ITHACA, NY – The Alfred University football team fell in Empire 8 action to Ithaca College on Saturday afternoon on the road, 38-18

The host Bombers had a productive second half on both sides of the ball. They kept the Saxons (3-1, 1-1 Empire 8) to only a Joe Ryan (Holbrook, NY/Sachem East) touchdown that resulted in a two-point conversion while they put up 24 points on the way to the win.

The first quarter remained scoreless for both teams but it was the Saxons who lit up the scoreboard first with a Trevor Monk (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool), 22-yard field goal at 12:36. Ithaca responded just over a minute later with a touchdown, making it a 7-3 Bombers lead. Both teams ended the half with rushing touchdowns. Tyler Johnson (East Syracuse, NY/East Syracuse-Minoa) was the Saxon who ran in the 13-yard score with 33 seconds remaining in the half.

Ithaca totaled 253 yards on the ground and kept Alfred University to just 75 yards rushing. The Saxons held the advantage in passing yards as they broke the 200-yard mark with 209. Ithaca only had 145 yards going through the air.

Alfred was 2-of-4 on fourth down conversions while both teams managed to convert on third downs only five times each.

Johnson completed 19-of-46 passes for the 209 yards and one touchdown to go with his rushing TD. His longest pass of the day was a 34-yard throw to Jayden Gavidia (Homer, NY/Homer). Johnson also led the Alfred offense in rushing with 36 net yards on 16 attempts with a long of 13 yards.

Casey Bright (Pulaski, NY/Pulaski) followed suit with six attempts for 35 net yards. Emile Frigon (Syracuse, NY/East Syracuse-Minoa) was the biggest earner in receiving yards with five receptions for 71 yards and a long of 24. Ryan's lone catch was the eight-yard touchdown he had in the fourth quarter.

Corry Wallace (Mastic Beach, NY/Longwood) was productive on defense with 11 total tackles (five solo and six assisted), one and a half tackles for a loss for a total of 15 yards and also picked off a pass for a six-yard return. Michael Joiner (Webster, NY/Webster Schroeder) had two solo tackles and added six assisted while also breaking up two passes.

The Saxons will next host Morrisville State College on Saturday, October 3 at 1:00 pm. The weekend is also Alfred University's homecoming weekend.