UTICA, NY - The Utica College football team looks to triple up its win total on Saturday, September 21st as it makes the trip to Troy, NY for a non-conference game against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The Pioneers and Engineers will meet for a 6 pm kickoff under the lights of the 5,200 seat East Campus Athletic Village stadium. 

Follow Along: Live video of the evening's contest will be provided courtesy of RPI TV at http://rpitv.org/. WRPI 91.5 FM of Troy will also carry the game on radio, and online at http://wrpi.org/listen. Live stats from RPI Athletic Communications are available at http://www.sidearmstats.com/rpi/football/. 

Where We Sit: The Pioneers have opened the season at 2-0 for a third time in the last four years. In all three seasons that Utica has attended the postseason, a 2-0 start has been part of the team's season. Utica has an active five game winning streak. 

The Three Quarter Mark: A win on Saturday would be the 75th in the history of the Utica College football program.

The Series: This will be the seventh all-time meeting between the Pioneers and Engineers, and it is an important one in the overall historical context of the series. The teams have presently halved the series 3-3, with RPI winning the last matchup in 2018 by a 23-20 score. The Pioneers won the preceding three meetings in 2004, 2010, and 2011. Utica's largest margin of victory against RPI came in 2010 by a 42-21 score, a game in which the team secured a 3-0 start for the first time in the history of the program. Utica netted its most recent win over RPI in 2011 by a 38-28 score. On that day, the Pioneers defeated a team that included former San Diego Chargers signee Mike Hermann at quarterback, and former Miami Dolphins kicker Andrew Franks. The 2011 win was also the last time the two teams met in Troy.

The Last Time They Met: On September 15th, 2018, the Pioneers and the No. 21 RPI Engineers convened at Gaetano Stadium for what would go down as one of the most riveting games of the season in Division III football. It took into the third overtime to put the game to bed, but RPI's Sanjay Krishnan landed the tying and go-ahead field goals in the second and third overtimes, and the Engineers got a game-ending defensive stop to preserve a 23-20 victory over Utica. The Pioneers had a chance to defuse the nationally-ranked Engineers at the end of regulation, but a Dan Tette (Rochester, NY/West Irondequoit) field goal attempt from 32 yards was blocked to force overtime with a 17-17 tie. Utica out-gained the Engineers on the afternoon 367 to 346, and narrowly eclipsed the visitors on rushing and passing yards. Quarterback Logan Wilcox (Utica, NY/Proctor) was 24-for-55 for 213 yards and one touchdown in just his second career start. Senior running back Malcolm Stowe (Coram, NY/Longwood) had an incredible day as he rushed for 158 yards on 27 carries, including a career-best 53 yard run. He eclipsed 1,000 yards for his career during the game and is just one of six Utica backs to accomplish the feat. Peyton Miller (Chemung, NY/Waverly) had nine catches for 89 yards in the defeat. On defense, Xyier Woodard (Albany, NY/LaSalle) recovered a fumble for a touchdown, while Kwasi Addo (Menands, NY/Shaker) and Antonio Scala (Coram, NY/Longwood) each had twelve tackles. Anthony Beaubrun (West Hempstead, NY/West Hempstead) had ten tackles and an interception. 

Believe Bowl: Fans are reminded that Saturday, October 12th marks the third edition of the New York State Tool Believe Bowl. Come on out to Gaetano Stadium that day as the Pioneers match up with St. John Fisher. The Believe Bowl was created by the Believe 271 Foundation, New York State Tool, and Utica College football to assist children at the Thea Bowman House as well as firefighters battling cancer and life-threatening illnesses. More information on the game will be made available in the near future.

Last Time Out: The Pioneers were caught in a first half defensive tussle with Buffalo State that saw only three points on the board through a half-ending field goal by the Bengals, but Utica put on a huge second half to get past the Bengals by a 26-15 score. The Pioneer defense stood tall in the matchup as the unit shorted out three Bengal drives into Utica territory before the opposition could reach the endzone. That included a second quarter goal line stand where the Pioneers funneled the Bengals out of bounds at the two yard line on fourth and goal to keep the game scoreless at that point. In the third quarter, a field goal from Maki Medici (Watervliet, NY/Shaker) leveled the score at three points, and a later 25 yard passing touchdown from Wilcox to tight end John James O'Connor (Auburn, NY/Weedsport) propelled Utica into a 10-3 third quarter lead. The biggest scoring play for Utica, however, was yet to come. The Bengals scored an interception return touchdown to trim the lead to a single point at 10-9, but Utica's Marquis Simpson (Middle Island, NY/Longwood) ensured the lead would remain. He turned the blocked extra point by Shane Walpole (Mechanicville, NY/Shenendehowa) into a two-point conversion return that added some needed permanence to Utica's lead. The Pioneers scored the next fourteen points on a rushing score by Jamarious Morgan (Utica, NY/Thomas R. Proctor), and Wilcox and O'Connor hooked up on a second passing touchdown to cap off a 16-0 run for Utica. The Bengals scored a second touchdown late, but the Pioneers had already done the necessary damage in a 26-15 win. On offense, Wilcox threw for 171 yards and two touchdowns, and Morgan had a huge rushing day with a collegiate best 123 yards on eighteen carries and a touchdown. He averaged over six yards per carry. O'Connor made three catches for 70 yards and two touchdowns, and Peyton Miller (Chemung, NY/Waverly) rolled up 89 yards receiving. The defense put together three sacks, an interception, and nine tackles for loss in the win. Antonio Scala (Coram, NY/Longwood) led the unit with ten tackles and three tackles for loss, and John Nish (Canastota, NY/Oneida) had ten stops for a second straight game. Kwasi Addo (Menands, NY/Shaker) had an interception. The win was the fourth straight for Utica against Buffalo State. 

