The Utica College football team (5-4, 0-4 Empire 8) will be back on its' home turf Saturday against Alfred University to close out the 2010 regular season. The Saxons come into the game having already clinched the Empire 8 Conference title, and consequently their second straight trip to the coveted NCAA Division III Tournament, with a win last Saturday over Ithaca. AU currently holds a record of 7-2 overall including an undefeated mark of 4-0 in the conference.

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The Season:
Utica opened up the season with four straight wins, however has struggled of late, losing its last three games against conference opponents. After a parade of points in the first half of the season, UC has averaged just 14.3 points per game over the last three contests and looks to get back into rhythm on its home turf Saturday. The Pioneers are still among the nations leaders in passing and total offense. Going into its final week of regular season play UC is nationally ranked 18th in passing offense (289.33) and 34th in total offense (424.67).

The Pioneers, who can certainly strengthen their case for an ECAC Bowl bid with a win Saturday, will be led into the contest by sophomore quarterback Andrew Benkwitt (Mamaroneck, NY/Mamaroneck). Benkwitt has once again re-written the school's record book again this season by breaking his own single season records for passing yards (2,466), pass completions (203) and touchdowns throws (19). Sophomore running back Jake Scott (Rochester, NY/Irondequoit) broke the school's single season record for rushing touchdowns in a single season last week and he now has 12 through nine games this year. Jeremy Meier (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy), who has a team-high 52 receptions this year, needs 13 catches on Saturday to tie the school-record for catches in a single season. He also needs one touchdown grab to tie the school's single season receiving touchdown mark.

On the defensive side of the ball the Pioneers are led by a core group of veterans including seniors Travis Ladd (Mexico, NY/Mexico Academy), Kevin Hennion (Dumont, NJ/Dumont), Terrell Cunningham (Rochester, NY/Marshall) and Tracy Branch (Bay Shore, NY/Brentwood). Ladd currently leads the conference with 94 tackles this season and he needs just seven on Saturday to secure sixth place on the school's single season tackles list. Hennion ranks second on the team with 70 tackles and he also has a team-high five pass break ups.

Cunningham has 51 tackles and one interception, while defensive end Tracy Branch (Bay Shore, NY/Brentwood) ranks second on the team with seven sacks. Branch recently broke the school's sack record and he now has 16.5 for his career. Sophomore defensive end James Brain (Minisink Valley, NY/Westtown) leads UC with an impressive 8.5 sacks this year.

The Series:
UC has played Alfred University more than any other opponent in the programs' ten year history. Unfortunately, the Saxons have dominated the series with an undefeated record of 10-0 and they have outscored the Pioneers 307-123 in those games. The two games that Utica has played them close resulted in the Pioneers being shut out by scores of 10-0 back in 2002 and 6-0 in 2000.

Scouting the Opponent:
Alfred University has been ranked as high as No. 24 in the country and now sits at No. 32, with six votes, respectively. AU leads the conference in offense and defense. On the offense side of the ball, the Saxons are led by freshmen running back Austin Dwyer who is ranked No. 21 nationally in yards per game (117.89). Dwyer leads the Empire 8 Conference with 1,061 yards, good for an average of 6.8 yards per carry. He has rushed for over 160 yards in three games and went off last week with a career-high 273 yards on 29 carries and a touchdown. On the defensive side, AU is tied for ninth in the nation in interceptions and is ranked 51st in total defense. The defensive unit is headed by junior defensive end Marcellus Jones who has seven sacks, nine tackles for a loss and 51 total tackles.


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