UTICA, NY - A late scoring drive for the Alfred University football team resulted in a 38-34 win over Utica University on Saturday from Charles A. Gaetano Stadium. 

Chris Kelly (Lake Ronkonkoma, NY/Lake Ronkonkoma) completed 15-of-23 passes for 241 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns. Dion Anderson (Buffalo, NY/St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute) had a breakout performance, totaling 170 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns, while adding 93 rushing yards to go with a rushing touchdown. Max Freeman IV (Corning, NY/Corning-Painted Post) finished the game with 81 rushing yards and a touchdown. Roque Santiago (Canisteo, NY/Canisteo-Greenwood) led the AU defense with a team-high 12 tackles. 

"I am really proud of the way our kids came out and competed today," Head Coach Bob Rankl said. "It was definitely a team victory, and we had contributions from a lot of players offensively, defensively, and on special teams. We're excited to start working for St. John Fisher next Saturday!"

A 10-play drive by Alfred University in the opening quarter led to a 29-yard field goal by Dominic Bronco (Rochester, NY/Aquinas) for the initial lead. However, the Pioneers quickly responded with a touchdown of their own. In the second quarter, a huge tackle by Aidan Ploss (Herkimer, NY/Herkimer) led to a turnover on downs. The Saxons marched down the field, and on the opposing goal line, Alexander Coffey (Columbia, MD/Long Reach) found the back of the end zone to give the lead back to AU. On the following drive, the Alfred University defense once again stepped up and forced a turnover on downs. Moments later, Freeman IV scored for the Saxons to extend the advantage. Utica scored once more before Anderson ran it in for an 11-yard touchdown. The Pioneers failed to convert a last-minute field goal, allowing AU to go into halftime with a 24-14 lead. 

The Pioneers made their way to the opposing 12-yard line, but a tackle by Joe Copp (Syracuse, NY/East Syracuse-Minoa) led to another turnover on downs. Utica came away with a defensive touchdown, cutting their deficit in the third quarter. The Saxons answered with a 39-yard touchdown pass from Kelly to Anderson. Martin Flanders Jr (Schuylerville, NY/Schuylerville) was the next to step up for the Alfred University defense, forcing the turnover on downs, as AU led 31-21 with one quarter remaining. 

In the fourth quarter, the Pioneers scored 13 straight points to force Alfred University to play from behind with 1:52 remaining in the game. Completed passes to Andrew Morling (Canisteo, NY/Canisteo-Greenwood) and Thomas Welch (Avon, NY/Avon) had AU step up in opposing territory. A 15-yard pass from Kelly to Anderson placed the Saxons in the red zone. On the very next play, Kelly found Anderson for a 12-yard touchdown and the victory. 

Alfred University will next return home to face St. John Fisher University at 1:00 PM.