UTICA, NY - The Utica College football team produced over 400 yards of total offense as they defeated host Quebec Monarks 29-24 in a Spring exhibition Saturday at Laval University's PEPS Stadium in Quebec City, Canada. UC was invited to play in the cultural exchange exhibition game against the Monarks of the Major Football League of Quebec (LFMQ) for the first time in program-history.
The rushing attack was sparked by sophomore
Jamaine Hewitt (White Plains, NY/White Plains), who averaged 13.8 yards per carry; including a 68-yard touchdown scamper that gave UC a 7-3 lead in the second quarter. Hewitt collected a total of 125 yards on just nine carries. Senior running back
Alex Conlon (East Northport, NY/St. Anthony's) carried the ball 15 times for 47 yards.
Junior quarterback
Greg Pinelli (Bristol, PA/Bristol) completed 17-of-25 passes for 236 yards and three touchdowns in route to earning offensive most valuable player honors for the Pioneers. Pinelli connected on a 10-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver
Jim Pincher (Albany, NY/Christian Brothers Academy) to give UC a commanding 13-3 lead right before halftime. Pincher finished the day with three catches for 32 yards.
Pinelli completed a 11-yard touchdown pass to senior
Marc Neff (Little Falls, NY/Dolgeville), a 254-pound tight end, to give UC a 19-10 lead early in the third quarter. Neff snagged a team-high seven passes for 67 yards on the day.
The Pioneers' took a 26-10 lead on the first drive of the fourth quarter when Pinelli found senior wide receiver
James Proniewych (Medford, NY/Patchogue-Medford) deep for a 60-yard touchdown catch. Proniewych caught four passes for 130 yards. Sophomore wide receiver
Cody Elliot (Sloan, NY/John F. Kennedy) caught five passes for 43 yards.
UC kicker
Casey McNulty (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) connected on two extra points and booted home a 30-yard field goal with 7:00 left in the game to secure the victory.
The Pioneers' defensive efforts were led by senior free safety
Marcus Maroney (Utica, NY/Lockport), who recorded nine tackles and returned an interception 37 yards. Senior co-captain
Mike DeBetta (Harpursville, NY/Harpursville) was named defensive MVP after collecting four tackles, three pass break-ups and one sack. Sophomore linebacker
Eric Kahl (Lockwood, NY/Spencer-Van-Etten) made eight defensive stops for UC while
Michael Gisonda (Searingtown, NY/Kellenberg) tallied five tackles.
The Pioneers finished last season with a 3-7 overall record, including wins over Becker College (20-10), Mt. Ida College (21-9) and Empire 8 Conference rival Norwich University (20-7). The Pioneers offensive numbers against Quebec were a drastic improvement from last year's team that averaged 230 yards of total offense and just over 11 points per game.
