The Ithaca College football team will participate in the 65th edition of the Cortaca Jug, traveling to bitter rival and defending 2023 national champion Cortland State Nov. 16.
Despite losing last year’s game at Butterfield Stadium 38-28, the Bombers still hold the all-time lead on the Red Dragons 43-35-3. This year, the Bombers will look to bring the Jug back to South Hill in the first matchup hosted by Cortland since 2021.
The odds appear to be stacked in favor of the reigning national champions, who have put together an undefeated season so far. Bombers Head Coach Michael Toerper said he knows that his team will have to be at their sharpest when they walk into enemy territory this weekend.
“Own the moment,” Toerper said when asked about his message to the players this week. “Control the atmosphere, that’s a thing to focus on. The outside noise is what it is, but we are warriors in the arena. We want the challenge. We go into games with the intent to finish.”
The 2024 season has seen the Bombers transform into a completely different team than they were at the start of the semester. After starting the season 1-3, the squad has found their stride, winning five straight games by 19 points or more.
“We faced a lot of adversity early in the season,” sophomore receiver Nick Lang said via email. “But staying together and getting better each week has given us confidence and an edge for every game that we play.”
The Bombers’ confidence has skyrocketed with the emergence of sophomore quarterback Matt Parker. After starting the season as a backup, he earned the promotion to QB1 when the Bombers were at their lowest. The young signal-caller has never looked back, boasting a 71.9% completion percentage to go along with 1,383 yards and 10 touchdowns. Parker will look to outduel Red Dragons All-American senior quarterback Zac Boyes, who has already thrown for 24 touchdowns on the season.
Boyes’ will be looking to get the ball into the hands of the versatile senior receiver Jaden Alfano-St. John, who poses a threat in both the backfield and at the receiver position, racking up 1,251 all-purpose yards over nine games. Sophomore running back Ethan Gallo, who has proven to be a revelation for the Red Dragons this season with 19 touchdowns, will also be an asset for a high-powered Cortland offense.
Red Dragons’ head coach Curt Fitzpatrick spoke about his team’s multifaceted approach on offense during a press conference on Wednesday.
“Balance is the key,” Fitzpatrick said. “Any defensive coordinator will tell you that when they’re not sure what you’re going to do, that’s when your offense is the hardest to stop. We have some talented players that can make that happen.”
Senior defensive lineman Josh Miles, a captain for the Bombers, broke down the potency of the Cortland offense.
“They have the guys up front to run the ball efficiently,” Miles said. “But they also have a good group of receivers and a quarterback who distributes the ball well. They’re going to take whatever they’re given, and they’re going to make plays.”
The Bombers, meanwhile, have no shortage of firepower themselves. The backfield tandem of senior running backs in Jalen Leonard-Osbourne and Jake Williams has combined for 1,235 rushing yards, and Lang leads a potent receiving corps with 38 receptions for six touchdowns.
Defensively, the Red Dragons have found a way to get better, according to Toerper.
“They’re even better defensively this year,” Toerper said. “They’ve got a stout line, their linebackers can run and hit, and the secondary has definitely improved from the last time we saw them.”
The Bombers’ defense has also impressed this season. Their defense, which is holding teams to an average of 10.7 points per game, has given their opponents nightmares. Senior defensive back Jake Connolly, the leader of the Bombers’ defense, will look to deny Boyes the opportunity to beat the Bombers through the air. Meanwhile, the intimidating defensive line, spearheaded by seniors Owen O’Neill and Isaiah Couser, will muck up the trenches and try to contain the rushing attack. They will look to continue their trend of dominance against a Red Dragons’ offense that averages 53 points per game.
Lang echoed his head coach’s statement, and added that the team will be putting in extra work to make sure they are prepared for the biggest game of the season.
“We have to keep the game about us,” Lang said via email. “Make sure that we are focused on all of the details. We practice all of the uncomfortable situations all week, so that when we get to the game we are able to go out and execute at a high level.”
As if the emotions of one of the biggest rivalries in Division III football were not enough, this game is even more important than usual for the Bombers. They need this win to keep their playoff hopes alive. It all comes together to create a stark reality for the South Hill squad: Win or go home. Toerper is not rattled and neither are his players.
“Our guys aren’t going to back down,” Toerper said. ”They believe in themselves against anybody. Approach like any other game but we have to play the best we’ve played because they’re the best team we’ve seen. We’re not going to back down, it’s a tough challenge but we embrace it, and we’re going to prove that we can hang with the best team in the country.”
For those who cannot attend the game, stay tuned to theithacan.org throughout the matchup for live updates.
Ithaca College will also provide a radio broadcast through WICB as well as live updates through @IthacanSports and @Bombersports on X.com, and @Ithacanonline on instagram. The game will be available to view via the Red Dragon Sports Network.
