UTICA, NY – Host Utica College defeated the Alfred University football team, 35-14, Saturday afternoon in an Empire 8 Conference clash.
 
The teams played to a 14-14 tie after one half of play before the host Pioneers outscored the Saxons 21-0 after intermission. With the loss, AU falls to 5-4 overall and 3-4 in Empire 8 play, while Utica improves to 6-3 overall (4-3 Empire 8).
 
After Utica scored on a punt return 5:10 into the contest, Alfred responded, driving 68 yards in 10 plays, with sophomore quarterback Tyler Johnson (East Syracuse, NY/East Syracuse-Minoa) connecting with senior tight end Isiah Young (Groton, NY/Groton) on a 14-yard scoring pass with 4:47 left in the first.
 
Utica went up 14-7 on the Pioneers next drive, but AU answered on its next drive, marching 79 yards in 10 plays before Johnson scored on a one-yard run with 5:24 left in the half to knot the contest at 14-14.
 
Utica scored a touchdown in the third to take a 21-14 lead, and added two more in the fourth to put the game away. Alfred's six second-half possessions resulted in three punts and two turnovers, and the Saxons turned the ball over on downs on their final drive.
 
Johnson rushed for 97 yards and a TD on 22 carries and completed 16 of 32 passes for 167 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Young finished with a game-high seven catches for 79 yards and a touchdown, while sophomore wideout Brendan Buisch (Hornell, NY/Hornell) had four catches for 55 yards.
 
Utica QB Connor Butkiewicz threw for 200 yards and a pair of touchdowns to wide receiver Anthony Acevedo (six catches, 65 yards), while tailback J'Von Evans ran for 115 yards and a touchdown.
 
Freshman linebacker A.J. Licata (Lake View, NY/Frontier) had a game-high 12 tackles (10 solo, 1 ½ for loss) to lead the Saxon defense. Junior linebacker Corry Wallace (Mastic Beach, NY/Longwood) had 11 tackles; senior linebacker Justin Liberta (Hamburg, NY/Frontier) had eight (1 ½ for loss) and sophomore end Zack Bacon (Hornell, NY/Hornell) forced a fumble.
 
Juwan Wilson had 11 tackles and recovered a rumble for Utica, while Nick Woodman had seven tackles, including 1 ½ sacks.
 
AU ends its regular season next Saturday, Nov. 15, at 1 p.m. at home against St. John Fisher.