UTICA, N.Y. (9/1/2010) - Head Coach Blaise Faggiano and the 2010 edition of the Utica College football team looks forward to finding continued success as they enter the tenth year of NCAA Division III football on the 3,500 student campus in central New York. The school itself has experienced dramatic changes over the course of the past ten years and the UC football program, along with the other 24 sports offered at UC, has played an integral role in molding the landscape of the College as a whole.

Although, like any young program, the Pioneers have experienced some growing pains over the course of the past nine seasons, it seems prevalent that they are prepared to turn the corner in 2010. The Pioneers 4-6 record in 2009 may not have been indicative of how successful of a season it really was for the young squad. The Pioneers were just 12 points away from a 7-3 record after falling to RPI and Ithaca by a mere three points each and losing to Hartwick by six. The Pioneers led at halftime in all three contests.

“I am really looking forward to this season and as a program we feel we are ready to take it to the next level,” says third year Head Coach Blaise Faggiano. “Last year was a big confidence builder for everyone in that locker room and now we just need to learn from our experiences and continue to get better each week.”

UC has 39 letter winners returning to this season's roster including 12 starters and three All-Conference selections from one year ago. After breaking 23 single-season school records on offense last year, alongside scoring 118 more points than any other team in program-history, the Pioneers are eager to hit the gridiron on the September 4th for the season-opener against Becker College.

Meet the Offense:

Quarterbacks

The UC offense will be guided by sophomore quarterback Andrew Benkwitt (Mamaroneck, NY/Mamaroneck) who saw a plethora of awards roll in after an outstanding freshman campaign. Benkwitt was the first player in program-history to be named the Empire 8 Rookie of the Year and he was also honored as the ECAC Northwest Rookie of the Year. This past season, he broke nearly every single-season school passing record including pass completions (200), passing yards (2,375), passing attempts (329), passing touchdowns (19), completion percentage (60.8) and passing yards per game (237.5).

“Andrew really did a nice job progressing through his freshman year. It's not easy for any player, but especially a QB, to come in and show the poise and leadership he showed last year,” says third year offensive coordinate Curt Fitzpatrick. “You could see his improvement on film as he got more and more comfortable with our offensive system. I'm looking forward to seeing him progress even more in his sophomore season.”

Backing up Benkwitt will be junior signal caller Jared Keyte (Holland Patent, NY/Holland Patent) of nearby Holland Patent. Keyte enters his third season with plenty of experience after playing in five games last year. He knows the offense inside and out and is very effective, posting a passer efficiency rating of 145.63 in 2009.

Runningbacks

Sophomore running back Jake Scott (Rochester, NY/Irondequoit) emerged toward the end of his freshman campaign and proved to the coaching staff that he has what it takes to start in the backfield this season. Scott burst on the scene against Hartwick on Oct. 31, 2009, carrying the ball 22 times for 108 yards and one touchdown. He followed that performance with 17 carries for 81 yards and two touchdowns against Mount Ida to prove to everyone that he could carry the load as a true freshman.

Junior running back Zach Jones will also see a good amount of time in the backfield. His north/south approach to the running game has always impressed the coaches and he posted numbers last season that surely cannot be overlooked. He played in all ten games last season and rushed for a team-best 531 yards on 129 carries. He found pay dirt on eight different occasions, including a career-high three touchdown runs in the Pioneers' win over Becker College.

Also working for time in the backfield will be sophomore Chris Cobb (Syracuse, NY/LaBrae) who played on the junior varsity team one year ago. His hard work in the offseason and in training camp has turned some heads and he is expected to see several touches as he continues to progress as a player.

Wide Receivers

Benkwitt's main targets will likely include wide receivers Josh Mason and Jeremy Meier (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy). The Pioneers' pass-heavy offense is loaded with athleticism at the receiver position and Wide Receiver Coach Jake DerCola is excited about the potential of his young receiving corps.

“Although we have a very well rounded team, I think one of our strengths is the passing game,” says DerCola. “We have some very bright and talented receivers and it should really be fun to watch them produce on Saturdays.”