Simpson's Special Teams Salutation: Defensive back Marquis Simpson (Middle Island, NY/Longwood) was named the Empire 8 Conference Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday. Simpson's award comes after he turned in a pair of clutch special teams plays in Utica's win over Buffalo State College on Saturday. Late in the second quarter in a scoreless game, Simpson downed a punt with a spectacular effort at the one yard line to pin Buffalo State with 99 yards to go to the end zone, with just 2:30 left on the clock. While the Bengals moved the ball 83 yards on the ensuing possession, Simpson's efforts ultimately contributed to the Bengals settling for a field goal to end the half at just a 3-0 margin. In the third quarter, Simpson factored in again with Utica holding a one point lead. With the Bengals kicking an extra point for the tie, the kick was blocked, and Simpson ran it back for two points himself. Simpson has now been directly responsible for eight points for the Pioneers from his defense and special teams work this season. 

On The Road Again: The Pioneers handled life on the road quite well last season as the Pioneers were 4-1 in games played away from Gaetano Stadium. The 80 percent winning percentage is Utica's best winning percentage ever when playing away from home, surpassing the efforts of the 2016 team that went 4-2 when not playing at Gaetano.

Sorry, You're Not A Winner: Buffalo State became the latest team to struggle to return punts against the Pioneers on Saturday. For a fifth straight game, the Pioneer punting unit did not allow a single punt return yard, and they also did not allow a return for a second time in the same span. Three teams have attempted a single return in that time, only to be immediately halted upon catching the ball for no gain. Utica is tied for sixteenth nationally in punt return defense. 

The National Picture: The Pioneers are 78th in the nation in scoring offense at 33.7 points per game. The team is 54th in the nation in scoring defense at a rock solid 14.50 points allowed per game. Utica is also 108th nationally in total offense with 363.5 yards per game, and the squad stands 117th in scoring defense at 343 yards allowed per game. All four figures stand above average nationally.

The Turnover Battle: The Pioneers can be counted as one of 105 teams in the country to stand on the plus side in turnover margin so far this season. The Pioneers stand at a +1 margin in the turnover battle so far this season.

Nish Notes: Rover John Nish (Canastota, NY/Oneida) has been an unstopppable presence to begin the season defensively for Utica, as he has 21 tackles in two games off a pair of ten tackle performances. He is just a tackle away from surpassing his season total of 22 stops from last year. He is tied for fifteenth nationally with fifteen solo tackles.

That'll Addo: Linebacker Kwasi Addo (Menands, NY/Shaker) is also off to another tremendous start in 2019 as he ranks second on the team with sixteen tackles. He has 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack, and an interception to his name to begin the year. 

Its Picking Season: A year after carding a school-record 18 interceptions, the Pioneers are off to a great start in that area in 2019. Utica has four interceptions to start the year, with two of them belonging to Elijah Belle (Plainfield, NJ/Plainfield), and one apiece for Marquis Simpson (Middle Island, NY/Longwood) and Kwasi Addo (Menands, NY/Shaker). Two of the team's interceptions have also been returned for touchdowns. The Pioneers have notched an interception in seven straight games dating back to a year ago. Utica is 23rd nationally in total interceptions with their quartet of picks this season. Belle is one of just 31 players in the nation with multiple interceptions early in the season, and is one interception return touchdown away from becoming the outright career record holder at Utica. He is tied for the school record with Rob Alexander for interceptions returned for a touchdown with two in his career. 

Get Off My Lawn: The Pioneer defense continues to befuddle opposing offenses who try to run the ball into the end zone this season. Although Buffalo State drove the ball to the Utica one-yard line on Saturday, they were stopped short of a touchdown on multiple rushing attempts as the Pioneer defense held another opponent without a rushing score. The Pioneers have not surrendered a rushing touchdown this season, nor have they in five straight games, and the Pioneers are 9-0 in the last two years when they've held opponents without one. When the Pioneers wake up on Saturday morning, they will have gone 329 straight days without allowing a rushing touchdown. Utica is one of 68 teams nationally to get through the first two weeks unscathed by opposing rushing attacks on the scoreboard. "

Making His Mark: Veteran defensive back Mark Taylor (Buffalo, NY/Kenmore West) has made a smooth transition from cornerback to safety this year, and leads the team with three passes broken up.

