UTICA, NY - The Utica College football team hosts its one and only home game of the Spring 2021 season as they take on Alfred University. The Pioneers will host the Saxons on Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium.

Keep An Eye On Things: Due to preexisting COVID-19 protocols, spectators are not allowed on the premises at Utica College sporting events. Coverage of Utica's home game, including live video and stats will be available at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/utica/. And on the FREE Empire 8 apps available for Roku, Amazon Fire, and AppleTV. The game will also be carried on local radio at WPNR 90.7 FM and online at PioneerRadio.org. UC Students Rob Stevens and Abin Boris will have the call.

The Series: This will be the 20th All-Time meeting between Utica and Alfred. Utica has four wins against the Saxons all-time, which have all come in the last eight meetings. The Pioneers have won two straight against the Saxons. They have met every year Utica has had a varsity program as a conference opponent. 

Last Time Against the Saxons: In a defensive struggle between two battle-ready units, the Pioneers got a huge day from kicker Maki Medici (Watervliet, NY/Shaker) in a 19-10 win at Alfred's Yunevich Stadium. He booted four field goals and an extra point for thirteen of the team's nineteen points in the win, including a career-long 48 yarder. Utica held the E8's leading rusher at the time, Aaron Griffin, to just 83 yards, and the Saxons to just 144 rushing yards total. Ryan VanGalen (Clifton Park, NY/Shenedehowa) made his third career start at quarterback and was 15-of-19 with 120 yards and a touchdown, which was caught by JJ O'Connor. Brad Dougherty (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) rushed for 82 yards. Kwasi Addo (Menands, NY/Shaker) led the defense with nine tackles, while Amari Abraham (Holbrook, NY/Sachem East) broke up two passes. The teams were a combined 6-of-24 on third down.

The Leader: This will be Blaise Faggiano's thirteenth season as head coach at Utica. He has 59 wins as the team's head coach, and has led the squad to all three of its postseason appearances in the ECAC Bowl Series, including the program's first postseason win in 2018. He has coached over 90 All-Conference selections in his time at UC. He was a national champion lineman at Ithaca College in his playing days.

And The Leadership Council: This year's leadership council will consist of three seniors, four juniors, and three sophomores. Seniors Kwasi Addo (Menands, NY/Shaker), Michael Carr-Johnson (Buffalo, NY/Hutch Tech), and Tim Hogan (Glen Cove, NY/Glen Cove) headline this year's group. The junior quartet is comprised of Amari Abraham (Holbrook, NY/Sachem East), Daryl Savage (Elmira, NY/Elmira), Joey Lipani (Rochester, NY/Hilton), and Nate Palmer (Verona, NY/Vernon Verona Sherrill). The sophomore group includes John Stroughn (Baldwin, NY/Holy Trinity), Anthony Novello (Mepham, NY/Mepham), and Mike Kreuter.

Putting a Bow on Last Year: The Pioneers finished the season with a record of 5-5 overall in 2019. They were also an even 3-3 in the Empire 8 Conference. The team had wins over St. Lawrence, Buffalo State, St. John Fisher, Alfred, and Hartwick. They were an impressive 4-1 at home and were just four points away from an undefeated home record. The Pioneers were fourth in the final Empire 8 Conference Standings.

So, So Close: Even more wins could have been in the cards for the Pioneers last season against some quality opponents. UC narrowly missed out on an onside kick recovery for a touchdown against RPI in a 35-33 loss, lost in double overtime against Morrisville, and saw a one-score game slip away against a much improved Union College team.

By The Numbers: In 2019, Utica was third in the Empire 8 in scoring offense at 29.4 points per game, and fourth in scoring defense at 26.8 points per game. They were sixth in total offense at 340.6 yards per game, while ranking fifth in rushing and passing offense. They were fourth in total defense at 362.8 yards per game. They ranked fifth in the conference against the run, and the pass.

On Third And Fourth Downs: Utica was fifth in the Empire 8 in offensive third down efficiency in 2019, as they moved the chains on 38.8 percent of third downs. They were sixth in third down defensive efficiency as they conceded a first down on 43.9 percent of third downs. They were fourth in fourth down efficiency at 58.8 percent, and averaged 17.4 first downs per game.

Who Wants A Fifty Burger?: Utica's offense scored 50 or more points twice last season, and has done so three times in the last two years.

