UTICA, NY - The Utica College football team lost its second Empire 8 conference competition of the season, dropping a 31-20 decision to the Saxons of Alfred University on Saturday afternoon at Charles A. Gaetano stadium.

The outcome improves Alfred's overall record to 5-1 on the year, while Utica falls to 2-4 with four contests remaining.

The Pioneers, who were held scoreless over the game's first half of action, generated 236 yards of total offense (81 yards rushing, 155 yards passing), while the Saxons netted 230 yards of offense (107 yards rushing, 123 yards passing) for the game.

Alfred closed out a low scoring first half with a 7-0 lead on a five-yard touchdown delivery from quarterback Ron Duliba to TyQuan Horton at the 7:45 mark of the first quarter.

UC sophomore running back Tyrell Robinson (Middletown, NY/Middletown) scored on a one-yard touchdown dash early in the third quarter, before Alfred responded with 24 unanswered points on a Duliba end zone pass to Chris Reger, two Chaz Bruce touchdown runs (16-, 10-yards), and a 32-yard Chris Reynolds field goal.

Junior Jeff Muha (Boonville, NY/Adirondack) scored on a three-yard run late in the fourth quarter, and freshman receiver John Slopnick (Mohawk, NY/Mohawk) caught a touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Greg Pinelli (Bristol, PA/Bristol), who completed 7-of-9 attempts on the afternoon, from six yards out with no time left on the clock to account for the Pioneers' last effort.

The Utica defense, which recovered four Saxon fumbles and caused six total, was led by sophomore defensive back Marcus Maroney (Utica, NY/Lockport), who finished with 10 tackles, including one for a loss, one interception, and a pass breakup. Senior defensive back Anthony Venturino (Utica, NY/DeSales) managed 10 tackles and forced a fumble, and senior defensive back Dominic Tripp (Utica, NY/New Hartford) recovered two fumbles, which he returned for 35 total yards. Sophomore lineman Marco Rubino (Utica, NY/Thomas R. Proctor) had seven tackles and a sack, and senior lineman Bryon George (Geneva, NY/Midlakes) ended his day with four tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery to round out the team's top defensive performers on the afternoon.

The Pioneers were led offensively by sophomore quarterback Nick Martin (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy), who completed 10 passes for 100 yards on the day. Junior tight end Brian Barth (Greene, NY/Greene Central) caught six passes for 45 yards and Slopnick collected five receptions for 33 yards to aid the UC aerial attack.

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