Simmons' Big Day Leads Brockport To ECAC Clayton Chapman Bowl Win
BROCKPORT, N.Y. - - A 21 point fourth quarter propelled Brockport to a 42-23 victory in the ECAC Clayton Chapman Bowl Game at Bob Boozer Field Saturday.
The fourth quarter scoring outburst allowed Brockport (8-3) to overcome what was a 23-21 Rochester (6-5) lead after three periods of play.
Sophomore Isaiah Simmons carried the ball 30 times for 168 yards in the win, including nine carries in the final 15 minutes as the Buffalo product scored two of his three touchdowns in the game’s final quarter to spearhead the Golden Eagles comeback and earn game Most Valuable Player honors.
Brockport took over on its own 33-yard line trailing 23-21 with 13:20 remaining. What followed was a decisive drive. Simmons capped an 11-play drive with a 20-yard touchdown scamper; it was a drive that saw the Golden Eagles consume over six minutes of clock.
Rochester would go 3-and-out on its next possession, opening the door for Brockport to put the game away.
Brockport would do just that as Simmons scored his second touchdown of the fourth quarter and third of the day with a 31-yard touchdown run. Following Sal Montaperto’s conversion kick, the Yellowjackets trailed 38-23 with under four minutes to play.
The Golden Eagles’ Liam Nealy would put the finishing touches on the game when he intercepted a pass and returned it 42 yards for the game’s final score.
The interception was one of two forced turnovers on the day for Brockport who limited Rochester to 40 rushing yards in the contest.
Creighton Wise’s arm helped the Yellowjackets to a 16-7 halftime advantage as the signal caller tossed a pair of touchdown passes in the opening half. Wise finished the day 16-for-39 for 240 yards and three touchdowns.
A Simmons touchdown run and a 69-yard touchdown pass from Ben Gocella to Daniel Manneh surged the Golden Eagles on top 21-16 in the third period.
Wise would give Rockport the lead back late in the third quarter with a 14-yard scoring strike to Aidan Papatonis.
It would be the final score of the day for the Yellowjackets who did not gain a yard over the game’s final 15 minutes.
Jack Diggins had a big defensive day in defeat. The sophomore tallied a game-high 15 tackles and intercepted a pass for Rochester.
Brockport’s defense was led by Kyle Haettich who collected a team-best nine tackles and a sack for a Golden Eagles’ program that was participating in the postseason for the eighth consecutive season.