From The E8 Award Archives: Utica had a total of nine players selected to All-Conference teams last season. Offensive lineman Michael Carr-Johnson (Buffalo, NY/Hutch Tech), defensive back Elijah Belle (Plainfield, NJ/Plainfield), linebacker Kwasi Addo (Menands, NY/Shaker), and kicking specialist Maki Medici (Watervliet, NY/Shaker) were named to the first team, while Medici was also named the E8 Special Teams Player of the Year. Wide receiver Peyton Miller (Chemung, NY/Waverly) was put on the second team, along with defensive lineman Jack Derby (Fonda, NY/Fultonville Fonda), and safety Anthony Beaubrun (West Hempstead, NY/West Hempstead). Tight end John James O'Connor (Auburn, NY/Weedsport) was chosen as an honorable mention pick, and John Nish (Canastota, NY/Oneida) was the college's representative on the E8 Sportsman of the Year team.

A New Breed of QB: Utica will have a new starting quarterback when they take the field on Tuesday. Emergent in the battle to take the job have been sophomore Sonny Badyna (Brooklyn, NY/St. Peter's) and freshman Sam Florio. Sophomores Dom Walborn (Jordan, NY/Jordan-Elbridge), Ryan Lambert (Livonia, NY/Livonia), and Brandon Belott (Rexford, NY/Shenendehowa) are among the others attempting to make their case for the long run.
None of the currently rostered quarterbacks have taken a varsity snap at Utica.

Three Headed Monster: One of the areas where the Pioneers should be most confident is with their stable of running backs returning. Three of their top five 2019 rushers return on the roster in the form of upperclassmen Tim Hogan (Glen Cove, NY/Glen Cove), Lamont McGriff (Yonkers, NY/Iona Prep), and Jamarious Morgan (Utica, NY/Thomas R. Proctor). Morgan was the team's leading rusher last year with 536 yards and five touchdowns, and had the longest carry of the season at 62 yards. Hogan had twelve carries in 2019 for 112 yards. McGriff had 41 net yards rushing. McGriff and Hogan both played a major role in shouldering the rushing load for Utica's 2018 Bowl Championship team, and Hogan is also noted for his work on special teams over the years. He will continue to serve on the kick return unit alongside sophomore and local product Zach Hoage (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro). Newcomer Dominic Sagginario (West Islip, NY/West Islip) will also see a fair level of on-field exposure in the coming weeks.

Veni, Vedi, Medici: Maki Medici (Watervliet, NY/Shaker) had a magical run in 2019 for Utica as the team's two-way kicking specialist. His junior campaign saw him be named an honorable mention All-American, Empire 8 Special Teams Player of the Year, a double All-Conference selection as a kicker and punter, a second team All-ECAC honoree, and first team All-East Region by D3football.com. This season, he has been named a 2020-21 D3Football.com preseason All-American. He went 15-of-19 on field goal attempts last season, and was 13-of-14 on attempts inside 40 yards. He converted 78.9 percent of his field goal opportunities. He also succeeded on 31-of-35 extra point tries. Medici ranked second in the nation in field goals per game at 1.50 field goals per game. He had the fourth-best field goal percentage for a single season in program history, and the second best among kickers with more than 10 attempts. He led the conference in field goals made, field goals attempted, and field goal percentage. He was also fifteenth nationally in field goal percentage. He was second in the conference in punting average at 37.8 yards per kick.

Sorry, No Returns or Exchanges: Aided by Medici's kicking exploits, Utica was one of just four programs in all of NCAA football, and the only one in Division III not to concede a single punt return yard during the 2019 season.

On The Receiving End: The top two receivers in 2019 do not return to the 2020-21 roster for Utica, as Peyton Miller (Chemung, NY/Waverly) and Keegan Wright (Cicero, NY/Cicero North Syracuse) have both completed their eligibility. Nate Palmer (Verona, NY/Vernon Verona Sherrill) and Connor Darmetko (Menands, NY/Watervliet) will be two of the top returning pass-catching targets for the UC offense this season. Palmer had 323 yards and two touchdowns in 2019. Darmetko had just two catches in 2019 for a quiet season, but was a top ten receiver in the conference with over 500 yards while starting at Hartwick in 2018. Elijah Parker (New London, CT/New London) is an exciting prospect at receiver after transferring from Division I Central Connecticut, where he spent one season at tight end. The 6'3, 210 pound receiver brings an imposing presence to the field which should help a first year starting quarterback in getting up to speed. Juniors Jacob Messie (Liverpool, NY/Cicero North Syracuse), Brock Blecha (Machias. NY/Franklinville/Ellicottville), and Trevor Milliman (Phelps, NY/Midlakes) are the elder statesmen of the tight end group, which features seven freshmen in a wide open battle entering the spring. Toby Callender (Higganum, CT/Haddam-Killingworth) has had a great preseason as a sophomore.

