LEICESTER, MA – The Utica College football team lost to host Becker College 26-13 in the season opener for both squads at recently constructed Alumni Field Saturday.

In three previous meetings the Pioneers had out scored the Hawks 89-40, resulting in three victories for UC over Becker headed into Saturday's clash. This time around the result was not in favor of the Pioneers as they lost to Becker for the first time in program-history and dropped to 0-1 overall on the year.

The Hawks jumped out to a 6-0 lead with 1:46 remaining in the first quarter when sophomore running back Thomas Pearson found pay dirt. Pearson's eight yard touchdown scamper capped a five-play 20 yard drive that spanned 2:48. Becker kicker John DiNardi sailed the extra point wide and the score remained 6-0. The Hawks first score came after UC quarterback Keith Barone (Point Pleasant, NJ/Manchester Township) threw his first interception of the day with 4:34 left in the first quarter leaving Becker with the ball on the Utica 20 yard line.

Just 1:30 into the second quarter Jacques Faublas caught a 66 yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Gabriel Prophet to give Becker a 12-0 lead. The ensuing extra point was blocked by the Pioneers. The Hawks second touchdown of the game was part of a four-play 77 yard drive that took only 2:17 off the clock.

UC responded on the next drive when sophomore running back Brian Jones (Waterbury, CT/Wilby) punched in a one yard touchdown run and Casey McNulty (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) knocked down the extra point to cut the Hawks lead to just five, 12-7. Jones set up his first touchdown of the season by rushing for 35 total yards on six carries during the 11-play, 61 yard scoring drive.

The Pioneers then held the Hawks to three and out and it seemed as if momentum was switching gears. The Pioneers mounted a 40 yard drive and after two straight Barone incompletions McNulty attempted a 39 yard field goal that fell short and the Hawks took over at their own 21 yard line. Utica junior defensive back Peter Vano (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) picked off Prophet on the next drive but UC did not have enough time left in the half to capitalize on the turnover and the Hawks took a 12-7 lead into the half.

Barone threw his second interception of the day to open the second half, but the Pioneers responded when junior captain Eric Kahl (Lockwood, NY/Spencer-Van-Etten) returned the favor and picked off Gabriel on the ensuing drive. Kahl returned the pick for 50 yards, giving the Pioneers the ball on the Becker 15 yard line. UC was on the doorstep and could not find the end zone once again as the drive was ended with another missed field goal.

Becker sealed the victory on the next drive as they marched 80 yards down the field, capped by a four yard touchdown pass from Gabriel to Ryan Mercado with 1:18 left in the third quarter. The quarter would eventually come to a close with the Hawks leading 19-7.

UC opened the fourth quarter with a turnover on downs and on the following possession Becker was forced to punt but senior punt returner Adam Keller (Lee Center, NY/Rome Free Academy) fumbled the kick and it was picked up by Becker's Jackie Williams at the Utica 19 yard line. The Pioneers were fortunate to get the back two plays later when senior captain Vinson Jones (Philadelphia, PA/Roxborough) jumped on a Jimmy Chery fumble with 10:42 left in the contest. UC got one first down on their next possession but then a costly false start penalty on fourth and one pushed UC back five yards and the drive resulted in a turnover on downs.

Becker then added an insurance touchdown with 2:39 left on the clock when Prophet snuck in the end zone from one yard out. DiNardi knocked down his second extra point of the evening to give the Hawks a commanding 26-7 lead.

UC sophomore receiver Dayne Bennett (Minoa, NY/East Syracuse-Minoa) highlighted the final scoring drive of the day when he caught two passes for a total of 40 yards and a touchdown with under two minutes left in the contest to cut the Becker lead to 26-12.

Jones led the way on the ground for UC on the day with 50 yards rushing on 11 carries, good for an average of 4.5 yards per touch. Freshman William Northey (Sherburne, NY/Sherburne-Earlville) had an impressive collegiate debut carrying the ball four times for 24 yards. Barone threw for 139 yards on 11 completions and he also ran for 12 yards on the day.

The Pioneers receiving corps was led by junior Cody Elliot (Sloan, NY/John F. Kennedy) who caught a game-high six passes for 58 yards, while Bennett closed out the day with 55 yards receiving on three snags.

The Pioneers defense was led by Kahl, who totaled 12 tackles on the day. Junior Peter Vano (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) also made 12 tackles and picked off a pass of his own, while sophomore defensive lineman Tracy Branch (Bay Shore, NY/Brentwood) tallied six tackles and two sacks on the day to pace the Pioneers.

Becker compiled 16 first downs compared to the Pioneers 14 and the Hawks controlled the ground game out rushing UC 128-103. Gabriel threw for 198 yards on 14 completions and the Hawks totaled 326 yards of offense on the day.

UC did not convert on third down all day and went 0-for-7 in third down conversions compared to the Hawks 6-of-17 third down conversion rate. Becker also added four fourth down conversions which proved to be key down the stretch.