The Pioneers are in search of their school-record seventh victory against St. John Fisher at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium on Saturday
BROADCAST INFO: All Utica College games will be broadcast on the radio at WTLB 99.1 FM/1310 AM (ESPN Radio) by play-by-play man Dave Peroni and color analyst Fred Miller … Links for live stats and video for Saturday's contest are available at www.ucpioneers.com … Live streaming audio can also be accessed on WTLB's website, www.espnur.com … WPNR 90.7 FM will broadcast every UC football home contest this season and live streaming audio of the contest can be accessed at www.utica.edu/wpnr ... Live video for the game can be accessed at www.empire8.tv.
ALL TIME SERIES: Saturday's meeting marks the 12th year in a row these two teams have met … They have played each other every year since Utica began its program back in 2001 … The Pioneers are in search of their first-ever win over Fisher … The closest encounter in 11 previous meetings was back in 2008 when the Pioneers lost 17-10 at Gaetano Stadium … The last two times these teams met at Gaetano the Pioneers lost both games by a combined 18 points.
FAMILIAR FACES: Four of the UC coaches have direct ties to St. John Fisher … Head Coach
Blaise Faggiano spent nine seasons as defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator at Fisher prior to accepting the job at Utica … Offensive Coordinator Curt Fitzpatrick was an all-conference quarterback at Fisher during his playing days and graduated from SJFC in 2004 … Utica's Offensive Line Coach & Recruiting Coordinator George Penree graduated from St. John Fisher in 2003 and played four years for the Cardinals … Tight Ends Coach & Academic Coordinator
Seth Williams graduated from Fisher in 2010 and played one year as a quarterback before spending the next four years as a coach.
LAST WEEK: The Utica College football team saw its four game winning streak come to a close on Saturday after a 63-23 loss to host and nationally-ranked No. 21/16 Salisbury University… The Sea Gulls (7-2, 5-1 Empire 8) triple option attacked lived up its billing, compiling 559 yards on 69 carries to keep the Pioneers at bay... Utica fell into an early hole and could not muster a comeback as it dropped to 6-3 overall (ties school-record for wins) and 4-2 (school-record for conference wins) in the Empire 8… With the win, Salisbury clinched first place in the Empire 8, earning the conference's automatic bit into the NCAA Division III Tournament … UC's
Jeremy Meier (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) continued his tremendous season, catching nine balls for 112 yards … Senior quarterback
Andrew Benkwitt (Mamaroneck, NY/Mamaroneck) completed 26-of-37 passes for 225 yards and he also threw one touchdown to junior Joe Gerbino early in the second quarter.
LAST TIME THESE TWO MET: (10/29/2011) - Oneida, NY native Ryan Kramer had a huge day, rushing for 244 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, and he also added ten completions for 156 yards and a touchdown pass, as the St. John Fisher College football team remained unbeaten in Empire 8 Conference play after a 63-36 win over visiting Utica College last season …Utica was held to 12 first half points, but came on strong in the fourth quarter behind a career-high three touchdown passes from backup quarterback
Jared Keyte (Holland Patent, NY/Holland Patent) (graduated last year) … Junior running back
Jake Larson (Bemus Point, NY/Maple Grove) (injured this season) totaled 66 yards on ten carries including a 58 yard touchdown run in the second quarter for UC. Receiver
Paul Smith (Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara-Wheatfield) caught his first collegiate touchdown in the fourth quarter… All told, the contest featured a combined 967 yards of total offense and 99 points. Fisher scored at least 14 points in every quarter, and big plays were the name of the game, as the Cardinals scored five times on plays of 25 yards or longer.
RECORD SETTING YEAR: The Pioneers need a win on Saturday to break the program's all-time record for wins in a single season … This year's edition of the UC squad is currently tied for first place all-time, with the 2005 Pioneers, with six victories … Four victories in conference is a new program record.
BOWL ELIGIBLE?: UC's win over Alfred two weeks ago guaranteed the Pioneers' six wins, making them ECAC bowl eligible for the first time since 2005 … UC has never participated in post season competition.
TALE OF THE TAPE: Utica is averaging 35.8 points per game this year compared to Fisher's 22.0 ppg … The Pioneers have secured 224 first downs, while the Cardinals have moved the sticks 146 times … Fisher has outrushed UC 1,497-1,155 this year … On the flip side, the Pioneers feature more of a pass-heavy offense, throwing for 3,137 yards compared to Fisher's 1,165 … Fisher has attempted 324 runs compared to Utica's 297 rushing attempts … Utica has attempted 369 passes compared to the Cardinals' 198 … UC is 52% (64-of-124) on third down conversions this year compared to Fisher's 42% (47-of-111) … Utica has scored 43 touchdowns, Fisher has 25 … The Pioneers have 27 sacks, while the Cardinals have 21 … Fisher allows just 16.4 points per game, while the Utica defense has allowed 25.6 points per game … UC's most productive quarter this year is the second quarter, having scored 113 total points … The Cardinals' strongest 15 minute stretch is in the first quarter, as they have totaled 45 points in the opening quarter this year … Utica has totaled 322 total points this season.
IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT: As a team the Pioneers rank fifth nationally in passing offense with an average of 348 yards per game … Utica ranks 18th in the country in total offense with an average of 475.78 yards per game … Senior quarterback
Andrew Benkwitt (Mamaroneck, NY/Mamaroneck) ranks 12th nationally with 328.89 yards of total offense per game … Senior receiver
Jeremy Meier (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) ranks sixth nationally with 122.11 receiving yards per game … Junior running back
Jesse Baldassare (Mt. Sinai, NY/Mt. Sinai) ranks 29th nationally with an average of 141.62 all-purpose yards per game.
COMING ON STRONG IN THE 4TH: UC started the year with a combined three points in the fourth quarter over the course of the first three games … In their last five contests they have accumulated 72 4th quarter points.
LEADING THE WAY IN THE E8: Utica leads the Empire 8 in three team categories: passing offense, total offense and scoring … Benkwitt leads the conference in passing efficiency (161.72) and total offense … Meier leads the conference in receptions per game (7.33) and receiving yards per game … Freshman kicker Thomas Woodburn leads the conference with seven field goals.
MEIER NAMED E8 OFFENSIVE POW FOR 2ND STRAIGHT WEEK: Meier was named Empire 8 Conference Offensive Player of the Week for the second consecutive week on Monday … Meier totaled 112 yards and nine catches in a loss to Salisbury on Saturday ... He became the first receiver in school-history to catch for over 1,000 yards in a single season and he also broke the school's all-time receptions record for a single season with 69 … The senior standout is now the College's all-time leader with 2,364 career receiving yards and 28 career touchdown receptions.
IRON MAN: Andrew Benkwitt (Mamaroneck, NY/Mamaroneck) is starting in his 40th consecutive game on Saturday … He has started every game of his collegiate career … He holds nearly every program record for a quarterback … He is the College's all-time leader with 1,355 career passing attempts, 872 completions, 10,323 yards passing and 86 touchdown passes.
BALDASSARE RUNNING INTO THE RECORD BOOKS: Junior running back
Jesse Baldassare (Mt. Sinai, NY/Mt. Sinai) needs 56 yards rushing to move into third place on the College's single-season rushing yards list … He has also caught 29 balls for 272 yards this year.
THE RECEIVING CORPS: The 2012 Utica receiving crew has set new single season team records for receiving yards (3,137) and touchdowns (31) … The Pioneer receivers need four catches to set a new single season team record for receptions (The Pioneers currently have 245 receptions this year).
TREEN ON THE MOVE: Sophomore linebacker
Jon Treen (Ilion, NY/Ilion) has 21 tackles and a half of a sack in his last two appearances … He has 35 tackles for the year.
70+ TACKLERS: Three different Pioneers have totaled at least 70 tackles this season including
Joe Giametta (Seaford, NY/MacArthur) (73),
Dana Christofferson (Richford, NY/Dryden) (71) and
Luke Manolescu (New York Mills, NY/Notre Dame) (70).
SENIOR DAY: Before the start of Saturday's game the Pioneers will honor their senior class for their commitment to the program over the course of the last four years … In that span the Pioneers have posted 20 victories - more than any other senior class in program-history … At 12:25 the Pioneers will lineup for a ceremony at the 50 yard line … The senior class includes:
Eugenio Alvarez (Mamaroneck, NY/Larchmont), Brittany Baudanza (Manager),
Andrew Benkwitt (Mamaroneck, NY/Mamaroneck),
Andrew Calabrese (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford),
Alex Castilla (Utica, NY/Notre Dame),
Jerrod Clowes (Rochester, NY/Irondequoit),
Justin Courtade (Lakeview, NY/St. Francis),
Franco DiMarco (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy),
Matt Dunn (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place),
Tom Dyer (Rochester, NY/Greece Olympia),
Jon Heisler (Maryvale, NY/Cheektowaga),
Michael Herberger (Amherst, NY/Williamsville North),
Logan Jandrew (Wills Point, TX/Wills Point), Zak Lake (Manager),
Adam Luczak (Letchworth, NY/Silver Springs),
Luke Manolescu (New York Mills, NY/Notre Dame),
Jeremy Meier (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy),
Thomas Owens (Staten Island, NY/Msgr. Farrell),
Genaro Scampone (Utica, NY/Proctor),
Paul Smith (Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara-Wheatfield),
Kyle Taft (Salt Point, NY/F.D. Roosevelt), Scott Williams (Manager),
Christopher Winch (Spencer, NY/Spencer-Van Etten), Samantha Luce (Cheerleader), Erica McRae (Cheerleader), Landsay Martin (Cheerleader).
