FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mounties Close 2013 Hosting Cornell for Senior Day Saturday

MANSFIELD – The Mansfield University football team will be out to wrap-up the 2013 season on a positive note when the Mountaineers host Cornell this Saturday for Senior Day.

Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. at Karl Van Norman Field. The game will be broadcast by ESPN Radio Williamsport and be streamed live at GoMounties.com.

Saturday's game not only marks the season finale for both teams but is the last game in the collegiate careers of seniors Brandon Ammon, Trace Dickinson, Jason Easter, Jonathan Keller, Anthony Mazzone, Jake Myers, Josh Stone, Kevin Valentine, David Wallace, Blaine Wainwright and Jason Winters. All eleven seniors will be honored in pregame ceremonies.

Both teams are coming off road losses last week with the Mountaineers dropping a heart-breaking 27-24 overtime decision at Franklin Pierce while Cornell suffered a 28-7 setback at Navy.

An injury-depleted Mansfield squad put in a heroic effort at Franklin Pierce, rallying for a game-tying touchdown on a 4-yard catch by sophomore Joe Bucek from junior quarterback Mike Maniscalco in the last minute to send the game into overtime.

Mansfield got the ball first in overtime and scored on a 20-yard field goal by junior kicker Kirk Haskill for a 24-21 lead. But Franklin Pierce turned a 2nd and 22 into a 37-yard touchdown pass to pull out the victory.

Maniscalco completed 13-of-20 passes for 169 yards while also rushing for a team-high 46 yards in the game. Bucek had a game-best six catches for 98 yards including touchdowns of 46, 13 and 4 yards respectively.

Mansfield held a 279-251 advantage in total offense but turned the ball over three times in the contest.

Senior Jason Winters led the defense with a game-high 13 tackles with Evan Ruggles recording 12 stops. Seniors Jonathan Keller and Anthony Mazzone had 10 tackles each.

Mansfield ranks 6th in the CSFL in scoring averaging 16.8 points per game and is also sixth in total offense at 249.0 yards per outing. Cornell is 7th in the league in both category's averaging 14.5 points and 220.7 yards per game.

Defensively Mansfield ranks 7th in points allowed (35.3 ppg) and in yards given up per game (382.7 ypg). Cornell is third in the CSFL in fewest points allowed per game (21.8 ppg) and fifth in yards allowed (342.0 ypg).

Although Mansfield has been plagued by injuries throughout the season and been without the services of some of its top playmakers on offense and defense, the Mountaineers have managed to stage heart-stopping rallies in two of their last three games.

Maniscalco, who started the first three games of the 2012 season before suffering a season-ending injury, has performed well since taking over for the injured Ben Pepper. The junior has completed 23-of-39 passes for 347 yards and four touchdown in the last three games and currently ranks 6th in the CSFL in passing efficiency (141.3). He has completed 24-of-43 passes for 352 yards on the season with four touchdowns.

Joe Bucek has moved to the top of a receiving corps that's been hit hard by injuries. The sophomore tight end has caught 15 of his 22 passes over the past three game with three touchdowns. For the season, Bucek ranks 5th in the CSFL in receptions with 22 for 305 yards. Freshman Kurt Logan has 11 catches for 102 yards.

Junior Jeremey Estremera has been the Mountaineers most consistent offensive threat pulling down 16 catches for 152 yard while also ranking among the top rushers in the league with 231 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.

Senior Jake Myers remains at the top of the CSFL tackle list. The linebacker has 59 tackles on the season, 11 more than teammate and fellow senior Jason Winters who ranks second in the league with 48 tackles. Senior Jonathan Keller is fifth in league at 44 tackles with sophomore Evan Ruggles ranking seventh with 42.

Cornell trailed Navy just 14-7 at halftime last week has one of the league's top defenses led by senior linebacker John Kelder who has 41 tackles, including a CSFL-best30 solo stops on the season. The Big Red has a dangerous wideout in Spenser Grunenfelder. The senior has a league-best 27 catches on the year for 329 yards.