UTICA, NY – The Utica College football team trailed by just seven points with a first and goal opportunity in the fourth quarter, until Brockport's Jake O'Connell picked off a Teddy VanGalen (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) pass in the end zone and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown, to give the Golden Eagles a 28-14 lead that they would not relinquish in Empire 8 Conference action Saturday at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium. Brockport handed Utica its second consecutive loss as the Golden Eagles earned the 35-28 conference victory.

The Pioneers record moved to 4-2 overall on the season and 2-2 in Empire 8 Conference action, while the Golden Eagles rebounded from a week four loss against St. John Fisher and improved to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in Empire 8 play.

Brockport led 21-7 after senior running back Dan Andrews punched in his third touchdown of the first half with 12:14 to go in the second quarter of play.  The Pioneers answered back exactly six minutes later as Jerred Beniquez (Port Ewen, NY/Kingston) caught a four yard touchdown pass from VanGalen and pulled the Pioneers to within seven points, 21-14, with 6:14 left in the first half. Beniquez finished the day with 131 all-purpose yards and became the College's all-time leader in career all-purpose yards.  Beniquez capped the contest with a team-high ten receptions for the second straight week.

Both teams were held scoreless for the entire third quarter until O'Connell intercepted the VanGalen pass in the end zone and returned it a school-record 100 yards for a touchdown to put the Golden Eagles on top 28-14 with 6:17 to go in regulation.

UC answered with a touchdown from senior running back Ryan Burnett (Mount Vernon, NY/Arch Bishop Stepinac), his second score of the day, to make it a seven point ball game with 1:52 remaining on the game clock.  Burnett also added a 16 yard first quarter rushing touchdown on the Pioneers first possession and he now ranks fifth on the College's all-time list with 11 career rushing touchdowns. Burnett led the team in rushing as he ran for 56 yards and two touchdowns. Burnett also caught four passes out of the backfield for a total of 34 yards.

Trailing by seven points, 28-21, the Pioneers attempted an onside kick with 1:52 left, but the attempt was unsuccessful and the Golden Eagles took advantage of good field position and preseason All-American Dan Andrews exploded for his fourth touchdown of the day to give the visitors a 35-21 lead with 1:22 to go. Andrews led the way for the Golden Eagles as he earned 236 rushing yards. He also added two receptions for 26 yards.

Utica was able to score once more, with 14 seconds left in regulation, on an eight yard touchdown pass from VanGalen to Imani Vincent (Brooklyn, NY/Sheepshead Bay), to make the score 35-28.  The Pioneers ensuing onside kick attempt failed and Brockport ran the clock out to earn the key Empire 8 victory. VanGalen completed 31 of 49 passes for 315 yards and two touchdowns through the air on the afternoon.  His 49 pass attempts are the third most attempts in program-history.  He also earned himself a net gain of 44 yards on the ground with nine carries. Vincent recorded a career-high of 101 receiving yards on nine receptions on the afternoon.  

Utica senior linebacker Juwan Wilson (South Ozone Park, NY/Holy Cross) led the Pioneers and tied his season-best with a team-high 13 total tackles.  He has now posted double digit tackles in four straight weeks. Wilson now ranks second on the College's all-time list with 295 career tackles.

Senior defensive end Frank DeNome (New Windsor, NY/Cornwall) earned two sacks on the game and moved into sixth on the College's all-time list with 10.0 career sacks.  He now needs one more sack to move into fifth place all-time at UC. Isaiah Washington (Ozone Park, NY/Fort Hamilton) tallied a career-high 12 total tackles on the game. He also made an assisted sack and forced one fumble.

Brockport totaled 361 yards on the ground and took advantage of two interceptions and two fumble recoveries as the Golden Eagles did not relinquish their lead for the final 51:02 of the contest.

Brockport quarterback Brian Mckean made good on seven pass attempts for 72 yards. He also was second on the team with 44 net rushing yards. Matt Szymanski made a team-high 14 tackles and added one pass break up for the Brockport defense. Kevin Garabitos recorded a total of eight tackles on the day and made one interception for the Golden Eagles.

The Pioneers return to the field on Saturday when they host undefeated St. John Fisher College (6-0, 4-0 E8) in Empire 8 Conference play at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium.  The contest is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.