Pocket Pandemonium: The Pioneers have sacked opposing quarterbacks a total of five times in the first two weeks of the season. John Nish (Canastota, NY/Oneida), Kwasi Addo (Menands, NY/Shaker), John Stroughn (Baldwin, NY/Holy Trinity), and Andrew Caruso (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford) have all wrapped up the quarterback once this season, and Josh Fenical and Shane Walpole (Mechanicville, NY/Shenendehowa) have been credited with half a quarterback sack to begin the campaign. In addition, Utica's offensive line has shined with just a single sack allowed through two weeks. 

Morgan's Moment: Running back Jamarious Morgan (Utica, NY/Thomas R. Proctor) is off to a tremendous start to his time with the Pioneers. The Utica native has rushed for 164 yards and a touchdown in the first two weeks of the season, and ranks tenth in the nation with an average of 7.81 yards per carry. He had limited touches in week one, breaking off 41 yards out of three carries. In the win over Buffalo State, he had a true breakout game while shouldering more of the workload. He rushed for 123 yards and a touchdown, and did it all on just eighteen carries to help guide the way for Utica against the Bengals. 

The Signal Caller: Sophomore quarterback Logan Wilcox (Utica, NY/Proctor) is slated for his thirteenth career start on Saturday. The lefty has started the season 20-of-51 for 374 yards and four touchdowns. His longest pass of the year was a 49 yard connection for a touchdown to Nate Palmer (Verona, NY/Vernon Verona Sherrill) in the season opener against St. Lawrence. He surpassed 3,000 passing yards for his career in the win over Buffalo State. He was the 2018 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year. 

Peyton Place: Through two games, Peyton Miller (Chemung, NY/Waverly) has been the Pioneers' leading receiver, just as he was for the 2018 season. Miller has seven catches for 172 yards and a touchdown for the 2019 campaign so far. He is averaging 24.57 yards per reception to rank 46th in the country. He is a 2018 Empire 8 All-Conference selection. 

O'Connor Reigns Supreme: Tight end John James O'Connor (Auburn, NY/Weedsport) now leads the team in touchdown receptions with two after his performance against Buffalo State. He now has five catches for 108 yards to mark what is already the best receiving season of his career in just two weeks. 

Booming The Long Ball: Punter Maki Medici (Watervliet, NY/Shaker) is fourteenth in the nation in punting average through two weeks with an average of 41.86 yards per punt. He has a long of 52 yards and four of his seven kicks have been fair caught. 

The Kick is Good: Medici is also a perfect 3-for-3 on field goal attempts to stand among a handful of kickers to make all of their attempts so far. He has converted at distances of 24, 34, and 30 yards this year, and has made his last six attempts dating back to last year's bowl win. 

2018 Season In A Flash: The Pioneers finished the 2018 season with a record of 7-4. It was a historic campaign as the Pioneers tied their program best for wins in a season, and took it one step further with the first postseason win in school history, a 44-42 win over Ithaca in the ECAC Scotty Whitelaw Bowl game. Defensive lineman Keanu Heedram (Rochester, NY/Rush-Henrietta) was named a D3Football.com All-Region selection to lead the defense, and freshman quarterback Logan Wilcox (Utica, NY/Proctor)  was named the Empire 8 Conference Rookie of the Year on offense. Running back Malcolm Stowe (Coram, NY/Longwood) became the first back in school history to crack 1,000 rushing yards in a single season, and also became the team's all-time career leader in rushing yards. Slot receiver Peyton Miller (Chemung, NY/Waverly) led the conference with 987 receiving yards in just his first full season at the position. The linebacking corps led the team in tackles, with Antonio Scala's (Coram, NY/Longwood) 93 total stops setting the pace. A school record thirteen players were named All-Conference. Highlights of the regular season include wins over St. Lawrence, Catholic, St. John Fisher, Alfred, Hartwick, and Buffalo State, and a nail biting thriller against nationally-ranked RPI that went into overtime. 

About RPI: The Engineers are currently 1-1 and dropped out of the D3Football.com Top 25 after losing to Transit Trophy rival Worcester Polytechnic Institute by a 6-3 score on Saturday. RPI's lone win of the year came against Allegheny in week 1 by a final total of 52-14. The Engineers are fresh off a 10-2 season where they won the Liberty League title on a tiebreaker with Ithaca, and advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals while beating Empire 8 champion Brockport along the way. They return eleven starters off of that team. Third year starter George Marinopoulos returns at quarterback and has thrown for 464 yards and two touchdowns. Leading receiver Nick Smith has caught ten balls for 103 yards, and leading rusher Joe Scaglione has 79 rushing yards and the team's longest carry of 22 yards. All-Conference linebacker John Sadak leads the defense with fourteen total tackles. That stingy unit has allowed just ten points per game and 39 yards rushing per game over the first two weeks. They are tied for 29th in the nation in scoring defense, and are 18th in rushing defense. The defensive unit returns three All-Conference picks from last season in total. 

Up Next: The Pioneers will have their bye week following the RPI game, and return to action against Cortland on Saturday, October 5th. That game will take place at Cortland.