UTICA, NY – The Alfred University Football team returned to action for the first time in 493 days, falling to Empire 8 foe Utica by a 30-17 score in the season opener from Charles A. Gaetano Stadium Tuesday afternoon.
 
The Saxons fall to 0-1 overall. Utica, also playing its season opener, begins at 1-0. The two teams will turn around and face each other at Yunevich Stadium in Alfred, N.Y. on Monday, March 29 at 5 p.m.
 
The Saxons outgained Utica by a 320-288 margin offensively but were undone by three turnovers and solid special teams play by the Pioneers. Both defenses were stout on third down, as Utica converted on 4-of-13 attempts, while the Saxons went 1-of-15.
 
Sophomore quarterback Connor Englert (Dansville, N.Y./Wayland-Cohocton) made his first career start, throwing for 234 yards on 46 passing attempts, tossing two touchdowns and throwing three interceptions. Kevin Bragaglia (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem North) did a little bit of everything for the Saxons, tallying 302 all-purpose yards. He rushed for 65 yards on just 12 carries, tallied 37 yards on four receptions, and added 200 combined yards on kick and punt returns, including a 55-yard kick return and a 51-yard punt return. He also tallied 197 yards on six punts, pinning one inside the 20.
 
Seven Saxons caught a pass in the contest, led by junior wide receiver Nazier Landes (Ithaca, N.Y./Ithaca). Landes had a career performance, tallying five catches for 103 yards and a touchdown. Junior wide receiver Zach Leinenbach (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield) scored the other touchdown through the air, tallying two receptions for 23 yards.
 
On defense, senior linebacker Jason Gauthier (Java Center, N.Y./Pioneer) led the team with 12 tackles, seven solo, and four for loss. Senior linebacker Jeremiah Young (Buffalo, N.Y./Canisius), making the move to linebacker from corner, was more than comfortable in his new role, adding 10 total tackles. First-year linebacker Joe Copp (Minoa, N.Y./East Syracuse Minoa) made the most of his first career start, making nine tackles, adding an interception and a fumble recovery on special teams. Sophomore defensive back Tommy Vaughan (Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Sachem North) and junior defensive lineman Tim Dahl (Cobleskill, N.Y./Cobleskill-Richmondville) each tallied seven tackles.
 
The Pioneers tallied 159 yards on the ground in the win, led by Lamont Griff's 114-yard performance on 25 carries, scoring twice. Sonny Badyna was serviceable behind center, completing 14-of-27 passes for 129 yards and an interception. Defensively, Devin Bryant led the team with four tackles, while Darius Johnson, Joey Lipani, and Jordan Weaver tallied the Pioneer interceptions. Maki Medici was solid on special teams, averaging 41.8 yards on eight punts, pinning two punts inside the Alfred one-yard line.

"I was certainly disappointed with the outcome, but I think we did some good things on both sides of the ball," said head coach Bob Rankl. "Overall, we need to eliminate some mistakes and just play a bit more consistent. That being said, it was outstanding to get on the field with our coaches and players. We look forward to getting an opportunity to play again next week."
 
The Saxon special teams' unit made a big play early in the game. AU was stopped on its opening possession of the game, but Bragaglia's ensuing punt was muffed by Archie Bartolotti, as Copp recovered the ball at the Utica 41-yard line. That momentum was short lived, however. A few plays later, Weaver picked off an Englert pass, going 75 yards the other way for the opening score of the game. Utica doubled the score early in the second quarter, after an eight-play, 58-yard drive was capped by the short touchdown run by Tim Hogan.
 
Alfred responded with a long 13-play, 72-yard scoring drive of their own, as junior kicker Dustin McCaslin (Ashville, N.Y./Chautauqua Lake) finished the drive with a 25-yard field goal, getting the Saxons on the board down 14-3. Later on in the period, Utica took advantage of an Alfred interception on their own eight-yard line, as McGriff punched it in from four yards to take a 21-3 lead. AU responded a few drives later, successfully running the two-minute offense with a quick eight-play, 74-yard drive, capped by a seven-yard touchdown toss from Englert to Leinenback up the middle. The Saxons went to halftime trailing 21-10.
 
Utica scored first in the second half, taking a 28-10 lead after McGriff's second touchdown run of the game. With the Pioneers driving once again late in the third, Copp stepped in front of a Badyna pass up the middle, picking off the Pioneer quarterback and running to the Alfred 47-yard line. That set up an Englert dart to Landes five plays later, as the pair connected on a 35-yard touchdown as AU trailed 28-17.
 
The Saxons had a number of opportunities to close the gap, but the Utica defense made key third-down stops to hold off an AU comeback. The Pioneers closed the scoring with a safety for the 30-17 margin.