Box Score

Oneonta, N.Y. (11/5/2010) – The Utica College football team opened a 21-14 lead in the third quarter but host Hartwick answered with the game's final ten points to earn a 24-21 victory in Empire 8 Conference play Saturday afternoon. UC's Jake Scott (Rochester, NY/Irondequoit) rushed for two touchdowns on the day, giving him 12 for the season, to break the school's single-season scoring record.

Sophomore quarterback Andrew Benkwitt (Mamaroneck, NY/Mamaroneck) engineered a 12-play, 56 yard drive, which started at Utica's four yard line, with under two minutes to go in the contest but TJ Losowski (Rome, NY/Westmoreland)'s game-tying 57 yard field goal attempt with two seconds left fell just short as the Hawks earned a three point victory.

Utica (5-4, 0-4 E8), which jumped out to a program-best 4-0 start this season, has now lost four of its last five games headed into its regular season finale against Alfred at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium Saturday. The Pioneers return home for the first time in over a month to take on the Saxons at 1 p.m.

Hartwick (3-5, 1-4 E8) and UC exchanged scores over the course of the first 18:09 of the contest and the score was tied at 7-7 with 11:51 to go in the first half. Sophomore wide receiver Anthony Acevedo (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) punched in the Pioneers game-tying score on a three yard touchdown run. Acevedo caught a game-high ten balls for 94 yards and he also rushed the ball three times for 12 yards and one touchdown.

The Hawks answered with a score on their next possession to take a 14-7 lead midway through the second quarter.

On the ensuing possession UC's Jake Scott (Rochester, NY/Irondequoit) capped a 13 play, 89 yard drive with a five yard run to close out the first half scoring with the tally knotted at 14-14. The Pioneers looked to be in control as they marched 71 yards on five plays to open the second quarter with their third touchdown drive of the day. Scott finished the drive with a 10 yard touchdown run to give Utica its first lead of the game, 21-14, with 12:43 to go in the third quarter.

Hartwick scored the game's final ten points and the Pioneers' had a turnover, two punts and a missed field goal in their last four possessions as they lost the three point contest.

Senior safety Terrell Cunningham (Rochester, NY/Marshall) totaled a team-high nine tackles and also added an interception for Utica. Senior Travis Ladd (Mexico, NY/Mexico Academy) racked up six tackles and senior Tracy Branch (Bay Shore, NY/Brentwood) added another sack to his resume, giving him a school-record 16.5 for his career.

Benwkitt finished the day with 31 completions for 293 yards, while junior receiver Josh Mason (Schenectady, NY/Schenectady) added seven catches for 95 yards.

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