Who really made New York proud?

 Two New York State Universities went on the national stage Friday night, their games airing concurrently. All the hype surrounded UAlbany and their magical run into the FCS semi-finals. However, another state university saved the night.

The Great Danes were blitzed almost from the jump by South Dakota State. Their offense never got going, and the game was, for all intents & purposes, over by halftime. QB Reese Poffenbarger threw three first half interceptions. A relentless South Dakota State defense stymied Albany's offense, and the Jackrabbits advanced to the finals on January 7 with a dominant 59-0 win.

UAlbany coach Greg Gattuso has said the Great Danes will build upon last night's, ah, teachable moments. Poffenbarger is a sophomore, and this group will, in fact, be back next year.

Thousands of miles to the east, in Salem, Virginia, the Division III Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl saw UCortland taking on undefeated North Central. Unlike the Albany-South Dakota State game, this was a competitive, more exciting game, and I'd imagine a lot of fans here, knowing there were a few Section II graduates on the Cortland roster, flipped over to ESPNU once the realized Albany's season was ending.

Cole Burgess, the Greenwich native, scored two touchdowns. Ashton Capone (Saratoga) clinched the game with a first down run with just over a minute left in the 4th quarter after North Central failed on a potential game winning two-point conversion, and the Red Dragons, not the Great Danes, are the toast of the New York state university system with a 38-37 victory.

Check the video:

Burgess, a senior, is hoping his name is called in the NFL draft come April. Now, Cortland has the target on its back, as it prepares to defend the D3 title next year.