Aaron Schafer, Photo Editor
The UR football team beat the Union College Dutchmen 21-7 last Saturday at Fauver Stadium. Fifteen mph winds and 40-degree temperatures made for less-than-ideal playing conditions, which led to a largely uneventful game until the second half.
On the first drive of the game, senior punter Mason Parmelee was blocked by Union linebacker Nick Pierce. But Union couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity because junior defensive end James Barrett and senior linebacker Tony Ortega successfully got to the quarterback and picked up a sack on third and three, forcing Union to punt.
Several drives later, sophomore wide receiver Derek Wager fumbled a punt return, setting up Union on the ‘Jackets’ 30-yard line. After picking up 16 yards on five attempts, Union running back T.J. Franzese’s persistence paid off as he picked up his team’s first touchdown.
Both offenses were quiet for the rest of the first half, which featured eight total punts. At halftime, the score remained 7-0.
After losing 27 yards on the first drive of the third quarter, Union turned it over on downs and set the ‘Jackets up on the Dutchmen’s 5-yard line. Senior quarterback Dean Kennedy connected with senior wide receiver Thomas Hayes for a 5-yard touchdown to tie the game after an extra point by senior Mark Torosian.
Kennedy then completed a second touchdown pass, this time to Wager. The 9-yard completion put UR up 14-7 going into the fourth quarter.
The YellowJackets would keep their momentum for the rest of the game, with Kennedy throwing a third touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. After a holding call made it first and 20, Kennedy completed an 11-yard pass to Hayes. He then targeted Hayes again, but they failed to connect. Kennedy went to the air once more on third down, this time successfully, for a 22-yard touchdown pass to Hayes.
Union’s Franzese led both teams in rushing with 86 yards and a touchdown on 28 attempts. Kennedy was the passing leader, completing 18 of 27 passes for 176 yards and three touchdowns. Hayes led all receivers with five receptions for 51 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
With the win, UR clinched its first winning season since 2007. The football team will have two weeks until its next game, when it will travel to Worcester, Mass. to take on the Worcester Institute of Technology on Saturday, Nov. 9. The following Saturday, UR will close the regular season at home against Rochester rival, the Hobart College Statesmen, currently ranked seventh in the nation among Division III teams.
Ondo is a member of the class of 2014.
