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Ryan Elliott
Peter Mangels
19
Winner UTICA UTICA 4-4 , 2-3
10
Alfred University ALFRED 5-3 , 2-2
Winner
UTICA UTICA
4-4 , 2-3
19
Final
10
Alfred University ALFRED
5-3 , 2-2
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
UTICA UTICA 0 10 3 6 19
ALFRED Alfred University 3 7 0 0 10

Game Recap: Football |

Saxons drop home finale to Utica, 19-10

ALFRED, N.Y. – The Utica defense held the Alfred University football offense in check as the Saxons suffered a 19-10 Empire 8 loss to the Pioneers in their home finale from Yunevich Stadium Saturday afternoon.
 
Alfred (5-3, 2-2 Empire 8) drops its first home contest of the season, moving to a tie for third place in the league standings. Utica (4-4, 2-3 Empire 8) snaps a two-game losing streak and beats the Saxons at Yunevich for the first time in program history.
 
Casey Boston (Brooklyn, N.Y./Midwood) led the team through the air, completing 8-of-16 passes for 98 yards. Boston added 43 yards on the ground. Aaron Griffin (Queens, N.Y./Holy Cross) saw his streak of consecutive 100-yard rushing games end, as he added 83 yards on 16 carries, scoring the team's lone touchdown. A.O. Othman (Syracuse, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy) led the team in receiving with four receptions for 45 yards.
 
On the defensive end, Raeqwon Greer (Buffalo, N.Y./Canisius) led the way with 12 tackles (six solo). Nick Milgate (Hilton, N.Y. /Hilton) added 10 tackles, one for loss, and an interception.
 
Maki Medici led the way for Utica with four made field goals. Ryan VanGalen completed 15-of-19 passes for 120 yards, adding a touchdown and an interception. Brad Dougherty added 101 yards on the ground, on 25 carries.
 
After a quick Utica drive, Alfred marched down the field, getting on the board with a Dustin McCaslin 25-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead. Utica then went on a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, capped off by Ryan VanGalen's pass to J.J. O'Connor up the middle for a seven-yard score.
 
After a stalled Saxon drive, Utica had the ball on its own side, facing a 3rd and long situation. VanGalen looked to throw deep, but Milgate was there to pick off the throw at the 38-yard line, running it all the way back to the Utica 1-yard line. From there, the Saxons just needed one play to take the lead, as Griffin pushed ahead for the 1-yard touchdown run at the 8:40 mark.
 
The teams then traded possessions to end the half, with the Pioneers tying the game at 10, off a Medici 34-yard field goal.
 
Utica made a big special teams' play to begin the second half, as Tim Hogan forced and recovered a Malik McCray kick return. With the short field, Utica needed nine plays and 26 yards to take the lead, as Medici kicked a 21-yard field goal.
 
The Pioneers kept the Alfred offense at bay throughout the second half, making a few big third-down stops. Utica would add to its lead with a pair of Medici field goals; the first coming on a 30-yard try to begin the fourth quarter. Medici's last field goal was the biggest, as he eked out a 48-yard try against the wind, giving Utica a two-score lead, 19-10 at the 2:23 mark.
 
Alfred's offense got going on its last drive, as Boston completed passes to Griffin and Othman. Utica's defense then closed the game, as a sack and fumble by Jimmy Warren was recovered by the Pioneers with 1:34 to go. Utica then took a few kneel-downs to end the game.
 
Alfred will look to get back on track next weekend, traveling to Brockport on Nov. 9, in a 12 p.m. start.

 
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