Mason ranked second on the team with 41 catches for a total of 554 yards and four touchdowns last season. He caught at least five passes in five different games and he is one of Benkwitt's favorite targets due to his size and athletic ability. Meier, a Rome, N.Y. native who is two years removed from transferring from Division I AA, ranked third on the team with 30 receptions and he also caught six touchdowns one year ago.

Also expected to run routes on Saturday's will be converted quarterback Christian Bochicchio (Warsaw, NY/Notre Dame (Batavia)). He is a 6-foot-3, 185 pound athlete who also plays on the men's basketball squad at UC. The Pioneers are also excited about the addition of New Hartford native Anthony Acevedo (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) to the 2010 roster. As a 2009 NYSSWA All-State First Team selection, Acevedo rushed for 1,349 yards as a senior at New Hartford and tallied 28 receptions for 514 yards. He was the Observer Dispatch All-Mohawk Valley Football Co-Player of the Year and also scored 28 touchdowns for a total of 200 points.

Joining those four will be Vernon Verona Sherrill native Zach Jensen who is back on the field for his junior season. Jensen is a phenomenal athlete and should certainly be a candidate for playing time as the year progresses.

Offensive Linemen

Empire 8 All-Conference selection Tyler Olles (Albion, NY/Albion) will anchor the Pioneers offensive front line. Olles, who has converted to center this season, started all ten games and protected Benkwitt's blindside at left tackle last year. UC's big men helped the Pioneer offensive unit break several single-season school records including rushing touchdowns (21), pass completions and receptions (215), passing and receiving yards (2,564), passing touchdowns (22) and total offensive yards (3,876).

“We have really come a long way in the last three years with this offensive scheme,” says Offensive Line Coach and Recruiting Coordinator George Penree. “We are confident in the young men we are putting up front and we are excited to be tested on September 4.”

Sophomore Tom Dyer (Rochester, NY/Greece Olympia) is expected to take over duties at the left tackle position, while senior Rick Rados (Verona, NY/Vernon Verona Sherrill) has emerged as a dominant force at the right tackle spot. Brendan Ring enters his second season as the Pioneers' starting right guard and sophomore Matt Malunat (Minisink Valley, NY/Slate Hill) will shore up the line at left guard. Senior Chris Holden along with juniors Andrew Hems (Palmyra, NY/Palmyra-Macedon), Marcus Meyers (Central Square, NY/Paul V. Monroe), Greg Caloia (Solvay, NY/Solvay) and sophomore Tom Owens will provide the Pioneers with depth and experience.

Tight Ends

Junior Tyler Malagisi (Gloversville, NY/Gloversville) and sophomore Matt Dunn (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) will split time at the tight end position. Malagisi has played in 15 career games, including 10 as a true freshman in 2008. Malagisi, a premier blocking tight end, has also shown he has soft hands for a big man catching 11 career passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns. Dunn, who is more of a down field threat than Malagisi, played in five games as a freshman last season and caught four balls for 40 yards. He caught a career-high three passes in the Pioneers' final game of the season against Alfred University.

Fullbacks

Senior Tim Millerick (Whitman, Mass./South Shore Vo-Tech), sophomore Jeff Zellner (North Tonawanda, NY/North Tonawanda) and freshman Dana Christofferson (Richford, NY/Dryden) will all get a chance at the fullback position. Millerick is the most experienced fullback of the bunch after playing in all ten games last season. He ranked fifth on the team with 17 catches for 174 yards and he carried the ball five times for 29 yards one year ago. To go along with his primary duties as a lead blocker he also added three touchdowns (two receiving, one rushing).

Meet the Defense:

Linebackers

Defensive co-captain Kevin Hennion (Dumont, NJ/Dumont) will stabilize the middle alongside senior classmate Travis Ladd (Mexico, NY/Mexico Academy). Hennion ranked third on the team with 62 tackles, including a team-high 38 assisted stops, last season. He recorded one interception and now has five for his career. Ladd ranked second on the team with 63 tackles and he added 2.5 sacks for a loss of 15 yards.

