2023 Cortland Red Dragons football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 2023
| team = Cortland Red Dragons
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size = 200
| conference = Empire 8
| short_conf = Empire 8
| AFCARank = 1
| D3FootballRank = 1
| record = 14–1
| conf_record = 6–0
| head_coach = Curt Fitzpatrick
| hc_year = 3rd
| off_coach = Patrick Rotchford
| oc_year = 3rd
| off_scheme =
| def_coach = Steve Cushing
| dc_year = 2nd
| def_scheme =
| captain =
| stadium = Grady Field (6,500)
| champion = NCAA Division III National champion
Empire 8 champion
| bowl = Stagg Bowl
| bowl_result = W 38–37 vs. North Central (IL)
}}
{{2023 Empire 8 football standings}}
The 2023 Cortland Red Dragons football team was an American football team that represented the State University of New York at Cortland as a member of the Empire 8 during the 2023 NCAA Division III football season. In their third year under head coach Curt Fitzpatrick, the Red Dragons compiled a 14–1 record (6–0 in conference games) and won both the Empire 8 championship and the NCAA Division III national championship. In the Division III playoffs, the Red Dragons defeated {{cfb link|year=2023|team=Endicott Gulls|title=Endicott}} (23–17) in the first round, {{cfb link|year=2023|team=Grove City Wolverines|title=Grove City}} (25–24) in the second round, Alma (58–41) in the quarterfinals, and Randolph–Macon (49–14) in the semifinals and North Central (IL) (38–37) in the Stagg Bowl. It was Cortland's first Division III championship.{{cite web|title=2023 Football Schedule|publisher=State University of New York at Cortland|accessdate=December 9, 2023|url=https://www.cortlandreddragons.com/sports/football/schedule/2023}}
The Red Dragons outscored opponents by a total of 693 to 296 in 15 games. On offense, they scored an average of 46.2 points per game and gained an average of 509.2 yards per game (284 passing yards and 225 rushing yards).{{cite news|title=2023 Football Cumulative Statistics|publisher=SUNY Cortland|accessdate=December 16, 2023|url=https://www.cortlandreddragons.com/sports/football/stats/2023}} The team's individual statistical leaders included:
- Zac Boyes - 4,020 passing yards and 44 passing touchdowns with only five interceptions;
- Jaden AlfanoStJohn - 1,396 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns;
- Cole Burgess - 87 receptions for 1,375 receiving yards and 16 receiving touchdowns;
- Mike Baloga - 130 points scored on 91 extra points and 13 field goals;
- Jack Winey - 141 total tackles;
- Nick Lardaro - 12.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks; and
- Luke Winslow - five interceptions.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 2023
| rankdivision = NCAA Division III
| poll = AFCA
| timezone = Central
| time = y
| rank = y
| attend = y
| source = y
|September 2|12:00 p.m.||{{cfb link|year=2023|team=Delaware Valley Aggies|title=Delaware Valley}}
|September 9|1:00 p.m.|at|{{cfb link|year=2023|team=Lycoming Warriors|title=Lycoming}}
|September 16|1:00 p.m.||{{cfb link|year=2023|team=Susquehanna River Hawks|title=Susquehanna}}
|September 30|1:00 p.m.|at|{{cfb link|year=2023|team=Morrisville Mustangs|title=Morrisville}}|20|Drake Field|Morrisville, NY|W 52-15|1,702|
|October 7|1:00 p.m.||No. 22 {{cfb link|year=2023|team=Utica Pioneers|title=Utica}}|19|Grady Field|Cortland, NY|W 56-3|3,641|
|October 14|1:00 p.m.||{{cfb link|year=2023|team=Alfred Saxons|title=Alfred}}|19|Grady Field|Cortland, NY|W 59-21|1,231|
|October 21|12:00 p.m.|at|{{cfb link|year=2023|team=St. John Fisher Cardinals|title=St. John Fisher}}|19|Growney Stadium|Pittsford, NY|W 42-14|3,321|
|October 28|2:30 p.m.|at|{{cfb link|year=2023|team=Hartwick Hawks|title=Hartwick}}|18|Wright Stadium|Oneonta, NY|W 73-7|413|
|November 4|12:00 p.m.||{{cfb link|year=2023|team=Brockport Golden Eagles|title=Brockport}}|17|Grady Field|Cortland, NY|W 41-17|3,321|
|November 11|12:00 p.m.|at|No. 14 {{cfb link|year=2023|team=Ithaca Bombers|title=Ithaca}}
|November 18|12:00 p.m.|at|No. 14 {{cfb link|year=2023|team=Endicott Gulls|title=Endicott}}
|November 25|12:00 p.m.||No 16 {{cfb link|year=2023|team=Grove City Wolverines|title=Grove City}}
|December 2|12:00 p.m.|at|No. 11 Alma
|December 9|12:00 p.m.|at|No. 8 Randolph–Macon
|December 15|7:03 p.m.|vs|No. 1 North Central (IL)
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{2023 Cortland Red Dragons football navbox}}
{{NCAA Division III football national champion navbox}}
Category:Cortland Red Dragons football