Despite winning eight games including the final seven games of the season, a share of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) title and winning the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Northwest Bowl, The College at Brockport team was not satisfied and will be looking for more in 2014.
"I think we took a big step forward," said head coach Jason Mangone after just his first season at the helm of the Golden Eagle football team. "We had a good run last year but we know we can accomplish more."
In his first season as head coach, Mangone led the team to the impressive 8-3 finish and a 19-12 win over Waynesburg State in ECAC postseason action. It was the first playoff game for the Golden Eagles since the 2008 season when Brockport defeated Hartwick 70-68 in the highest scoring ECAC Playoff game in history.
As the offensive coordinator for the Golden Eagles for the previous nine seasons, Mangone led the most prolific offensive teams in school history breaking school records year after year. 2014 was no different as the Golden Eagles established several new school records including the most team rushing yards in a season with 2,354 yards (214 per game) on the ground.
The offense was once again impressive but it was the Brockport defense that opened eyes in 2013. The Golden Eagles held opponents under 20 points per game and recorded a streak of three games which the defense surrendered just 10 total points as Brockport defeated Kean 17-7, TCNJ 14-3 and Montclair St. 24-0.
"That defensive effort changed our mindset a bit in 2013," said Mangone. "We knew we didn't have to score 40 points to win a game. We could be more patient and concentrate more on ball control and not take as many chances."
Offensively almost all of the weapons are back for 2014 including quarterbacks Wayne Bonsell and Ty Stoldt who shared the starting spot during the season. Bonsell came on after an injury sidelined Stoldt midway through the season and led the team to the final seven wins of the season. Both quarterbacks come into 2014 as juniors and will be battling for the starting role but both have varsity starts under their belt providing much needed depth.
Behind the quarterback, the Golden Eagles return all three top rushers from a year ago. Seniors Tyrone Nichols and Shireem Cobb look to cap their careers and the NJAC Offensive Rookie of the Year Dan Andrews showed his dangerous speed after moving into the starting role for the final seven games of the season. Andrews set new a school record for freshman rushing yards and had three 200+ yard rushing games.
The graduation of Jake Spalik who left Brockport as the all-time leader in receptions and yards is a blow to the receiving corps but the rest of the aerial targets for Bonsell and Stoldt return led by Andrew Mrozek who had nearly 1,000 receiving yards as a sophomore before injuries limited him to just less than 500 yards as a junior. Eric Malave and Eddie Krecisz are experienced returning receivers along with Nate Wilkinson who was injured early in the year and will still be considered a freshman in 2014.
By far the biggest loss for the Golden Eagles from 2013 will be felt on the offensive line. Only one of the five regular starters on the line returns with Sean O'Mara who anchored the middle of the line. Highly decorated tackles Bruce Doyle and Ben Woolston along with guard Zach Roberts and center Zach Sterling will be tough to replace. Brockport will look to versatile Phil Tomasi as a possible replacement. Tomasi started five games at different positions replacing injured linemen including nearly a full game of playing time at tackle for Doyle who was injured early in the ECAC Bowl game.
There will be still competition for the remaining positions from several players including brothers Tre and Brenden Fesinger. The brothers are nephews to former Golden Eagle offensive lineman Josh Warner who went on to play in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears. Tre has seen some time as a freshman and sophomore as an interior lineman while Brenden was a First-Team all-star and team MVP at Westhill HS in Syracuse. Newcomers Capen Burbank and Joe Foster will also look to move into starting roles early in the year.
On defense, several players that sparked the success of the Golden Eagles return led by the lone freshman that was a First-Team All-NJAC selection, defensive end Cortland Haines. He was third on the team with 66 tackles and led the Golden Eagles with eight sacks. Also returning on the defensive line are starters Tarik Bennett (44 tackles, 15 for loss and seven sacks) and Jeff Scialo (37 tackles, five for loss).
Brockport's top tackler was freshman linebacker Jake Brickler and he returns after recording 91 tackles in his first season. Several different returning players saw action in one of the linebacker positions throughout the season and will all be battling for the starting positions in 2014.
The biggest loss on the defense is safety Ross Ragonesi but senior safety Anthony Bianchi and senior cornerback Colby Morabito will provide leadership and experience to the defensive backfield. The duo combined for 136 tackles, five interceptions and 11 breakups in 2013.
The special teams unit remains largely intact with kickers Tyler Perna and Tyler Dancause both returning as well as punter James Quinn.
The Golden Eagles open the season with a non-conference game hosting Oberlin College September 6. It is just the second time in school history the two teams have met with Brockport winning the only other meeting with a 48-15 win to end the 1988 campaign. A trip to Cortland the following Saturday is the final non-conference game on the schedule. The final eight games of the season are all Empire 8 conference contests.
The Empire 8 schedule starts with an epic matchup with St. John Fisher. The 6 pm game on September 20 is not only Brockport's Homecoming weekend but is also the 10th Annual Courage Bowl game that benefits Camp Good Days and Special Times. The Golden Eagles finish the September schedule at Utica College for another night game with a 7 pm start against the Pioneers before a midseason open week allows a much needed break.
"We are very excited about the schedule," said Mangone. "We have tough games every week especially with the Empire 8 opponents. Oberlin is a challenge since we don't really know much about them and they have a whole new coaching staff as well. Cortland is always a great matchup and then we play St. John Fisher."
The Golden Eagles open October with a home game against Frostburg State October 11 before hitting the road for consecutive weeks with conference matchups at Alfred University and Hartwick.
On November 1, Brockport hosts Ithaca and makes the longest road trip of the season on the 8th for a game at Salisbury before finishing the regular season with a classic matchup at home against Buffalo State for the I-90 Bowl trophy.
"This is a big year for us after a good finish to last year," said Mangone. "We earned the respect of the poll voters toward the end of the season and finish ranked fifth in the region. That just makes us hungrier for this year. The players are excited, the staff is excited, the campus is excited and I know the alumni are excited as well."
