GAME NOTES: Football Welcomes Rochester to Butterfield Stadium Saturday

ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College football program is back on South Hill this Saturday, October 20, for a 1 p.m. Liberty League kickoff against the University of Rochester at Butterfield Stadium. Ithaca is coming off a 24-0 victory over Union College and is 4-2 (1-1) on the season, while Rochester dropped a 52-7 decision to Hobart and stands at 1-5 (0-2) on the year. GAME COVERAGE VIDEO (ICTV) | LIVE STATS | RADIO (WICB) STATISTICS ITHACA | ROCHESTER | LIBERTY LEAGUE ALL-TIME SERIES: Saturday will mark the second all-time contest between Ithaca and Rochester. The Bombers won the first meeting last season, 46-6, at Rochester's Fauver Stadium. IC racked up 455 yards of offense, including 221 on the ground. The 40-point win was the largest margin of victory for Ithaca since the Bombers posted a 45-0 triumph over St. Lawrence in 2009. LAST TIME OUT: The Bombers put together their best game of the season at Union last week in Schenectady as Ithaca shutout the Dutchmen, 24-0. Ithaca's defense once again proved to be one of the best units in the country as they held Union to just 185 yards, which was 233.6 yards lower than its season average. IC also held the nation's third leading receiver, Andre Ross Jr., to four catches for 18 yards. Ross Jr. entered the game averaging 154.2 yards per game. It was the first time that Union has been shutout since 2007. Junior Will Gladney caught eight passes in the game for 153 yards and two touchdowns to pace the offense. With the 153 yards receiving, Gladney broke the school's all-time yardage record of 1,951 set by Dan Ruffrage '12. Sophomore Wahid Nabi returned to the lineup after a game absence and threw for 279 yards and two touchdowns on 19-of-28 attempts. LIBERTY LEAGUE HONORS: On Monday afternoon, the Liberty League selected Gladney and senior Pat Minogue as Offensive and Defensive Performers of the Week for their efforts against Union. As part of Gladney's 153-yard performance, he hauled in a season-best 44-yard reception in the game, and also recorded grabs of 36 yards, 29 yards (a touchdown) and 25 yards on Saturday. He now sits just 14 catches shy of setting that school record of 151. Mingoue logged six tackles (a half for loss) and an interception. The Bomber defense held Union to 36 points below its season average and 233.6 yards fewer than the Dutchmen's average over five games. Minogue leads Ithaca this year with 50 total tackles, 7.5 for loss and five pass breakups. Ithaca also recorded four interceptions in the contest and stifled the Union offense to just 185 yards on the day, which is the third time this season that the unit has held an opponent under 200 yards of offense. NATIONAL STATISTICAL RANKINGS: The Ithaca defense currently ranks 11th nationally in scoring defense (10.7 points per game), 13th in total defense (240.3 yards per game), 16th in red zone defense (52.9%), 15th in first down defense (80), 20th in rush defense (71.2 yards per game), 21st in turnovers forced (16) and fumbles recovered (8), and 36th in passing yards allowed (169.2). SCOUTING ROCHESTER: The Yellowjackets are 1-5 on the season and 0-2 in the Liberty League. Rochester's lone victory of the season came against Alfred State, 20-14, on Sept. 15. UR is allowing 37.5 points per game through six contests and scoring 14.2 per outing. The Yellowjackets are giving up 434.5 yards, while gaining 272.3 yards. Damon Yargeau leads UR on the ground with 271 yards on 69 carries, while Sean Mannion has rushed for 230 yards. Matt Gallagher has thrown for 946 yards on the year and seven touchdowns. Gallagher's main target this season has been Noah Shinaman, who has caught 26 passes for 323 yards and three scores. UP NEXT: The Bombers remain at home next Saturday, October 27 for a 1 p.m. kickoff against St. Lawrence. Next Saturday's contest will also mark Senior Day for the 2018 Senior Class, who have accounted for 21 victories during their time on South Hill.