Golden Eagles lose in quarter-finals

"They made the plays you have to make late in a game to win," said Brockport head football coach Rocco Salomone after John Carroll University’s 16-10 win in overtime December 7 at Fauver Stadium. The loss ended the Golden Eagles storybook season, which saw the team advance farther than ever before in the NCAA playoffs.

After an early Brockport fumble deep in their own territory, John Carroll scored the first touchdown of the day before Mike Laney’s 40-yard field goal through a cutting wind closed the gap to 7-3 after the first quarter. The Blue Streak countered with a field goal of their own to give them a 10-3 lead at half-time.

At the end of a scoreless third quarter, Brockport drove deep into John Carroll territory and scored on a 16-yard pass from freshman quarterback Chet Holcomb to Matt Boorom on the first play of the fourth quarter. Laney’s extra point tied the game at 10-10.

After each team had three offensive possessions, Billy Glynn forced a fumble on a blitz and Brockport recovered at the John Carroll 26 yard line with just :47 left in regulation. Two runs up the middle for four yards and a time-out later, Laney had his 40-yard potential game-winning field goal blocked and the game went into overtime.

John Carroll scored on their sixth play of the first overtime session, but the extra point was blocked. The Blue Streak defense then stopped the Golden Eagles on downs to advance to the semi-finals.

"My freshman year, we went 4-6, so this program has come a long way," said record-setting running back Adam Webster. Salomone concluded, "This was very tough, especially when we had an opportunity to win, but the underclassmen now understand what it takes to get there. This team leaves as the best there ever was at this school, but this season was another small step in our goal of a national championship."