Football Takes Down Stony Brook, 31-14

Stony Brook, N.Y. – It doesn't matter! That was the sound coming from the Fordham football locker room tonight following the Rams' 31-14 win over Stony Brook University at LaValle Stadium. The cry was in response to the fact that the start of the game was delayed due to a bus breakdown but head coach Joe Conlin and the Rams refused to let it matter.
 
With the win, Fordham goes to 1-3 on the season while Stony falls to 1-3.
 
Senior quarterback Tim DeMorat led the Fordham offense, completing 21 of 33 passes for 280 yards and four touchdowns with two of those scores going to junior receiver Dequece Carter.
 
Defensively, senior linebacker Ryan Greenhagen had his fourth straight double-digit tackle game, making 16 stops, including 2.0 for loss, one sack, and he intercepted a pass.
 
The Rams got on the board early as Stony Brook fumbled the opening kickoff and it was recovered by Fordham's Alfonzo Dixon IV on the Seawolves' 28. Five plays later, DeMorat found Carter in the corner of the end zone for a 7-0 Fordham lead 1:11 into the game.
 
After Stony Brook tied the game on the ensuing possession, the rams took the lead for good when DeMorat found Fotis Kokosioulis with a four-yard scoring strike midway through the second.
 
Fordham increased the lead to 21-7 when the Rams took the second half kickoff and drove 75 yards with DeMorat hooking up with Hamze El-Zayat on an 18-yard scoring pass two minutes into the second half.
 
Takeaways
• It was the second career four-touchdown game for Tim DeMorat, who also threw four scoring passes against Bryant as a freshman in 2018 (a school freshman record).

• The Rams did not commit a turnover in the game while taking away three from the Seawolves (two interceptions and a fumble recovery).
 
• Fordham was a perfect 4-for-4 in red zone scoring.
 
• The win was Fordham's first over Stony Brook on the NCAA Div. I level (the previous win was when both schools were Div. III).
 
• Game balls were presented after the game to senior captain Jesse Bramble, who was on the sideline the last time these two teams played at LaValle Stadium due to injury, and Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Performance, Joe Gilfedder.
 
By the Numbers
11 – Tackles for freshman linebacker James Conway, the Patriot League Rookie of the Week.
 
16 – Tackles for Ryan Greenhagen, his fourth straight double-digit tackle game.
 
31 – Points scored by Fordham, the most the Rams have scored against the Seawolves.
 
44 –Career touchdown passes for Tim DeMorat, fifth all-time at Fordham.
 
76 – Rushing yards for Trey Wilson III, a career-high.
 
554 – Career completions for Tim DeMorat, good of fourth on the Rams' career list.
 
6,361 – Career passing yards for Tim DeMorat, fourth all-time at Fordham.
 
What's Next?
• The Rams open their 2021 Patriot League schedule by traveling to Easton, Penn., to face the Lafayette College Leopards in Fisher Stadium next Saturday, October 2, at 3:30 p.m.
 
• This will be the 39th meeting between Fordham and Lafayette on the gridiron.
 
• The Leopards lead the all-time series, which started in 1903, 25-12-1, and have taken the last three meetings, including a 38-34 win on Jack Coffey Field in 2019 as Lafayette scored on a ten-yard run with 1:48 remaining to take the lead for good.
 
• The Lafayette wins snapped a three-game Fordham winning streak in the series.