The St. Lawrence University football team cruised to its eighth victory of the season on Saturday, 42-13, over the United States Merchant Marine Academy in the annual Hoffman Cup game in Kings Point, NY. Quarterback Mike Lefflbine threw five touchdown passes to set a new University single-season record, while Mitch Gallagher hauled in three of those touchdowns en route to the first 8-win season since 1982.

St. Lawrence (8-2, 6-1), which remains in the conversation for an NCAA Tournament at-large bid, struck early and often against the Mariners (2-8, 0-7). The Saints built a 42-7 lead a mere 2:44 into the third quarter before pulling the starters and running clock for the sound victory.

"I'm very happy for our seniors to finish the regular season by bringing back the Hoffman Cup," said St. Lawrence head coach Mark Raymond. "I'm very proud of this team and what they have accomplished this season. Their focus and competitive desire has been rewarded with an eight-win season."

The Saints, who won the Hoffman Cup in a 31-0 win at Leckonby Stadium last season, were led by Lefflbine's career-high outing. The Greenwich, CT native put the finishing touches on one of the best seasons at quarterback in St. Lawrence history by finishing 15-of-21 passing for 265 yards and the five touchdowns. His 21 touchdown passes this season breaks Kirk Dempsey's total of 19 set back in 1976.

Meanwhile, Gallagher closed with seven catches for 84 yards and three scores. Austen Lauricella and Vincenzo Ferraro each added long touchdown receptions of 48 and 60 yards, respectively. Defensively, Chyron Brown-Wallace and Jayson Leigh had eight tackles each, including 2.0 for a loss from Brown-Wallace. Seniors Klayton Johnson and John Lesofsky each played well, as Johnson had 2.0 tackles for a loss including a sack and Lesofsky made the game's lone interception in his final collegiate contest.

Merchant Marine, which runs the triple option, rushed the ball 62 times for 191 yards for a mere 3.1 yard average. Robert Moore had 82 yards, while Colin Hinchey had 81 and a touchdown for the Mariners. Jake Gnieser had 71 yards to lead St. Lawrence on only three carries, one of which was a 66-yard touchdown burst.

Ferraro got St. Lawrence on the board, taking a 3rd-and-8 pass 60 yards for a touchdown only 3:01 into the game. Andrew Carvalho, who finished a perfect 6-for-6 on extra points in the game, made it 7-0. After the defense forced a punt, Gnieser went 66 yards on second down for the score, helping to push the lead to 14-0.

Merchant Marine got a score back and cut the deficit to 14-7 after a 12-play, 70 yard touchdown drive capped by a pass from Moore to Patrick Rice for an 18-yard strike on the first play of the second quarter. However, after a 48-yard kick-off return by Evan Lapice got the visitors in Merchant Marine territory, Lefflbine found Lauricella on the first play of the drive for a 48-yard touchdown pass and a 21-7 advantage after just six offensive snaps.

St. Lawrence pulled away later in the half, as the defense forced back-to-back punts and Lefflbine capitalized by utilizing Gallagher's size. The Malone, NY native made a fantastic catch for a 13-yard touchdown with 6:11 left in the half, then added another incredible grab for a 28-yard touchdown on the following drive for a 35-7 lead at halftime.

Lefflbine and his offense struck on the first drive of the third quarter, as Lapice gave them great field position with a 55-yard return to the Mariner 36. After a completion to Leondre Simmon reached the 10-yard line, Lefflbine hit Gallagher for an 8-yard touchdown to finish his collegiate career just 2:44 into the third. Carvalho's extra point capped the team's scoring up 42-7.

The Saints would run the ball with their second team offense throughout the remainder of the second half, eating up yardage and clock time. Merchant Marine would score the lone touchdown the rest of the way, a 5-yard rush by Hinchey to cap the game scoring with 2:07 left in the game. The two-point conversion try failed, as the game closed with the score of 42-13.

Lefflbine was named St. Lawrence's Most Valuable Player in the Hoffman Cup game, while Moore was given the honor for Merchant Marine. Following the game, Mr. Tom Hoffman presented the Hoffman Cup to Lefflbine and Lapice and head coach Mark Raymond. The inaugural Hoffman Cup game was played in 2003 to commemorate the rivalry between the St. Lawrence University and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy football teams. Tom Hoffman, a 1975 graduate of St. Lawrence, dedicated the game to his father, Captain Richard A. Hoffman, a 1944 graduate of Merchant Marine, for his 80th birthday. Captain Hoffman passed away in 2006, but this tradition honors both he and his family's commitment to athletics, the Merchant Marine Academy and St. Lawrence University.

Bids for the 2014 NCAA Division III football tournament are announced tomorrow, Sunday, November 16.