Utica (2-0) vs. #8 Hobart (1-0) - NCAA Division III Football
Game Details	Saturday, Sept. 21| Geneva, N.Y. | 7 p.m.  Boswell Field
Game Coverage	All Access: Audio (ESPN) | Live Video I Live Stats  Radio: WTLB 99.1 FM/1310 AM - ESPN Radio  Tweet #LetsGoUC
Utica Links	News | Roster | Schedule
Hobart Links	News | Roster | Schedule

Utica, N.Y. (9/3/2013) – The Utica College football team will hit the road for the first time this season on Saturday when the Pioneers travel to nationally-ranked No. 8 Hobart College to take on the Statesmen in their final non-conference game of the regular season.  The contest is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. under the lights at Boswell Field and it is a part of Hobart's homecoming weekend festivities. 

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 on the Pioneers schedule page at www.ucpioneers.com …  Hobart will provide live video for the contest and it can be accessed at http://hwsathletics.com/showcase/. 

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2-0 FOR THE 5TH STRAIGHT YEAR: Utica College junior wide receiver Anthony Acevedo (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) and quarterback Connor Butkiewicz (Southington, CT/Southington) connected on two consecutive touchdown passes in a span of 2:01 -- the second of which came with 26 seconds left in the first half -- to help spark a 25-16 victory for the Pioneers over visiting Union College at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium Saturday night … Utica improved to 2-0 for the fifth consecutive season as the Pioneer defense racked up a school-record nine sacks on the evening to help keep the Union offense at bay.

3-0?: The Pioneers are in search of a 3-0 start for just the second time in program-history … The last time UC began the season 3-0 was back in 2010 when it opened the year with four consecutive wins over Becker, Castleton, RPI and Wilkes … After starting the year 4-0 in 2010, the Pioneers lost five of their last six games to finish the season 5-5. 

LAST TIME AGAINST HOBART:  (9/15/2012) – Hobart College, ranked No. 14 nationally at the time, racked up 502 yards of total offense and scored 14 fourth quarter points, as it pulled away from host Utica College, to earn a 45-26 victory in a battle of undefeated teams at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium on Sept. 15th …   The Pioneers trailed by just five points midway through the fourth quarter, but two timely touchdown runs of 59 yards and 18 yards by Hobart's Bobby Dougherty essentially sealed the victory for the Statesmen ... The ground game was certainly working for the Statesmen, as they compiled 218 yards rushing, compared to the Pioneers' 13 … However, it was huge defensive plays and another solid game from the Pioneers' passing unit that kept the contest close down the stretch … UC forced four fumbles (recovered three), blocked one punt, and quarterback Andrew Benkwitt (Mamaroneck, NY/Mamaroneck), who was making his 33rd consecutive start, threw for 313 yards and three touchdowns … The Pioneers' four forced fumbles is a still a program-record.  

ALL-TIME SERIES: Saturday's contest marks just the second time these two teams have met … Hobart is 1-0 all-time against the Pioneers, with their first meeting coming last season at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium. 

RECORDS TO WATCH FOR: Senior running back Jake Larson (Bemus Point, NY/Maple Grove) became the fourth back in school-history to eclipse the 1,000 yard career rushing barrier last Saturday against Union … Larson now needs 43 yards rushing to move into sole possession of third place on the College's all-time rushing yards list … Larson needs five touchdowns to become the College's all-time leader in rushing touchdowns … He currently has 13 touchdowns and sits behind Mike Capra (15) and Jake Scott (17) … Larson ranks second all-time with a career average of 86.6 rushing yards per game … Junior quarterback Connor Butkiewicz (Southington, CT/Southington) is the College's all-time leader with a career pass completion percentage of 64.4% (67-for-104) … As a team, the Pioneers set three new single game school-records against Union including most sacks (9.0), most pass break ups (six) and highest average gain per kick return (34.2, four returns 137 yards) ... Senior wide receiver Jamie Murphy (Canadaigua, NY/Marcus Whitman) needs 46 yards receiving to become the seventh receiver in school-history to catch for over 1,000 yards … Murphy needs six more catches to become the seventh player in school-history to catch over 100 balls in a career … Anthony Acevedo (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford)  needs four more catches to move into sole possession of third place on the school's all-time receptions list … Acevedo needs one touchdown grab to move into sole possession of second place on the College's all-time touchdown receptions list … Acevedo is the College's all-time leader with an average of 6.32 receptions per game … He is also the College's all-time leader with an average of 120.7 all purpose yards per game … Jake Larson (Bemus Point, NY/Maple Grove) is one of just five players in school-history to average over 100 all-purpose yards per game for a career …  Acevedo now needs two touchdowns to become the fourth player in school-history to score over 100 points in a career … Larson also needs two touchdowns to eclipse the 100 point barrier for his career … Sophomore kicker Thomas Woodburn (West Islip, NY/West Islip) needs four extra points to move into sole possession of second place on the College's all-time list … Woodburn needs two field goals to move into second place on the school's all-time field goals made list … He needs to make six field goals to become the College's all-time leader in field goals made … Junior punter Dakota Peel (Alden, NY/Alden) ranks third all-time at UC with a career average of 38.13 yards per punt, he currently trails UC assistant coach Ben Atwood (39.27 ypp) and Seth Mitchell (40.80 ypp) … Junior safety James Lenahan (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) needs two interceptions to move into sole possession of second place on the College's all-time interceptions list … Senior linebacker Dana Christofferson (Richford, NY/Dryden) is one of eight players in school-history to record 100+ career assisted tackles … Junior linebacker Sean Hulser (Vernon, NY/Notre Dame) became the sixth player in program-history to return an interception for a touchdown in the Pioneers win over Union last Saturday. 

