Box Score ALFRED, NY - The Utica College football team took its first loss of the 2021 season on Monday. After Alfred scored a touchdown to break a 10-10 tie, the Pioneer offense battled back valiantly with an impressive 55 yard drive, but a tie score would rest just inches beyond Utica's grasp on this day. On the final play from scrimmage, running back Lamont McGriff (Yonkers, NY/Iona Prep) dove for the goal line looking for the potential tying score, but was ruled to be tackled at the half yard mark as host Alfred held on for a 17-10 win at Yunevich Stadium.

Both teams wrap up their current schedules at 1-1.

The Pioneers were outgained on the day by a 418-293 margin in total offense. The Saxons outgained UC on the ground by a 198-96 margin, and through the air by a 220-197 margin. Utica continued its trend of causing turnovers as the Saxons lost the ball on fumbles twice, and the Pioneers also got an interception by way of Mike Campbell (Florida, NY/Warwick Valley).

Sonny Badyna (Brooklyn, NY/St. Peter's) completed 12-of-16 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown. Tim Hogan (Glen Cove, NY/Glen Cove) had eight carries for 42 yards on the ground. Nate Palmer (Verona, NY/Vernon Verona Sherrill) turned in another tremendous pass catching performance with six grabs for 88 yards. Rookie tight end Clifton Manns (Albany, NY/Albany) made three catches for 37 yards.

Defensively, Daryl Savage (Elmira, NY/Elmira) led Utica with 7 tackles, while Anthony Novello (Mepham, NY/Mepham) and Anthony Fasano (Deer Park, NY/Deer Park) had five each. Joey Lipani (Rochester, NY/Hilton) broke up two passes, and John Stroughn (Baldwin, NY/Holy Trinity) forced a fumble.

Connor Englert had 140 yards passing for the Saxons, while Keandre Sanders had 85 yards receiving. Tim Dahl had seven tackles and a tackle for loss, while Tommy Vaughn and Jeremiah Young also recorded seven stops.

The Pioneers got their lone touchdown in the first quarter of play as they capped a nine play, 82 yard drive with a touchdown pass from Badyna to Matt Brantley (Rochester, NY/Eastridge), who caught a brilliantly placed pass into the corner of the end zone.

Alfred countered with a ten point second quarter to nab the lead at the break. In addition to a field goal from Dustin McCaslin, backup quarterback Blake VanWoert completed a touchdown pass to Zach Leinenbach with 12 seconds to go in the quarter to give the Saxons a 10-7 lead.

Utica kicker Maki Medici (Watervliet, NY/Shaker) had the lone score of the third quarter as he knocked through a field goal to knot the score at ten.

Alfred re-opened their lead to 17-10 in the fourth quarter when Englert snuck into the endzone from a yard out. That set the stage for the Pioneers to march a drive down to the one yard line in the dying seconds, but that drive was marked just short of the tying score.