ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University Saxons (4-2, Empire 3-1) will travel to Utica, NY to take on the Pioneers of Utica College on Saturday, October 20 in an Empire 8 showdown.
 
DATE – TIME:  October 20, 2018 – 2 PM
LOCATION: Utica, NY – Charles A. Gaetano Stadium
LINKS: Video | Live Stats | Game Notes (PDF)
TICKET PRICES: Inquire with Utica College at (315) 792-3051
 
SERIES HISTORY
 
The Saxons are 15-2 against the Pioneers dating back to Utica's first year of NCAA Football in 2001. AU's only losses to Utica came in 2012 and 2014. Since 2015 AU has beaten Utica by a combined 25 point with the closest game coming in 2015 when AU snuck out with a 20-16 win.
 
The Saxons defeated the Pioneers 24-17 in 2017 inside Yunevich Stadium. That matchup came in only the second week of the season, lifting AU to 2-0 on the year. Jayden Gavidia led AU on offense with the second-best sinlg- game receiving performance in AU history. He brought in 13 receptions (school record) for 207 yards (only two yards short of school record) and one touchdown. Maleke Fuentes '18 led the Saxons on the ground with 83 yards while Casey Boston accumulated 71 yards in the game. Both had one touchdown in the game.
 
The Saxons opened the scoring when Gavidia and Bryce Morrison connected for a nine-yard touchdown at the end of the first. Trevor Monk '18 tacked on another three points near the end of the second quarter, giving AU the 10-0 lead. However, the Pioneers managed to score three as time expired in the first half, cutting into AU's lead, 10-3.
 
The Saxons wasted no time scoring in the second half when Boston rushed for a 57-yard touchdown increasing the AU advantage. However, Utica matched the score at the end of the quarter bringing the game to 17-10 at the end of the third.
 
Fuentes gave the Saxons more breathing room in the fourth quarter, finding pay-dirt from 27 yards out. The AU defense shut down Utica for ten minutes before allowing a score with 2:05 to go in the game. The Pioneers attempted an onside kick but were unsuccessful as the Saxons ran out the play clock to win the game.
 
Cole Reed recorded nine tackles in the game, trailing only A.J. Licata '18 (13).
 
LAST GAME FOR THE SAXONS
 
The Saxons suffered their first shutout loss since 2011 against #4 ranked Brockport last week, 52-0. The Golden Eagles dominated the game from the opening kickoff shutting down the AU offense.
 
Sophomore Nas Smith was held under 100 yards rushing for only the second time in 2018 with a team-high 28 yards. As a team, AU had only 84 yards of total offense in game after entering the game with 375.8 yards per game.
 
Senior Cole Reed led the AU defense with 12 tackles including 0.5 sacks. Fellow senior Eric Graham had a season-high seven tackles in the matchup.
 
LAST GAME FOR THE PIONEERS
 
Utica is coming off its third loss of the 2018 season, dropping a 41-24 matchup to Morrisville. The Pioneers fell behind 14-0 before Maki Medici hit a 31-yard field goal to get them on the board. However, the Mustangs answered back with another touchdown, increasing the lead 21-3.
 
Utica found the end zone before the half when Logan Wilcox and Nate Palmer connected on a four-yard touchdown pass. Morrisville maintained the 28-10 lead into the intermission.
In the second half the teams went back and forth with the scoring, as Morrisville continued to outpace Utica, 41-24.
 
Wilcox threw for 315 yards on 30-of-54 (55.6%) passing with three touchdowns and two interceptions. As a unit, the Pioneers rushed for 77 yards in the game while allowing 250 yards passing and 195 yards rushing to the Mustangs.
 
Kwasi Addo led the Pioneers with 20 tackles in the game, including 2.0 tackles for a loss.