third quarter

IC – Will Gladney 23 pass from Joe Germinerio (Nicholas Bahamonde kick), 9:49

C – Zach Tripodi 2 run (Nick Mongelli kick), 1:30

Fourth quarter

C – Zach Tripodi 3 run (Nick Mongelli kick), 6:53

IC – Andrew Vito 46 pass from Joe Germinerio (run failed), 3:06.

Rushing: Cortland, Zach Tripodi 17-61, Angelo Foster 2-14, Brett Segala 5-14. Ithaca, Joe Germinerio 34-159, Donte Garcia 7-24, Kendall Anderson 5-14, Isaiah D’Haiti 2-5, Team 3-(-7).

Passing: Cortland, Brett Segala 13-for-27, 191 yards, 1 int; Tommy Heuer 1-for-1, 27 yards. Cortland: Joe Germinerio 21-for-27, 251 yards.

Receiving: Cortland, Jason Carlock 4-123, Cole Burgess 3-56, Zach Tripodi 3-16, Angelo Foster 2-12, Derek Cruz 2-11. Ithaca, Andrew Vito 12-124, Will Gladney 4-59, Jacob Cooney 2-44, Donte Garcia 2-13, Michael Anderson 1-11.

Attendance: 45,161.

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