Based on the way they played in the middle two quarters, maybe the Dutchmen didn't deserve to win today's football game with Rochester, but it was a heckuva fourth quarter rally that fell just short.

Rochester won its first game in Schenectady since 1987 and won for the first time in the last 10 games of the series when the Yellowjackets pulled off a 29-25 victory on Frank Bailey Field.

Union rallied in the fourth quarter to take a 25-22 lead with just 2:29 remaining in the game, and it looked like all of Union's earlier mistakes -- a botched field goal and three missed PATs among them -- would be forgotten.

But Rochester scored in just two minutes, and all of a sudden, the Yellowjackets held a 29-25 advantage with 29 seconds left. Surely, the game was over.

Not quite.

Union freshman quarterback Andy Connolly showed he has some poise. He found junior wideout Mike Concannon between two defenders for a huge 41-yard bomb that put the Dutchmen on the 16-yard line with 22 seconds left.

After spiking the ball to stop the clock, Connolly hooked up with former QB Jared Gourrier on a 12-yard pass that put the ball on the Rochester 5-yard line with four seconds left.

After a timeout, the Dutchmen called for a play-action pass, but they were in the wrong formation. Connolly scrambled all over the field, and even used an official for a block at one point before reversing direction back to the far side of the field and tossing the ball toward tight end Josh McKelligan in the far corner of the end zone.

Unfortunately for Union, Rochester safety Matt Stack stepped in front of McKelligan at the last second and tipped the ball away, saving the victory.

The loss wasted an outstanding effort by Union sophomore tailback Chris Coney, who ran for 136 yards and all four touchdowns for the Dutchmen.

Union is now 0-1 in the league and 1-2 overall. It's rare for the Dutchmen to lose their league opener. Now they will have to dig themselves out of a hole.

Next week, it's WPI. Although this Union team has talent, it appears no game will be easy. It could be a bumpy ride.