ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University football team, entering its 120^th year of existence, will look for its 16^th postseason appearance in 17 years in 2019. The Saxons have not missed the postseason since 2014, winning three ECAC Bowl Championships in 2015, 2017 and 2018 and making a run to the NCAA tournament quarterfinals in 2016.
 
The AU football program announced its 2019 schedule on Tuesday, featuring the first night game in Yunevich Stadium since 2002. In that game, Jesse Raynor '03 had a breakout-performance in which he rushed for 115 yards and three touchdowns, 165 kickoff return yards and blocked a punt, earning a feature on ESPN.
 
In addition to the night game, the Saxons will play four nonconference opponents and six Empire 8 foes. Homecoming weekend will be played against Morrisville State on October 5^th with kickoff at 1PM. AU will also unveil the newly minted "Hall of Fame Weekend" game on November 2 when they take on Utica College at 1PM.
 
One year removed from defeating Salisbury University 14-7 in the ECAC Asa. S. Bushnell Bowl Championship, the Saxons will look to take the next step to win the program's fourth Empire 8 Championship since joining the conference in 2000. The Saxons will need to replace key contributors from the 2018 team, but the coaching staff is optimistic that the team is going to make a run for the 2019 Empire 8 football title.
 
"I am extremely excited to see what the 2019 Saxons can do on the field this fall," Rankl said. "We have a great group of players returning as well as the best recruiting class that we have ever had. Our players and coaches have invested a lot of time preparing for next season. There is still a lot of work to do but we are definitely excited for a special season."
 
Key returners on offense include: quarterback Ben Burk (Lakewood, NY/Southwestern Central); running back Aaron Griffin (Queens, NY/Holy Cross); wide receiver/return specialist Kevin Bragaglia (Holbrook, NY/Sachem North); wide receiver Keandre Sanders (Syracuse, NY/Bishop Ludden); fullback/tight end E.J. Staniszewski (South Wales, NY/Holland); center Wes Senn (Randolph, NY/Randolph); guard Robert LoSordo (Lake Ronkonkoma, NY/Sachem North); offensive tackle Ethan Stewart (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South).  
 
Key Returners on defense include: defensive end Leo Pamphile (Spring Valley, NY/Spring Valley); defensive tackle/nose guard Russell Kohler (Seaford, NY/St. Anthony's); defensive end Henry Chau (Tallman, NY/Suffern); linebacker Nick Milgate (Hilton, NY/Hilton); linebacker Christopher Meano (Stottsville, NY/Hudson); linebacker Sean Cameron (Brooklyn, NY/Midwood); defensive back Ryan Elliott (Northport, NY/Northport); safety Raeqwon Greer (Buffalo, NY/Canisius); safety Jeremy Turenne (Brooklyn, NY/Midwood).
 
Thiel College Tomcats
AU opens the 2019 season on the road against Thiel College, who the Saxon drubbed in the 2018 opener, 44-16, in Yunevich Stadium. Burk threw 13-of-20 (65%) for 207 yards and one touchdown while Griffin rushed for 47 yards and a touchdown. Milgate led all returners with eight tackles, including one tackle for a loss. Elliott nabbed one pick. All-in-all, the Saxons racked up 476 yards of total offense (247 rushing; 229 passing) while holding the Tomcats to only 198 total yards (10 yards rushing; 198 passing). Thiel finished 0-10 in 2018 as part of the President's Athletic Conference (PAC). Overall, the Saxons are 12-6 against Thiel College dating back to 1914.

George Fox University Bruins
The Saxons return home for week two of the season, facing George Fox University for the first time in program history. The Bruins will travel to Alfred from Newberg, OR where they are members of the Northwest Conference (NWC). George Fox wrapped up the 2018 season with a 6-4 overall record and 4-3 record in NWC play. The Bruins averaged 323.4 yards per game including 181.4 rush yards and 142.0 pass yards per game. They scored 25.6 points per game while holding opponents to only 16.1 points per game and 276.3 yards per game. Their key win came in the final game of the season when the Bruins defeated the Puget Sound Loggers 62-48 to solidify their claim to third place in the NWC.
 
Ithaca College Bombers
AU hits the road again in week three when they travel to Ithaca, NY to take on the Bombers for the 60^th time in program history. The Saxons dropped the 2018 meeting in Yunevich Stadium, 21-13, taking a 13-0 lead into halftime. Milgate led all AU defenders with 18 total tackles – earning his way into the AU record book, tying the ninth-most tackles in a single-game in program history. Greer had seven tackles and one interception in the game. The Bombers closed out the season 8-3 overall and 4-1 in Liberty League play, finishing second in the conference.
 
The last time AU traveled to Bufferfield Stadium in 2017, they walked off with a 20-17 victory, scoring with 7:51 to go in the game after trailing the game since the second quarter. The Saxons are 2-1 against Ithaca since 2016 and 5-4 since 2010.

