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Utica 2-Deep

The Utica College football team is set for its 2011 season-opener at St. Lawrence Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. Fans can follow all the action from the comfort of their own home through live video (paid service), audio and stats.

About UC

The Pioneers are fresh off a strong training camp which included a come from behind victory in a scrimmage against Western New England College. The Pioneers offense will be guided by junior quarterback Andrew Benkwitt (Mamaroneck, NY/Mamaroneck), who has started 20 straight games headed into Saturday's showdown. Joining Benkwitt as a part of the Pioneers offensive onslaught will be sophomore receiver Anthony Acevedo (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford), who has the potential to be one of the top receivers in the Empire 8 Conference. The Pioneers running game will be by committee, with transfer Jake Larson (Bemus Point, NY/Maple Grove), sophomore Jesse Baldassare (Mt. Sinai, NY/Mt. Sinai) and junior Jake Scott (Rochester, NY/Irondequoit) each garnering touches.

On the defensive side of the ball the Pioneers will be led up front by juniors Jerod Clowes and 6-foot-4, 330 pound nose guard Cody Adams (Adirondack, NY/Boonville). Junior Genaro Scampone (Utica, NY/Proctor) leads a young line backing corps which includes sophomore classmates Dana Christofferson (Richford, NY/Dryden) and Alex Rukavena (Utica, NY/Whitesboro). Senior cornerback Jon White (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) will be the Pioneers general in the secondary after earning all-conference honors just one year ago.

Last Season Quick Facts – Utica

The Pioneers opened 2010 campaign with a school-record four consecutive victories, out scoring its opponents 203-72 over the course of the first four games … They finished the season with a 5-5 overall record, marking the second highest win total in school-history ... Nine Pioneers earned Empire 8 All- Conference recognition - second most in the program's ten year history ... UC averaged a school record 32.1 points per game last season ... Andrew Benkwitt (Mamaroneck, NY/Mamaroneck) has broken nearly every school-record over the course of 20 career games ... He now holds the school's career records for completions (421), passing yards (4,979) and passing touchdowns (39) ... Senior defensive back Jon White (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) has started 20 straight games for Utica over the course of the last two seasons and has 72 tackles, four interceptions, 13 pass deflections and two fumble recoveries.

About St. Lawrence

The Scarlet and Brown, winners of the first Liberty League championship in University history behind a 5-1 conference record, will look to avenge a 31-13 loss to the Pioneers last season in Utica, NY.

Though St. Lawrence lost seven starters to graduation, the team returns numerous key players on both sides of the ball that gained valuable experience in 2010. Senior captains Marcus Washington and Ethan Sutton, who each garnered All-Conference honors last season, will look to lead an offense behind a solid offensive line made up of the likes of juniors Don Rohauer, Greg Kelly and Houston Judd and sophomores Brayden Henry and Victor Coker Jr.

The St. Lawrence defense has perennially been one of the best in the Liberty League over the last six seasons, and Coach Raymond's unit expects to shine once again this fall. Senior defensive lineman Doug Geraghty and senior free safety Trevor Saunders will captain a defense that was second in the Liberty League in 2010.