UTICA, N.Y. – The Utica College football team tallied 20 unanswered points to defeat host Becker College 20-10 Saturday afternoon in Worcester, Mass.

Becker got on the board first with a 12-play 70 yard drive topped off by a 11-yard quarterback keeper by freshman Shane Swift (Worcester/Worcester, MA). The Hawks would answer right back with a field goal and jumped out to a 10-0 lead with 10:22 left in the first half.

The Pioneers received a much needed boost from freshman running back Kamaal Mabry (Goshen Central/Goshen), who tallied 55 yards on four carries in his first collegiate drive. Mabry capped the drive with a five-yard touchdown run with 8:35 left in the half to give the Pioneers their first points of the season.

The Pioneers dominated the second half collecting 199 yards of total offense, including 118 yards on the ground. Sophomore running back Anthony Marzano (Mechanicville/Mechanicville) scored his first touchdown of the season on a two yard run in the second quarter. Kicker Mike Blanchfield (Cambridge/Hoosick Falls) missed the extra point and the Pioneers led 13-10.

Utica quarterback Nick Martin (Rome Free Academy/Rome) closed out the scoring in the fourth quarter on a six yard touchdown pass to tight end Mark Neff (Dolgeville/Little Falls). Martin finished the day 12-for-23, while tallying 116 yards and no turnovers.

The Pioneers defense allowed just 64 yards of total offense as they blanked the Hawks in the second half. Marco Rubino (T.R. Proctor/Utica) led the way tallying a team-high nine tackles (three for a loss), while Corey Jure (Sheepshead Bay/Brooklyn) and Marcus Maroney (Lockport/Utica) each had four and a half tackles a piece. Sophomore linebacker Rayon Mattis (Lawrence Academy/Corona), who would later be sidelined with an injury, recorded four tackles. Junior defensive back Lazarus Morgan (Christopher Columbus/Brox, NY) tallied his first interception of the year as Becker threatened to score late in the fourth quarter.

Andrew Casullo (Little Falls/Little Falls) led all receivers with four catches for 34 yards, and Neff snagged three balls for 30 yards. Marzano finished the day with a career-high 109 yards on 24 carries.

Utica, who is currently ranked No. 9 out of 17 New York State Teams by New York Division III Football, is now 2-0 lifetime against the Hawks after defeating them 28-8 at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium last season.

The Pioneers (1-0) return to action at 1:00 p.m. Saturday against host Husson College in Bangor, ME.

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