UTICA, NY – The Utica College football team to lost to visiting Ithaca College 44-7 in Empire 8 Conference action on the turf at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium Saturday.

The Pioneers dropped to 2-5 overall and 0-3 in the conference, while the Bombers improved to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in conference. The Bombers own a 7-0 all-time series advantage.

Ithaca took command early scoring on its opening drive of the game to set the tone for the evening. Senior running back Jamie Donovan (Sidwell Friends/Washington, D.C.), who is the schools all-time rushing leader, caught a five yard pass from junior quarterback Dan Juvan (Dobbs Ferry/Dobbs Ferry) and strolled in untouched to give the Bombers a 6-0 lead. The extra point attempt was pushed wide right by freshman kicker Dillon Dwyer (Garden City/Garden City). Juvan ended up completing 11-of-20 passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns on the day.

After the Pioneers went four and out on the ensuing possession the Bombers got the ball right back and marched down the field once again. A fifteen yard pass interference call on all-conference free safety Marcus Maroney (Utica/Lockport) set up another Donovan touchdown. This time Donovan showed what he could do on the ground as he capped an eight-play 53 yard drive and scampered in for an eight yard touchdown run to give the Bombers a 13-0 lead with 6:04 left in the first quarter. Donovan closed out the day with 11 carries for 47 yards and one reception for 13 yards.

Ithaca took a 20-0 lead with just under eleven minutes left in the first half. Sophomore fullback Danny Whitbeck (Vestal/Vestal) punched home his first career touchdown capping a seven-play 33 yard drive highlighted by a 15-yard personal foul by the Pioneers. Utica tallied five penalties on the day for a total of 57 yards.

UC threatened with less than two minutes left in the first half but the Pioneers longest completion of the half was squandered when junior wide receiver Jim Pincher (CBA/Albany) was stripped and the ball was recovered by the Bombers. Sophomore defensive back Sean Dixon (VVS/Sherrill) tallied his first career interception on the ensuing drive as he picked off Juvan to close out the half and the Bombers took a 20-0 lead into the locker room.

Utica junior quarterback Greg Pinelli (Bristol/Bristol, PA) was a perfect 7-for-7 in the first half for 49 yards. The Bombers racked up 162 yards of total offense in the first half compared to the Pioneers' 62.

UC received the opening kick of the second half but were forced to punt after just three plays from scrimmage. UC punter Ben Atwood's (VVS/Verona) kick was returned by junior Jason Chier (Chenango Forks/Binhamton) 70 yards for a touchdown to give the Bombers a 27-0 lead. Chier now has two punt return touchdowns on the season. Atwood, an all-conference specialist, booted ten kicks for an average of 420 yards.

The Pioneers scored their fist touchdown of the evening on a quarterback keeper by Pinelli from one yard out. The Pioneers drove sixty yards on nine plays including receptions by sophomore speedster Cody Elliot (John F. Kennedy/Sloan) for 14 yards and Pincher for 13 yards. Pincher caught a game-high seven passes for 99 yards on the day.

The Bombers answered right back on the next possession to make the score 34-7 when Juvan found junior wide receiver Jeff Bostic (Geneva/Geneva) for a ten yard touchdown pass. The score marked the first of the season for Bostic.

Ithaca closed out the scoring when senior wide receiver Patrick Heenehan (Ramapo/Franklin Lakes, NJ) caught a pass on an out route from back up quarterback Brian Grastorf (Niskayuna/Rexford) and ran 80 yards for pay dirt. Heenehan caught three passes for 109 yards on the day.

The Pioneers defense was led by Maroney, a senior caprain, who totaled seven solo and three assisted tackles. Junior safety Bryan Johnson (Bristol/Bristol, PA) collected 6.5 tackles on the day, while defensive end Vinson Jones (Roxborough/Philadelphia, PA) made three tackles for a loss including one sack. Senior linebacker Joe Ryan (St. Mary's/Rutherford, NJ) picked off his first career pass late in the fourth quarter and returned it 25 yards.

The Ithaca defense totaled six sacks and surrendered only 181 yards of total offense. The Bombers defensive unit was led by Matt Scalice (North Tonawonda/North Tonawonda) and Matt Samela (Staples/Westport, CT), who combined for 12.5 tackles.

The Pioneers hit the road the next two weekends as they travel to nationally-ranked St. John Fisher on October 27th then they head to Norwich University the following Saturday. Both games are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. The Bombers travel to Springfield College next Saturday to take on the Pride at 1 p.m.

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