LIBERTY LEAGUE OPPONENTS: The Pioneers are headed into their second consecutive game against a Liberty League opponent … UC has won eight of its last nine games against Liberty League opponents with the only loss coming at the hands of Hobart last season. 

NON-CONFERENCE JAUGERNAUT: UC is now 16-2 in its last 18 non-conference contests … UC has 26 non-conference victories in the program's 13 year history … The Pioneers are now 26-27 all-time in non-conference games … Head Coach Blaise Faggiano is now 17-4 all-time against non-conference opponents. 

BYE WEEK COMING UP: The Pioneers have next weekend off before entering Empire 8 Conference play … UC has traditionally struggled the week before a bye, going 1-10 all-time in the week prior to a bye … The only time the Pioneers won a game headed into a bye week was back in 2004 when UC knocked off RPI, 9-7. 

NIGHT CRAWLERS: Two of the Pioneers first three games are under the lights at 7 p.m. … Saturday's game marks the eighth time in program-history that the Pioneers will be participating in a night game (five home/four away). 

TOUGH AS IT GETS: Four of the Pioneers opponents this season are either ranked or receiving votes in the current D3football.com National Poll … UC will take on No. 8 Hobart, No. 18 St. John Fisher, Salisbury (receiving votes), and Buffalo State (receiving votes).

STAT LINE: The Pioneers have outscored their opponents 67-38 through two games this year … UC is averaging 33.5 points per game compared to their opponents 19.0 ppg … The Utica secondary has picked off four passes so far this season … UC has converted on 56% (18-of-32) of its third down opportunities … The Pioneers also have ten sacks for a loss of 77 yards. 

PROTECTING THE BACKFIELD: UC's offensive line has allowed just two sacks in two games this year … The O-Line has also helped the running backs average 3.9 yards per carry. 

DOMINATING THE 2ND & 3RD QUARTERS: The Pioneers have outscored their first two opponents by a combined score of 48-9 in the second and third quarters … The UC defense has not allowed a point in the third quarter all season … Utica would like to finish stronger after being outscored 23-3 in the fourth quarter of its first two games. 

DEFENSE IS THE NAME OF THE GAME: UC set a new single game school-record with nine sacks last weekend against Union … The Pioneers now lead the Empire 8 with ten sacks and four interceptions in just two games.

BALANCED OFFENSE: The Pioneers have featured a very balanced offense so far this season … UC is averaging 144.5 rushing yards per game and 240.0 passing yards per game … The Pioneers are averaging 5.0 yards per play and they have totaled 769 total yards of offense in the first two weeks. 

SCORING IN THE RED ZONE: Utica has scored on 10-of-12 red zone chances (inside the 20 yard line) … Seven of the Pioneers ten red zone scores have been touchdowns.

PEEL HONORED BY THE EMPIRE 8: UC punter Dakota Peel (Alden, NY/Alden) was named the Empire 8 Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts Saturday night as the Pioneers defeated  Union College 25-16 … Peel finished the night with an average of 40.9 yards per punt, including two punts over 50 yards … He also pinned Union inside the 20 yard line twice, including a 57 yard punt that went out of bounds at Union's two yard line … Peel currently ranks fourth in the Empire 8 with an average of 40.8 yards per punt … He also has three punts this season that have pinned the opponent inside the 20 yard line.

HULSER RECOGNIZED: Junior linebacker Sean Hulser (Vernon, NY/Notre Dame) was named the College's Male Athlete of the Week on Monday …  Filling in for injured starter Dana Christofferson (Richford, NY/Dryden), Hulser made the most of his first opportunity to start this season in Utica's 25-16 win over Union, and he did so quickly … Hulser picked off Union quarterback Connor Eck with 3:04 remaining in the first quarter and returned the interception 30 yards for UC's first touchdown of the evening … Hulser had a season-high seven tackles in the Saturday night win.