“Hennion and Ladd will be very solid for us at the linebacker position,” says Faggiano, who doubles as the defensive coordinator. “Losing a player as talented as Eric Kahl is never easy, but we are deep at linebacker, and I expect that we will not miss a beat.”

Also expected to start is sophomore Genaro Scampone (Utica, NY/Proctor), of Proctor High School in Utica. Scampone saw a good amount of time on the Pioneers' special team unit last season and he has worked hard in the offseason to prepare himself for this opportunity. Sophomore's John Heisler and Nate Stewart (Syracuse, NY/Bishop Ludden) will see action along with freshman Alex Rukavena (Utica, NY/Whitesboro) from nearby Whitesboro High School.

Defensive Linemen

The defensive front four will be led by senior defensive end Tracy Branch (Bay Shore, NY/Brentwood). Branch made his first appearance on the all-conference team last season after he tied for second in the conference with 5.5 sacks. His sack total was good for third on the College's single season list and he finished the season ranked tenth in the conference with 7.5 tackles for a loss. He currently ranks second on the College's career sacks list with 9.5 over the course of the past three seasons. The 6-foot, 225-pounder needs five sacks next season to tie Bryon George '04 as the College's all-time sack leader.

Opposite Branch will be junior Steve Karboski (Utica, NY/Whitesboro ) and sophomore James Brain (Minisink Valley, NY/Westtown). Karboski started nine of ten games and ranked 11th on the team with 23 tackles. He also tallied 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for a loss. Brain is the typical speed rusher who will pose major problems for the opposing left and right tackles all season.

Four sophomores will see time as interior defensive lineman for the Pioneers. Cody Adams (Adirondack, NY/Boonville), a 6-foot-2 315 pounder, will look to take up two blockers all season and free up space for Hennion and Ladd to make plays. Jerrod Clowes (Rochester, NY/Irondequoit), Adam Luczak (Letchworth, NY/Silver Springs) and Andrew Fisher (Mexico, NY/Mexico) will also see plenty of action after the departure of Utica graduates Kurt Zimmerman and Chris Walrath.

Cornerbacks

Juniors Jon White (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) and Marquez Mosely (Rochester, NY/East) will hold down the corners for the Pioneers' defensive unit. White played in all ten games and started the final seven games of the season while totaling 21 tackles, four pass break ups and one interception last year. Mosely has played in 13 career games and has 14 tackles. As a true freshman in 2008 he broke up a team-high six passes and he has one interception in each of his first two seasons. Sophomore classmates Rob Alexander (Dobbs Ferry, NY/Dobbs Ferry) and Omari Byfield (Monroe Woodbury, NY/Monroe) are also preparing for playing time and corner backs coach Walter Burkes is confident his young secondary can produce.

The Pioneers secondary held opponents to just 170 yards of passing per contest last season and they combined for 11 interceptions.

Safeties

The Pioneers free safety unit will be led by senior defensive co-captain Terrell Cunningham (Rochester, NY/Marshall) who ranked sixth on the team with 50 tackles, including 36 solo tackles last season. He led the team with five pass break ups and tied for the team lead with two interceptions. Opposite Cunningham as the last line of defense will be sophomore Kody Parkhurst (Canastota, NY/Canastota) who impressed the coaches with an outstanding training camp. Junior Michael Clark (Fulton, NY/Fulton), who converted from quarterback, will suit up on the other side of the ball this season and backup Parkhurst, while two-sport athlete Luke Manolescu (New York Mills, NY/Notre Dame) will backup Cunningham.

Kicking/Punting

Sophomore place kicker TJ Losowski (Rome, NY/Westmoreland) will take over the kicking duties from Casey McNulty, who graduated in May as the College's all-time leading scorer. As a freshman Losowski was the Pioneers' top kickoff man averaging 55.9 yards per kickoff with two touchbacks.

Senior Donato Pinnisi, from nearby Whitesboro High School, will convert from linebacker to punter this season. He proved to the coaches in camp that he has the potential to be a starting punter and he will surely get his chance in the first week of the season. Junior Seth Mitchell (Fonda, NY/Fonda-Fultonville) will be the backup for Pinnisi and Losowski.