UTICA, NY - The Utica University football team's six-game winning streak and unbeaten mark was snapped by the No. 13 SUNY Cortland Red Dragons 48-21 at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium on Saturday afternoon. 
 
The Pioneers received the opening kickoff and strung together a nice 13 play, 54 yard drive that ate up 6:58 off the clock that resulted in a field goal try from the Cortland 28. However, Corey Lichtman's (Bellemore, NY/Mepham) attempt was tipped at the line of scrimmage by the Red Dragons as the game remained scoreless as Cortland took over possession. 
 
On the Red Dragon's seventh play of their drive, Zac Boyes connected with Cole Burgess for a 27 yard touchdown reception to make it a 7-0 game following the point after. The score capped off a 7 play, 72 yard drive that took 3:44. 
 
After Utica was forced to punt on its second drive, Cortland took over at its own 25 and scored in less than a minute on a 66 yard touchdown run by Jaden Alfanostjohn on the third play of the team's drive. The touchdown came with 14:37 left in the second quarter. After forcing the Pioneers to a three-and-out, Cortland extended its lead to 21-0 on another Boyes-to-Burgess touchdown, this time going for 31 yards. 
 
Now 28-0 in favor of Cortland, Utica took over possession with 2:46 before halftime after a Terrance Toussaint (West Orange, NJ/West Orange) interception at the Cortland 23. On a 3rd and 6 from the Cortland 19, Matt Brantley (Rochester, NY/Eastridge) turned the corner on a sweep for 18 yards to set up a one yard rushing touchdown by Brendan Belott (Rexford, NY/Shenendehowa). The Red Dragons scored quickly before halftime but the PAT sailed wide as Utica went into the break trailing 34-7. 
 
On Cortland's opening possession of the half, the nationally-ranked visitors went 73 yards over seven plays to extend its lead to 41-7. 
 
The Pioneers were able to produce scores with 5:03 left in the third quarter on a two yard Nate Palmer (Verona, NY/Vernon Verona Sherrill) run a 23 yard pass from Braeden Zenelovic (Ontario Center, NY/Wayne Central ) to Travis Decker (Oneida, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) with 10:37 left to play in the fourth that made it a 48-21 game. Cortland went on to kill the final 10 minutes of play on a 15 yard, 85 yard drive to end the game and hand Utica its first loss of 2022. 
 
On offense, Zenelovic went 16-for-24 through the air with 187 yards and one touchdown pass. James Salles (West Babylon, NY/West Babylon) and Brantley led the Pioneers on the ground with 34 and 33 yards. Joey Nare (Canajoharie, NY/Canajoharie) reeled in a team high a team high six catches and 81 yards while Decker finished with 54 yards on four catches. Palmer was limited to three catches and 18 yards. 
 
On defense, Anthony Fasano (Deer Park, NY/Deer Park) recorded a team best eight tackles while Toussaint and Jamel Smith (Spring Valley, NY/Avon Old Farms) each recorded an interception. 
 
Utica (6-1, 2-1 Empire 8) will travel to SUNY Morrisville for a noon start time on Saturday, October 29.