Utica, NY (11/8/14)- The Utica College football team picked up a huge win on senior day as the Pioneers downed Empire 8 foe, Alfred University 35-14 at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium.  UC scored 21 unanswered points to secure the victory.
 
With the win, UC improves to 6-3 on the year and 4-3 in the E8.  The Pioneers tied the school record for wins in a season and collected six wins for just the third time in program history.  This is also just the second time Utica has defeated Alfred as the Saxons hold a 12-2 advantage in the all-time series.
 
Senior Anthony Acevedo (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) recorded two touchdown catches and added one punt return TD to lead the Pioneers.  Running backs Ryan Burnett (Mount Vernon, NY/Arch Bishop Stepinac) and J'Von Evans added the other scores for Utica.
 
UC jumped out to a 7-0 lead just over five minutes into the game as Acevedo scored his first career punt return touchdown, by taking it 57 yards to the house.  The Saxons rebounded with 4:47 left in the first quarter as quarterback Tyler Johnson threw a 14-yard pass to Isiah Young to even the score. 
 
UC went on top 14-7 just 34 seconds into the second quarter as senior Connor Butkiewicz (Southington, CT/Southington) connected with Acevedo for a 32 yard pass to cap off a 76-yard drive by the home team.  Alfred was able to even the score again with a 1-yard run by Johnson to send the teams into the locker room tied 14-14 at the half.
 
The Pioneers came out strong in the second half as the defense held Alfred to just 26 yards of offense in the third quarter.  Utica began to pull away as the Pioneers marched 84 yards down the field, capped off by a 2-yard TD run by Burnett to put the UC up 21-14.
 
The defense once again came up big as Mike Kata (West Babylon, NY/West Babylon) put pressure on Johnson and Joe Castellitto (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) was able to force a fumble the resulted in a first down for the Pioneers on Alfred's 11-yard line.  Just three plays later Evans punched in his team-high seventh rushing touchdown of the year.
 
Utica capped off the scoring as Butkiewicz found Acevedo in the back of the end zone with just 3:45 remaining in the game to seal the win. 
 
Butkiewicz had a strong showing, going 15-of-20 for 200 yards and two TDs, while Evans had 27 carries for 115 yards.  Acevedo and Jerred Beniquez (Port Ewen, NY/Kingston) each recorded 65 yards receiving and senior Alex DeRusso (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) chipped in with four catches for 63 yards. 
 
The defense was led by Juwan Wilson (South Ozone Park, NY/Holy Cross), who totaled 11 tackles and recovered one fumble, while Nick Woodman (Utica, NY/Proctor) had seven tackles, including 1.5 sacks for a loss of 13 yards.  Woodman set a new program record with 10 total sacks in a season.  Freshman Matthew McCoy added four tackles and one interception.  Senior Dakota Peel (Alden, NY/Alden) led the special teams as he averaged 46.7 yards per punt.
 
The Pioneers return to action next Saturday as they travel to Hartwick College. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.  If Utica wins, it will set a new program record for wins and has the potential to earn an ECAC Bowl bid.  


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