The Dutchmen showed their depth and their heart in last week's win over Coast Guard. With several front-line players on the sidelines because of injuries, backups stepped up to fill the void. Senior linebacker John Burth (Sauquoit, NY/N. Hartford), who has been both a starter and a backup this year, came up with 10 total tackles and a pass deflection while reserve cornerback James Weaver (Bronxville, NY/Iona Prep) was in on six tackles, including two tackles for loss (11 yards) and added his first interception of the season (which he returned for 23 yards) and just the second of his career. Four-year starter Devon Wimberly (Albany, NY/Albany Academy) contributed 10 total tackles (including six first hits), a fumble recovery and a pass deflection.
Offensively, junior fullback Paul Del Vecchio (Niskayuna, NY/Colonie) carried the ball six times for 40 yards including his first career touchdown (a one-yard run that gave Union a 14-0 lead). Del Vecchio went into the contest having gained 23 career yards on just eight carries.
Union's defense, which allowed Coast Guard just 80 yards last week, is among the top five in the NCAA with its 185.3 per game average. The Dutchmen's pass efficiency defense is 65.7, ranking it third in the country. Union has given up just two passing touchdowns, one of which was a halfback option. The unit's 74.3 average against the run is among the nation's top 20. The Dutchmen Defenders have held four opponents under 100 yards rushing including two games in which the opposition has been thrown for negative yardage. The pass defense, meanwhile, has also held three opponents under 100 yards.
Junior linebacker Mike Ranfone (Brandford, CT/Hamden Hall) leads the team's tackle chart with 49 total tackles while senior safety Brian Vegliando (Wallkill, NY/Wallkill), who missed last week's game with a thigh injury, is second with 47. Wimberly (45), junior end Josh Stinehour (Rochester, NY/Pennfield) (44) and junior linebacker Mike Rosenthal (Walpole, MA/Blair Academy)–who also missed last week's game-(41) are among 14 Dutchmen who are in double digit tackles.
Stinehour and senior end Brevator Creech (Chico, CA/Chico) continue to lead the “Sack Pack” with eight and a half and five, respectively. Freshman cornerback Dan Mehleisen (Latham, NY/CBA) has three of Union's nine fumble recoveries while junior cornerback Radney Wood (Newport, NY/West Canada) has six of the Dutchmen's 10 interceptions. Wood and Wimberly have combined to knock down 22 passes.
Balance continues to be the key to Union's offensive success.
The Dutchmen gained 329 yards against the Bears last week with 161 coming on the ground and 168 coming through the air. The Garnet is averaging 210.6 yards on the ground (with 11 touchdowns) and 174.6 yards through the air (with 13 touchdowns).
Junior quarterback Ben Gilbert (Brattleboro, VT/Brattleboro) has completed 99 of 185 passes (53.5%) for 1,222 yards and 13 touchdowns. He is currently second on Union's all-time career attempt list with 686 (behind Brett Russ '91 who had 1,138 and Dan Stewart '84 who had 835); third on the completion list with 385 (behind Russ, 648 and Stewart's 397); third on the yardage list with 4,881 (behind Russ who had 7,452 and Stewart's 5,547) and third on the touchdown list with 37 (behind Stewart who had 55 and Russ who had 52). Gilbert is also tied for third with his 21 career wins (behind Russ and Stewart, who had 36 and 31, respectively).
Senior wide receiver Bryan Slekes (Rochester, NY/Gates Chili) who led the Dutchmen with 40 catches last year and finished second with his 517 yards, is again Gilbert's favorite target withy 23 catches for 299 yards. His five touchdown receptions puts him in line to challenge the single-season standard of eight (held by three players), first set in 1967 and last accomplished in 1983.
Union's rushing game, which is averaging 210.6 yards and ranks among the nation's top 30, is led by the tailback duo of sophomore George Beebe (Salem, NY/Salem) and junior Jasper Mills (Hamden, CT/Hamden Hall). Beebe is averaging 89.6 yards a game and has five rushing touchdowns while Mills, who has carried the ball just 63 times, is averaging 37.6 yards a game with three scores. The pair have combined for 890 of the Dutchmen's 1,474 total yards.
Junior Andrew Ruffo (Conklijn, NY/Susquehanna Valley) continues his bid for All-American honors. Ruffo has converted all 23 of his PAT attempts and 11 of 15 field goal opportunities. He has connected on 11 of 12 three-pointers from 20 to 39 yards and is a perfect five-for-five from between 20 and 29 yards. His 56-point scoring average leads the Dutchmen.