Utica, NY – The Utica College football team lost 14-0 against visiting Ithaca College in the inaugural New York State Tool Believe Bowl on Saturday at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium. The Believe Bowl was created to assist children at the Thea Bowman House as well as Firefighters battling cancer and life-threatening illnesses.

Honorary captains attended practice and joined the Utica and Ithaca captains at the 50 yard line for the game's opening coin toss. The Thea Bowman House captains included Jordyn Walton from Conkling School and Darkeise Kyles from Columbus School. The honorary captains representing volunteer firefighters battling cancer and life threatening illnesses were Chief Neil Sutherland, Assistant Chief Wayne Smoulcey and Chief Anthony Pagliaro.

Ithaca (5-3) was awarded the Believe Trophy following the contest.  The Believe Trophy will be engraved and housed at the Thea Bowman House until next year's Believe Bowl.

Utica (3-5, 2-4 Empire 8) dropped its first home contest of the season and will return to conference play next Saturday when the Pioneers travel to Cortland State to take on the Red Dragons at 1 p.m.

The Bomber defense was stout all afternoon and held UC to 234 total yards of offense and zero points for the first time all season.

Ithaca took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter behind a one yard touchdown run from Isaiah D'Haiti. The seven point advantage held until the fourth quarter when the Bombers put the game out of reach with a ten yard TD run by Tristan Brown.

Senior Derrick Sekuterski (Depew, NY/Depew) led Utica once again with 13 tackles, one forced fumble and one pass breakup.  Ben Vargas (Holbrook, NY/Sachem East) posted 10 tackles and recovered a fourth quarter fumble in the end zone for the Pioneers. Senior captain Anthony Bierria-Anderson (Freeport, NY/Freeport) totaled nine tackles, two fumble recoveries and two pass breakups on the afternoon.

Chance Harris forced two fumbles and picked up seven tackles for the Pioneers, while Keanu Heedram (Rochester, NY/Rush-Henrietta) made seven tackles for the Pioneers.

Vinny Aloi (Chester, NY/Chester Academy) completed 15 passes for 125 yards under center for Utica but he also threw three interceptions. Malcolm Stowe (Coram, NY/Longwood) carried the ball 17 times for a team-high 64 yards, while Brad Dougherty (Rome, NY/RFA) totaled eight carries for 28 yards in his varsity debut. 

Donavan Brunson led the Utica receivers with five catches for 33 yards.

Tristan Brown led the Bombers with 24 carries for 144 yards and a score.