UTICA, N.Y. – The Utica College football team lost to host Springfield College, who is currently ranked No. 25 in the nation by D3football.com, 41-7 Saturday afternoon in Empire 8 Conference action.

The Pride came out of the gates strong and determined to put points on the board early as they marched 70 yards on five plays capped by a five-yard Chris Sharpe touchdown run in front of 1,742 fans. The 2:50 drive was highlighted by a 61-yard scamper by fullback Andrew Jackson who was brought down at the Utica six yard line setting up the Sharpe touchdown run.

Lazarus Morgan (Christopher Columbus/Bronx) returned the ensuing kickoff 11 yards for the Pioneers and the Utica offense looked to bounce right back. After a quick first down pass from senior quarterback Nick Martin (RFA/Rome) to James Proniewych (Pat-Med/Medford), the Pioneers were stopped on three consecutive plays and forced to punt. Kicker Ben Atwood's (VVS/Verona) punt was blocked and recovered by Springfield on the Pioneers eight yard line setting up a Tim Brouillard touchdown run on the very next play to give the Pride a 14-0 lead just over five minutes into the game.

Utica would see a lot more of option quarterback Chris Sharpe, who was recently named to the Don Hansen's Football Gazette Team of the Week, as he scored on a 26-yard run just fifty eight seconds into the third quarter and the Pride led 21-0. Sharpe currently leads all of Division II football in rushing yards per game and tallied 103 yards and three touchdowns on the day.

After a four-and-out series for the Pioneers Atwood was forced to punt and Springfield took over on its own 45 yard line. Sharpe completed a 33-yard pass to Aland Joseph, followed by a 12-yard Joseph touchdown run to give the Pride a 27-0 lead with two minutes and four second remaining in the first half.

Utica allowed just seven points in the entire second half, but the Pioneers could not seem to get the ball rolling on offense. Martin completed nine passes for 146 yards and three interceptions on the day, while freshman running back Kamaal Mabry (Goshen/Goshen) rushed for a team-high 25 yards on the ground. Jamaine Hewitt (White Plains/White Plains) made his collegiate debut for UC and rushed the ball six times for 14 yards.

A bright spot for the Pioneers came with just thirty one seconds remaining in the fourth quarter when back up quarterback Greg Pinelli completed a 37-yard touchdown pass to tight end Marc Neff (Dolgeville/Little Falls). Kicker Evan White (Peru/Plattsburgh) pounded the extra point through the uprights and Utica celebrated its only score of the day.

Proniewych tallied a game-high four catches for 70 yards, while Neff caught two passes for 46 yards. Jim Pincher (Christian Brothers Academy/Knox) also caught two passes, as Cody Elliot (John F. Kennedy/Sloan), Alex Conlon (Suffolk CCC/E. Northport), and Mike Mastrella (St. Mary's/Elmwood Park, NJ) each snagged one ball for the Pioneers.

Free safety Marcus Maroney (Lockport/Utica), who currently leads the Pioneers with 33 tackles in four games, led Utica with 12 tackles, while Adam Keller (RFA/Lee Center) and Jon Klosner (Ilion/Ilion) each tallied eight tackles. Andrew Thomas (South Jefferson/Adams Center) made seven tackles, including two and a half tackles for a loss.

Utica (1-3, 0-1 Empire 8) will return to action next Saturday at 1:30 pm against visiting Mt. Ida College at Charles A. Gaetano stadium.
                                       (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) #