Alfred, NY - When the dust settled on Saturday, the day belonged to the Utica College football team. It also belonged, in large part, to junior quarterback Sonny Badyna (Brooklyn, NY/St. Peter's). Badyna threw for 340 yards and three touchdowns, and was credited with two more rushing touchdowns to guide Utica, as the Pioneers pulled away from host Alfred State for a 39-21 non-conference win.

UC broke open a 10-7 halftime lead with a 22 point third quarter to take permanent command of the game.

Utica improved to 1-0, while their hosts fell to 0-1. Utica is now 2-0 all-time against Alfred State, with Saturday marking the first meeting since the Pioneers' inaugural game in 2001.

The Pioneers outgained their hosts by a 469-173 margin in total offense. Within that, the Utica front seven put up a fearsome performance against the run all afternoon, as they held the home team to just eight net rushing yards. Utica put up 129 net rushing yards to complement Badyna's 340 passing yards. Alfred State put up just 165 yards through the air.

In individual offense, Nate Palmer (Verona, NY/Vernon Verona Sherrill) had an incredible day, and more specifically, an outstanding second half. The Pioneer offensive captain went off for a career-high 177 receiving yards and a touchdown, and nearly all of that came in the latter half of the game. Elijah Parker (New London, CT/New London) had 77 yards and a touchdown through the air, and Clifton Manns (Albany, NY/Albany) also added a receiving score from the tight end spot. 

On defense, Cameron Davis (Sayreville, NJ/Sayreville War Memorial) and John Stroughn (Baldwin, NY/Holy Trinity) were credited with three tackles each. Anthony Novello (Mepham, NY/Mepham) got credit for a safety in the third quarter.

Utica was 8-of-17 on third down, while Alfred State was capped at just three conversions in 13 opportunities. 

The Pioneer defense appeared firm out of the gate as Alfred State received the opening kickoff and were immediately shown the door on a three-and-out.

Utica's first series of the day was more effective, leading to the game's first score. The connection between quarterback Sonny Badyna (Brooklyn, NY/St. Peter's) and wide receiver Elijah Parker (New London, CT/New London) was evident, as the pair combined for a pair of key receptions, and the offense was also buoyed by a timely Alfred State penalty to get inside the red zone. The drive stalled at the home team's 18 yard line, but kicker Maki Medici (Watervliet, NY/Shaker) ensured the Pioneers didn't come away empty handed. The graduate student lasered a 30 yard attempt through the uprights to put Utica ahead, 3-0.

However, the hosts were quick to reply on their second series. Alfred State quarterback Aaron Jenkins completed a pass down the right side to wideout Roman Napoleon, who shook off one tackle and sprinted the distance for the score. The kick was good and Alfred State sat in the drivers' seat by a 7-3 score.

The Pioneers showed even more progress down the field on their second offensive series. Another Parker reception got the Pioneers across midfield, and a thunderous carry by veteran running back Tim Hogan (Glen Cove, NY/Glen Cove) paved the road for Utica to get inside the Alfred five yard line.  However, that's as far as the Pioneers would manage to get on the drive. Despite wideout Joey Nare getting the offense a fresh set of downs on a pass interference penalty, the Pioneers could not get the final push needed to enter the end zone. The ensuing Maki Medici (Watervliet, NY/Shaker) field goal attempt went wide, and the 7-3 lead for the hosts remained through the end of the first quarter.

After some early difficulty finishing drives, it was a matter of persistence and good field position that got the Pioneers into the end zone for the first time this season. The Utica defense dug in their heels and put the hosts in a punting situation in their own territory. The state of affairs seemed to take a wrong turn when Alfred State punter Rylie VanFleet hauled in a wayward snap and sprinted deep into Pioneer territory, but that play was called back on an illegal block in the back. The second time around, Alfred State kicked the ball away, and Nate Palmer (Verona, NY/Vernon Verona Sherrill) followed his blockers on a strong 35 yard return deep into home team territory at the 15 yard line. Shortly thereafter, Badyna launched a bullet to the center of the end zone to Parker for a 19 yard touchdown. The Medici kick was good, and the Pioneers assumed a 10-7 lead in the second quarter.

Utica threatened to extend the lead further, but a Medici field goal attempt on an untimed down to end the half sailed wide.
The third quarter was where the Pioneers really turned up the heat. The team received to start the second half, and proceeded to march their way to the goal line on a 78 yard scoring drive. Matt Brantley (Rochester, NY/Eastridge) brought the Pioneers into position with an explosive 27 yard gain on an end-around play to place the offense at the Alfred State one-yard line. From there, Sonny Badyna (Brooklyn, NY/St. Peter's) fell on a fumble at the goal line, and the Pioneers went up 16-7.

Two plays from scrimmage later, the hosts trimmed the score back to 16-14, as Jenkins found Napoleon again for a 62 yard touchdown pass.

The Pioneers would score points three more times before the end of the frame. Badyna scrambled in for a rushing score from eight yards away. A fumble by Jenkins was recovered by Josh Powell (Tampa, FL/Sickles) at the Alfred State 7, which set up a short touchdown pass from Badyna to Clifton Manns (Albany, NY/Albany). On the ensuing kickoff, the UC kick coverage unit forced Napoleon to retreat back into his own end zone. Anthony Novello (Mepham, NY/Mepham) made the tackle on the spot for a safety to put Utica in front by a 32-14 score after three quarters.

In the fourth, each team found the end zone once, and it was a good time to have the last name "Palmer". Badyna launched a 54 yard rocket to Palmer for a Pioneer touchdown, and Alfred State's Jake Palmer found the end zone on a touchdown run of his own to finalize the 39-21 score and a non-conference win for UC.

The non-conference slate continues for the Pioneers on Saturday, September 11th as they visit Kean University.