HERBERGER HEADED TOWARDS MILESTONE: Senior defensive end
Michael Herberger (Amherst, NY/Williamsville North) needs two sacks to tie the school-record for sacks in a single season set by
Tracy Branch and James Brain back in 2010 … Herberger currently has 6.5 sacks.
LENAHAN IS A BALL HAWK: Sophomore safety
James Lenahan (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) needs two interceptions to tie the school's single –season record of seven set by Jon Klosner back in 2002 … Lenehan currently has five picks this year, including two in the last three games.
SCOUTING FISHER: Despite not having a chance to make the NCAA Division III Championship for the second straight year, Fisher has a few milestones on the line this weekend against Utica ... With the Pioneers and Cardinals each boasting 6-3 overall records, the winner will likely earn an ECAC bowl bid while the other will miss the postseason... Fisher has made the postseason in some capacity in each of the last nine seasons and will need to beat Utica to have a chance at a bowl game... Also, the Cardinals have never had a .500 or losing record in the Empire 8 Conference, and with a current mark of 3-3, this milestone rides on the game against the Pioneers... Fisher has secured, however, its 11th-straight winning season, as it will either finish 7-3 or 6-4 after the game with Utica... Junior running back Cody Miller has rushed for over 100 yards in four of his last five games.... This includes a dominating performance against Ithaca College, in which Miller rushed for a career-high 208 yards and another career mark with three touchdowns... He also had a career-long rush, taking his second touchdown 60 yards to the end zone... The junior came back against Frostburg State and did much of the same, rushing for 104 yards and two touchdowns, including another long run of 50 yards, showing breakaway speed. (Information courtesy of SJFC Sports Info.)
HISTORY IN THE MAKING: Jesse Baldassare (Mt. Sinai, NY/Mt. Sinai) needs 22 yards rushing to become just the third 1,000 single-season rusher in school history, joining Jake Scott (2009-2011) and Mike Carpa (2001,2005) …
Andrew Benkwitt (Mamaroneck, NY/Mamaroneck) holds the school career records for passing attempts (1,355), pass completions (872), passing yards (10,323) and passing touchdowns (86) … Meier is the program's all-time leader in receiving yards (2,369), receptions (180) and receiving touchdowns (28) … Three touchdowns on Saturday would give Meier 200 career points …
James Lenahan (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) needs two interceptions to move into sole possession of third place on the College's career interceptions list, he currently has five … Senior captain
Genaro Scampone (Utica, NY/Proctor) needs seven tackles to move into eighth place on the College's all-time tackles list, he currently has 188 … Scampone needs 12 tackles to become just the fifth player in school-history to record 200+ tackles … Herberger needs three sacks to tie Bryon George '04 for second on the College's all-time sack list – he currently has 11.5 for his career.
SINGLE SEASON RECORDS TO WATCH: As a team the Pioneers set new single season record for passing yards (3,137) and passing touchdowns (31) this year … This is the first team in school-history to throw for more than 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns in a single season … UC's team offense set a new school-record this year for total yards of offense (4,292) … The Pioneers need to score 23 points to set a new school-record for points in a single season which was originally set back in 2009 when the Pioneers played a much softer non conference schedule … UC set a new team record for sacks in a single season this year (27) … Baldassare needs two touchdowns to move into fourth place on the College's single-season rushing touchdowns list, he currently has six … Benkwitt needs to throw just five passes to break his own single-season record for pass attempts in a single season … He needs two completions to break his own single-season completions record, he currently has 225 … He needs 124 yards passing to become the College's first 3,000 yard passer in a single season … He needs one touchdown throw to become the first 30 TD passer in school-history … Benkwitt is currently averaging 319 yards passing per game this year (no other QB in school-history has averaged over 300 yards in a single season) …
Jeremy Meier (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) set single season program records for receiving yards (1,104), receptions (66) and receiving touchdowns (13) this year … He is the first receiver in school-history to catch for 1,000+ yards in a single season … Baldassare needs 42 yards to move into sole possession of third on the College's single-season all-purpose yards list … Freshman Kicker Thomas Woodburn needs two field goals to tie the school's single season record, he currently has eight …
James Lenahan (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) needs two interceptions to tie Jon Klosner '02 for the College's single-season record of seven … Senior defensive end
Michael Herberger (Amherst, NY/Williamsville North) needs two sacks to tie the school's single season record of 8.5 set by James Brain and
Tracy Branch back in 2010.