BACK IN FULL FORM: Senior running back Jake Larson (Bemus Point, NY/Maple Grove) appears to be back in full form after missing the entire 2012 season with a knee injury … Larson leads UC and ranks fifth in the Empire 8 with an average of 94 yards rushing per game … He also has two touchdowns and is averaging 4.6 yards per carry. 

COOL, CALM & COLLECTED: Junior Connor Butkiewicz (Southington, CT/Southington) has performed like a savvy veteran in his first two collegiate starts … He has completed 63.2% of his passes this year for 479 yards and four touchdowns … His average of 239.5 yards passing per games ranks fourth in the Empire 8 … His 48 completions lead the conference.  

ACEVEDO LEADING THE WAY: Junior receiver Anthony Acevedo (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) leads the team and the conference with 15 catches this year … His 187 yards receiving ranks third in the conference … He also has two touchdown grabs. 

LENAHAN HAS A KNACK FOR FINDING THE BALL: Junior Safety James Lenahan (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) was the only player in the Empire 8 to record two interceptions in week one … In just 14 career games he has seven interceptions and ten pass deflections to go along with 50 career tackles. 

GERBINO HAVING A CAREER-YEAR: Senior captain Joseph Gerbino (Mahwah, NJ/Mahwah) ranks third on the team with eight catches for 124 yards and one touchdown this season … He caught a career-high six balls for 108 yards last weekend against Union.

ALEXANDER IS BACK: Junior cornerback Rob Alexander (Dobbs Ferry, NY/Dobbs Ferry) returned to the Pioneer line-up after taking two seasons off and is playing like he has not missed a beat … Alexander leads Utica with 12 solo tackles and ranks third on the team with 17 total tackles … He also has one interception and one pass break up. 

GIAMETTA SWARMS: Senior linebacker Joe Giametta (Seaford, NY/MacArthur) currently leads the team and ranks third in the conference with 20 total tackles … He also has two sacks which are tied for second in the E8. 

BENIQUEZ BREAKING OUT: Freshman Jerred Beniquez (Port Ewen, NY/Kingston) broke loose for a key 57 yard kick return in the fourth quarter against Union to help set up a game-sealing field goal for the Pioneers. 

SULLIVAN STEPS RIGHT IN: Sophomore safety and return man Mike Sullivan (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro), a Division I transfer from the University of Albany, has quickly made a name for himself in the blue and orange … Through two games he has four kick returns for a team-high 103 yards and he has also broken up a team-best three passes in the secondary. 

CLUTCH KICKING: UC sophomore kicker Thomas Woodburn (West Islip, NY/West Islip) nailed a 34 yard field goal late in the fourth quarter last Saturday to put the Pioneers ahead by two scores against Union … Woodburn is 3-for-4 in field goal opportunities this year and he is a perfect 2-for-2 from 30+ yards … He currently leads the team with 15 points this season (3-for-4 on field goals, 6-for-7 on extra points). 

TALE OF THE TAPE: UC is averaging 33.5 points per game compared to Hobart's 30.0 ppg … UC is averaging 23 first downs per game compared to the Statesmen's 21 … Hobart leads in rushing yards per game 343-144.5 … Utica is averaging 240.0 passing yards per game compared to Hobart's 127 … Utica is averaging ten penalties per game, while Hobart had six penalties in their only game of the season. 

SCOUTING THE STATESMEN: Nationally-ranked No. 8 Hobart posted a 30-7 victory over Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa., to open the 2013 season … The win came behind a career day for senior running back Steven Webb and a dominating defensive performance … Webb ran for a career-high 203 yards and three touchdowns while the Statesmen D limited the Red Devils to just 204 yards of total offense … Hobart accumulated 470 yards of total offense, including 343 on the ground … The Statesmen averaged 7.0 yards per carry (49-343) … Webb's big day marked the most rushing yards by a Statesman since Doug Blakowski ran for 214 yards at Merchant Marine on Oct. 14, 2006 … Webb was not stopped behind the line of scrimmage on any of his 18 carries … Webb was named to the D3football.com National Team of the Week for his efforts … Junior fullback Dominique Ellis and sophomore running back Conner Hartigan combined for 117 yards rushing, with Ellis scoring the team's other touchdown on a 1-yard plunge … Junior quarterback Patrick Conlan was 8-of-16 for 127 yards, earning the win in his first collegiate start … Junior wide receiver John Fasano was his top target, hauling in three passes for 41 yards … Defensively, sophomore linebacker Trayvon Toney was credited with a team-high eight tackles … Sophomore linebacker Kenneth Coughlin, junior linebacker Jacob Price, and sophomore defensive end Mark Guarino-Hyde each added seven stops … Junior defensive end Tyre Coleman had one of two Hobart sacks today … Information courtesy of Hobart Athletic Communications Department.