On The Offensive Line: Senior offensive tackle Michael Carr-Johnson (Buffalo, NY/Hutch Tech) will continue to anchor what is otherwise a new-look offensive line this season. Carr-Johnson was a 2019 All-Conference pick at left tackle. Senior Nick Badalamente (Scranton, PA/Abington Heights) also is back in the mix after starting at guard last season and will be placed at center. Rookie sensation Ben Arthur's (Sayreville, NJ/Sayreville War Memorial) position will need to be replaced, as the sophomore has moved to defensive line. Center Ben Widas and Right Tackle Matt Nell are among the other departures. Seniors Alvin Munjakovic (Utica, NY/Proctor), Tyler Hartfield (Suffern, NY/Suffern), and Reece Klein (Albany, NY/Colonie) are all expected to be playing prominent roles in the trenches. The 2019 edition of the Pioneer offensive line conceded just nine quarterback sacks. That was the second-best figure in the Empire 8 conference.

The Down Linemen: Utica will have a fierce reputation to continue to live up to on the defensive line this season. The Pioneers led the E8 with 30 quarterback sacks last season, and the defensive line also played a vital role in helping Utica set a new single game mark for run defense against Hartwick. Some key pieces have departed, such as Robbie Schempp (Webster, NY/Webster Thomas) and Jack Derby (Fonda, NY/Fultonville Fonda). John Stroughn (Baldwin, NY/Holy Trinity) is the focal point for this year's group, as he led all UC defensive linemen with four sacks to go with 45 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss in 2019. Ben Arthur (Sayreville, NJ/Sayreville War Memorial) moving across the trenches will surely shore up the unit, and Jordan Weaver (Goshen, NY/Goshen High School) could stand to play a much larger role now after recording a pair of sacks in four 2019 appearances. Marquez Lott-Douglas (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena) had 21 tackles last season across seven appearances. Freshman Evan Gohringer (Utica, NY/Proctor) has also fit in nicely at defensive end after an incredible high school career at Utica Proctor, where he led the Raiders to the Section III Class AA Title Game.

At Linebacker: The Pioneers will have some re-tooling to do at linebacker for this shortened season. They will be without star linebacker Kwasi Addo (Menands, NY/Shaker) this week, who was the team's leader at that position in 2019. The all-conference performer's presence will surely be missed as he led the squad with 97 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks. With co-star Antonio Scala (Coram, NY/Longwood) now on the team's coaching staff, Utica will see a host of different faces rotate in at linebacker this spring, including veteran Amari Abraham (Holbrook, NY/Sachem East). Sophomores Anthony Fasano (Deer Park, NY/Deer Park) and Anthony Novello (Mepham, NY/Mepham), and freshmen James Prastio, Jake Notarino (Latham, NY/Shaker), and Darius Johnson (Webster, NY/Webster) are other players who have impressed in the preseason. Daryl Savage (Elmira, NY/Elmira) is the team's top returning rover linebacker. He had 23 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks.

In The Defensive Backfield: A rebuilt secondary will comprise the back end of the Utica defense this season with star players Anthony Beaubrun (West Hempstead, NY/West Hempstead) and Elijah Belle (Plainfield, NJ/Plainfield) both finishing their eligibility, and none of the four opening night starters from 2019 returning overall. At the safety positions, exciting junior Dan Amady (Suffern, NY/Suffern) will team up with local product Devin Bryant (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy), who returns to the team this season. Bryant starred at two different local high schools before UC as he played for both Oriskany and Rome Free Academy. Joey Lipani (Rochester, NY/Hilton) also brings an experienced veteran presence to the safety corps, and emergent rookie Chris Washington (Suffern, NY/Suffern) is another player worth paying attention to. At corner, Terrance Toussaint (West Orange, NJ/West Orange) will ascend from a reserve role into the starting unit on one side, and underclassmen Mike Campbell (Florida, NY/Warwick Valley), Jaylen Bush (Huntington, NY/Huntington), and Jaheim Perry (East Meadow, NY/East Meadow) are a few of the names fans can expect to see on Tuesday.

About Alfred: The Saxons were 5-5 last season, and 2-4 in the Empire 8 Conference. They lost their last three games of the 2019 season to Utica, Brockport, and St. John Fisher by a combined 21 points. Connor Englert is the only rostered quarterback to have taken a varsity snap last season, and that job is open with the departure of seniors Ben Burk and Casey Boston. Kevin Bragaglia is the leading returning rusher with 250 net yards and three touchdowns last year. He is a multi-sport athlete for the Saxons who also plays lacrosse. With 195 yards receiving and a touchdown, Kevin Leinenbach is the top returning receiver. The defense of the Saxons, which averaged just 17.9 points allowed last season, has taken a significant hit with the departure of first team All-American safety Raeqwon Greer, and third team All-American linebacker Nick Milgate, who was drafted into the Austrian Football League. Defensive back Ryan Elliott is the top returning tackler with 42 stops.

Up Next: The Pioneers will visit Alfred to complete their schedule on Monday, March 29th. The game kicks at 4 p.m.