UTICA, NY – The Utica College football team defeated visiting Hartwick College 42-40 Saturday afternoon at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium in the final regular-season game for the Pioneers. With the win Utica finishes the regular-season 6-4 overall, marking its first winning season in program history.
Sophomore running back Mike Capra (Schenectady/Schenectady) posted a career-day tallying 235 yards on 27 carries and found the end zone on two different occasions for Utica, including the games initial touchdown on a six yard scamper late in the first quarter.
Hartwick answered right back with 3:30 remaining and closed out the first quarter scoring making it a 7-7 ballgame. Utica answered right back with a 15 play, 58-yard drive that lasted just over seven minutes, capped by a one-yard Brian Barth (Greene Central/Greene) touchdown run.
The Hawks could not seem to find an answer for Utica's running game as the Pioneers posted 473 yards rushing on the day, including a 34-yard touchdown run by senior fullback Paul Hart (Oriskany Central/Whitesboro) late in the second quarter. Utica closed out the first half and went into the locker room with a 28-21 lead over the Hartwick.
The Pioneers came out strong once again in the second half with Hart scoring on a 19-yard run to put Utica up 35-21. Hart finished the day with 143 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns, while averaging 8.4 yards per carry.
Freshman quarterback Alex Conlon (Suffolk CCC/East Northport) scored on a quarterback keeper early in the fourth quarter to cap the scoring for Utica. Conlon, who only threw two passes on the evening, ran for 81 yards averaging 6.8 yards per carry.
The Hawks fought back with two late scores, but the Pioneer defense came up with a huge fourth down defensive stand with 3:48 remaining in the fourth quarter to force a Hartwick turnover and an inevitable Utica victory.
Defensive back Adam Keller (Rome free Academy/Lee Center) led Utica with nine tackles on the day and one pass break up, while Bryan Johnson (Bristol/Levittown, PA) posted eight tackles for the Pioneers.
Senior Dominic Tripp (New Hartford/Utica) made four tackles, and Michael Sanchez (Patchogue/Medford) added three of his own, including one tackle for a loss.
Freshman punter Ben Atwood (Vernon-Verona Sherill/Verona) put all three of his punts inside the twenty-yard line including a 53-yard bomb in the fourth quarter to pin the Hawks deep in their own zone.
Rich Williams (Bishop Ford/Brooklyn) made 3.5 tackles on the day, while Rich Rivenburg (Frankfort-Schuyler/Frankfort) and Tyrell Robinson (Middletown/Middletown) combined to make four tackles.
Defensive back Jon Klosner (IIion/IIion) made 1.5 tackles and one pass break up, and Rayon Mattis (Lawrence Academy/Corona) posted two tackles of his own.
The Pioneers, whose six wins this season matches the amount of wins the program compiled over the past four seasons, are awaiting a possible post-season bid to the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championships.
(New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) #
