First-year quarterback Daniel Lawther was 16-for-22 passing for a career-best 246 yards and with the Giunta brothers in the backfield and a strong defensive line, the St. Lawrence University football team earned its first Liberty League win of the season, topping the University of Rochester 34-10 on Saturday at Leckonby Stadium.

Lawther recorded four touchdowns in the win. On the receiving end, TJ Cornacchia had a day with six catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns, while Andrew Murphy made four catches and 58 yards. Murphy and Cole Salyards recorded the other two St. Lawrence touchdowns. Mason Giunta led the Saints' ground game with 70 yards on 24 attempts for a career-best, while Lawther rushe for 51 yards and Cameron Giunta recorded 22 yards on five attempts.

Owen O'Brien and Max Gilbert led the defense with six tackles each, while five other Saints recorded four. Thomas Our and Nicholas Ames both recorded a sack and tackle for the loss.

The Yellowjackets were the first on the board, as Shane Bombace kicked a 35-yard field goal, making it 3-0 Rochester with 8:19 to play in the first quarter.

On a 67-yard drive, Cornacchia scored his first touchdown of the game on a 16-yard pass from Lawther. Doin'd first kick of the game was good for a 7-3 lead for the Scarlet and Brown.

The Saints moved quick, as Cornacchia scored his second touchdown of the game just 30 seconds into the second frame, on another 16-yard pass from Lawther.

Mason Giunta socred his first collegiate touchdown on a two-yard run with 5:15 remaining in the second quarter. Doin's third kick of day was good for the 21-3 lead.

The Saints opened the second half of scoring as Lawther connected with Murphy for a 29-yard pass and the 28-3 lead.

Salyards recorded the Saints last tally of the game with a 21-yard pass on a 46-yard drive for a 34-3 lead.

Rochester scored the final touchdown of the game, as Will Varney made a one-yard rush with 3:50 remaining in regulation. Bombace's kick was good for the final score of 34-10.  

The Saints defense continued to play stellar, holding the Yellowjackets to just three points for nearly the entirety of the game.



Ryan Rose was 15-for-25 passing for 186 yards for the Yellowjackets, while Daniel Paptonis rushed for 86 yards on 15 attempts. Peyton Monaco made three catches for 54 yards and Noah Shinaman made three for 51. Brady Beckwith led the Rochester defense with nine tackles, while Nicholas Petruzziello tallied two tackles for the loss.

The Saints held a 22-15 first-down advantage and a 400-288 lead in total offense and controlled 31:53-28:07 in time of possession.

St. Lawrence improved to 4-4 on the season and 1-4 in league action, while Rochester fell to 2-6 and 1-4, respectively.

The Saints will stay at home to host the Engineers of RPI on senior day, Saturday, November 6. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.