BROCKPORT, NY – The Alfred University football team (6-3, 4-2 Empire 8) fell to #10 Brockport, 35-25, on the road Saturday on Bob Boozer Field.
 
Senior Maleke Fuentes (Olean, NY/Olean) surpassed 2,000 career-rushing yards in the game and currently stands with 2,032 yards. He is only 367 yards short of making his way into the top-10 rushers in AU history, behind Max Freeman '96 with 2,399 yards rushing from 1993-1996.
 
The Saxons fell behind early allowing 14 unanswered points to the Golden Eagles. However, four minutes into the second quarter, junior quarterback Bryce Morrison (Kennedy, NY/Randolph) hit junior wideout Jayden Gavidia (Homer, NY/Homer) on a cross-route and Gavidia turned the play into a 57-yard gain. One play later, Morrison found Fuentes on a screen pass for AU's first touchdown of the afternoon. Senior Trevor Monk (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) knocked the extra point through, bringing the Saxons within seven. The score was the first touchdown Brockport had allowed since October 14.
 
Brockport's next possession was halted by the steadfast Saxon defense in three plays. The Golden Eagles botched the snap on the ensuing punt, giving AU the ball at the Brockport 18-yard line. The offense managed to get down to the three-yard line, but settled for three points on a 20-yard field goal by Monk.
 
The Golden Eagles took possession again, only to have their drive terminated by an interception by senior linebacker A.J. LiCata (Lake View, NY/Frontier) at the Alfred 31-yard line. The pick marks LiCata's second interception in as many games. However, the Saxons were forced to punt with 28 second left in the half. Brockport looked to make a move towards the end zone before the break, but penalties squandered their chance and the score remained 14-10 at halftime.
 
AU forced a turnover on downs to open the second half after Brockport drove down to the AU red zone. However, the first play of the Saxon drive turned into points the other way when Jake O'Connell intercepted the ball and returned it for a touchdown, giving the Golden Eagles a 21-10 lead. Brockport added another score only minutes later to bring the game to 28-10.
 
The Saxons battled back on their next drive, covering 73 yards in 3:37 to close the gap 28-17. Morrison found junior tight end Michal Urban (Ridgewood, NY/Kiski Prep) for a seven-yard touchdown. The score was Urban's first of his career.
 
The Golden Eagles looked to strike back on their next possession, but a sack by junior Ty Timmerman (Corning, NY/Corning East) stopped the drive in its tracks. On AU's next possession, the Saxons marched down the field and brought the game within a field goal, 28-25, when first-year Aaron Griffin (East Elhurst, NY/Holy Cross) stormed into the end zone from two yards out.
 
On Brockport's next possession, they took to the air, but LiCata ripped down his second interception of the day. However, AU was unable to capitalize on the favorable field position.
 
The Saxons' final opportunity came with 3:42 left in the game after forcing a punt and starting the drive on their own 48-yard line. AU's chance was thwarted on the first play when Morrison was picked for the second time in the game. Brockport paraded down the field and put another score on the board, making it a two-possession game, 35-25. That's where the game remained when time ran out.
 
AU posted 263 yards of offense while Brockport gained 304 yards. The Saxon rush game was held to only 33 net yards on the ground by the Golden Eagles' defense, which ranks first in the nation.
 
Morrison threw for 230 yards on 17-of-25 passing and two touchdowns. Fuentes led the team with 35 yards rushing. Joe Germinerio paced Brockport in the air with 208 yards and two touchdowns. Christian Hollister and Justin Morrison led the ground-attack with 65 and 56 yards, respectively. Hollister and Germinerio found the end zone on while rushing the ball.
 
Junior Cole Reed (Gratz, PA/Upper Dauphin Area) was the leading tackler for AU with 16 total tackles (9 solo; 7 assisted). Junior Eric Graham and Timmerman had nine (six solo; three assisted) and eight (five solo; three assisted).  Timmerman led the team with one sack. Austin Dean led the Golden Eagles with nine tackles including 3.5 for a loss and two sacks.
 
The Saxons are back in action next Saturday when they host Hartwick College in their season finale.