Huntington Grad Helps Lead
Cortland Football
Richard Fernandez played his way into the hearts of Huntington High School football players, coaches and fans and is recreating that same magic at SUNY Cortland as a starter on a conference championship team.
Fernandez was a key lineman for the Blue Devil football squad and a talented thrower for the Huntington track and field program. The 2011 Huntington alum is a genial sort of fellow, but he possesses a fierce competitive streak that makes him a worthy opponent.
Cortland is ranked No. 18 in NCAA Division III this fall. After dropping their non-league opener to Buffalo State, 49-31, the Red Dragons have won eight straight games and claimed the conference crown.
Fernandez became a regular on Cortland’s offensive line when senior center Anthony Pedrotti sustained a high ankle sprain in the second quarter of the Red Dragon’s game against Montclair State on Sept. 29.
With the help of his skilled offensive line teammates, Fernandez stepped into the starting position at center and contributed to Cortland’s conference championship run. The Red Dragons bested league foes Western Connecticut State (72-14), Morrisville State (56-14), Montclair State (20-0), The College at New Jersey (42-28), Brockport State (45-27), Rowan Univ. (24-21) and Kean Univ. (31-17).
Fernandez began his football career at J. Taylor Finley Middle School. He really blossomed at Huntington High School, where he became a key cog in the Blue Devil gridiron machine. He played in the Suffolk All-Star game as a senior and was widely respected around the county.
In its final regular season game last week, Cortland topped visiting Ithaca College in the annual Cortica Jug rivalry for the third consecutive year, 16-10.
Cortland will host Framingham State of Massachusetts (10-1) in the first round of the 32-team NCAA Div. III playoffs on Saturday, Nov. 17 at noon. The winner will face either Wesley of Delaware (8-1) or Mount Ida of Massachusetts (8-2) in the second round Nov. 24.
Cortland earned its NCAA berth by winning the New Jersey Athletic Conference title with a 7-0 record. Framingham State is the New England Football Conference champion after defeating Salve Regina this past Saturday in the league's championship game. It will be the Red Dragons’ third NCAA appearance in five years and eighth overall.