Posted: Nov 03, 2023
Ithaca, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Sprint Football team clinched the first winning season in program's brief six-year history, with a 42-21 triumph over Cornell University on Friday night at Schoellkopf Field.
STAC closes the 2023 campaign at 4-3 overall (1-2 CSFL South), while Cornell goes winless on the year at 0-6 overall (0-3 CSFL North).
STAC HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES
- Bo Maroney led the way with 11 rushing attempts for 80 yards and two touchdowns.
- Reno Molina (5 Receptions, 80 Yards/2 Rushes, 37 Yards) and Jayden Bennermon (1 Reception, 6 Yards/2 Rushes, 12 Yards) caught a TD pass apiece, with Molina's going for 36 yards and Bennermon's 6 yards.
- Starting quarterback Ryan Kenny completed 13 of 19 passes, for 146 yards, while throwing two touchdowns. He also had six rushing attempts for 22 yards.
- Esmond Oldums recorded five tackles and a 57-yard pick-6 for the Spartans defensive points.
- Nyir Jones' 89-yard opening kickoff return for a touchdown accounted for a STAC special teams score.
- JT Perry led all defenders with seven tackles, while Shawn Benard ran an interception of his own back 20 yards and Malik Lucas sacked quarterback Charles Snajdr for a loss of five yards.
- Kicker Bo Maroney went 6-for-6 on extra point attempts.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
- Nyir Jones got the scoring started for the Spartans, running the opening kickoff back 89 yards for the score (Bo Maroney Kick Good) to make it 7-0.
- A 57-yard pick-6 of Cornell quarterback Charles Snajdr by Esmond Oldums (Bo Maroney Kick Good) doubled the maroon and gold lead at 14-0.
Second Quarter
- Bo Maroney's 3-yard scamper to the end zone (Bo Maroney Kick Good) midway through the stanza put STAC up three scores, 21-0.
- Ryan Kenny's 36-yard TD strike to Reno Molina (Bo Maroney Kick Good) gave the Spartans a commanding 28-0 advantage.
- Jayden Bennermon's 6-yard touchdown reception from Ryan Kenny (Bo Maroney Kick Good) with just under a minute to play before halftime made it 35-0.
Third Quarter
- Another Bo Maroney score, this one a 9-yard run (Bo Maroney Kick Good), put the game out of reach in favor of STAC, 42-0.
- Cornell broke the shutout late in the frame, as Charles Snajdr made his way to the end zone via a 1-yard run (Sumner Roberts Kick Good) to cut the deficit to 42-7.
Fourth Quarter
- The first of two Big Red scores in the quarter came courtesy of a Colin Boyle 20-yard TD reception from Charles Snajdr (Sumner Roberts Kick Good) to make it 42-14.
- Another Charles Snajdr 1-yard TD run (Sumner Roberts Kick Good) accounted for the final points on the evening, as STAC took the season finale, 42-21.