University of Rochester YellowJackets
During week four, AU will host the University of Rochester for the program's first home night game since 2002, with kickoff at 6PM. AU dominated the YellowJackets in 2018, 41-13. Griffin rushed for a season-high 94 yards and two touchdowns. Pamphile and Milgate spearheaded the Saxons on defense with nine and seven tackles, respectively. Milgate tacked on 1.5 tackles for a loss while Cameron chipped in with two sacks.
 
The U of Rochester closed out 2018 with a 1-9 overall record and 0-5 record in Liberty League play. The Saxons and the YellowJackets began their rivalry in 1897 and AU has the opportunity to knot the century-old series up in 2019. The YellowJackets currently hold the series lead, 23-22-2. However, the Saxons have not lost to the U of Rochester since 2010 and have outscored the YellowJackets 86-20 in the past two years.
 
Morrisville State College Mustangs
One week later, the Saxons well celebrate Homecoming Weekend against Morrisville State in Yunevich Stadium. AU narrowly escaped Morrisville in 2018, spoiling the Mustangs' Homecoming game, 27-22. Milgate tallied 13 tackles in the game while Kohler wrangled in eight ball-carriers. AU has not lost a Homecoming game since 2014 and is undefeated against Morrisville State since the programs began playing in 2015. The Mustangs finished 6-5 overall and 4-3 in Empire 8 play in 2018.
 
SUNY Cortland Red Dragons
After a week hiatus, AU will return to the field to take on Empire 8 rival, SUNY Cortland in Cortland, NY. The Saxons took home a thrilling win against the Red Dragons on Homecoming in 2018 behind one touchdown from Bragaglia and two touchdowns from Burk. Bragaglia's touchdown came with 1:27 left on the clock in the third and AU up by a narrow 31-28 margin. He collected the ball off a punt on the AU eight-yardline and weaved through the Red Dragon special teams unit for a 92-yard touchdown, breaking the school record for longest punt return. Cortland scored with 3:30 to go in the fourth to bring the game within one score, but the staunch Saxon defense held the Red Dragons at bay for the 38-33 win. Milgate was a force to be reckoned with in the linebacker position, taking down 13 ball carriers and pulling in one interception.
 
Cortland finished 7-3 overall and 5-2 in Empire 8 play in 2018, ranking second in the conference final standings.
 
Hartwick College Hawks
Next up, the Saxons will host Hartwick College, which AU has not lost to since 2014. Since that matchup the Saxons have outscored the Hawks 207-54, including a 41-3 victory on the road in 2018. Bragaglia scored two touchdowns in the game including a 25-yard rushing touchdown and 30-yard receiving touchdown. Burk threw for 217 yards and two touchdowns despite driving rain. Hartwick wrapped up the season 2-8 overall and 0-7 in Empire 8 play.
 
Utica College Pioneers
The Saxons remain at home the following week to host Utica College on Hall of Fame Weekend. AU looks to avenge a 30-22 loss on the road in 2018, despite coming back to take the lead after falling behind, 13-0. However, the Pioneers finished the job, scoring twice in the fourth quarter to create distance over the Saxons. The AU passing game came to life in the game with Burk throwing for 252 yards and two touchdowns. Sanders had a breakout game with 120 yards receiving and a touchdown while Bragaglia had a 50-yard touchdown reception. Pamphile and Milgate led the AU defense with 10 and nine tackles, respectively. Both Cameron and Turenne had a pick in the game. Utica closed out 2018 with a 7-4 overall record and 4-3 record in Empire 8 play, earning third place in the final season standings.
 
The College at Brockport Golden Eagles
One week later, AU will travel to The College at Brockport to square off with the Golden Eagles who took home a dominant 52-0 win in Yunevich Stadium last year en route to their second consecutive Empire 8 Championship. Brockport advanced to the NCAA Second Round before falling to RPI 21-13 at home.
 
St. John Fisher College Cardinals
Finally, the Saxons will wrap up the regular season with a rivalry showdown with St. John Fisher College who also took home a win in Yunevich Stadium in 2018, despite entering the game only 1-6 overall. AU held an edge in total yards (235-213) and rushing yards (158-84) but were unable to pull out the win after multiple offensive and special teams miscues. Griffin had one rushing touchdown in the game while Pamphile and Milgate had seven tackles, each.
 
St. John Fisher closed out one of the worst seasons in program history in 2018 3-6 overall and 3-4 in Empire 8 play.
 
The Saxons are playing their 120^th season after the program began in 1895. AU football missed four seasons from 1942-1945 due to World War II. Overall, the Saxons are 533-373-45 (.584) dating back to the "Alfred Eleven."
 
Season Tickets are currently on sale at www.GoSaxons.com/SeasonTickets.