CORTLAND, NY - The Utica University football team suffered its first loss of the 2023 season on Saturday afternoon with a 56-3 defeat to the No. 17 SUNY Cortland Red Dragons.
Under center,
Brett Fuller (Port Jervis, NY/Port Jervis) completed 10 of 28 passing attempts for 69 yards. For the Red Dragons, Zac Boyes completed 12 of his 15 attempts for 182 yards and a pair of touchdowns. On the ground,
Jimmy Polito (Hull, MA/Hull) totaled 37 yards on nine carries while Fuller and
Ethan Licin (North Babylon, NY/Luhi) had 17 yards rushing each. Jaden AlfanoStJohn led Cortland with 105 yards and two scores on 14 touches. Ashton Capone added 88 yards and two scores as well while Boyes scrambled for 86 yards and a touchdown.
Utica's receivers were led by
Antonio Cianfarani (Scotia, NY/Scotia Glenville), who totaled 24 yards on three catches, and
Joey Nare (Canajoharie, NY/Canajoharie), who caught two passes for 16 yards. Andrew Tarpey and JJ Laap of Cortland combined for seven catches for over 130 yards and two touchdowns - both of which reeled in by Laap.
On defense,
Eli Douglas (Ausable Forks, NY/Ausable Valley) netted 15 tackles, six solo, as well as 0.5 tackles for a loss.
Aedan McDonald (Huntington, NY/Huntington) and
Nick Billand (Towaco, NJ/Montville) totaled eight each.
Anthony Fasano (Deer Park, NY/Deer Park) and
Jordyn Davis (Hempstead, NY/Uniondale) forced one fumble apiece with Davis recovering one.
The Pioneers' lone scoring drive came in the 3rd quarter off the foot of
Corey Lichtman (Bellmore, NY/Mepham), who converted a 39 yard field goal try. Lichtman's field goal capped off a 16 play, 53 yard drive that took 7:13 to complete.
For Cortland, the 17th ranked team in the nation found the end zone twice in the 1st quarter on a 17 yard reception by Laap at 9:30 and a two yard run by Capone with 3:10 to play in the frame. The hosts tacked on 28 more points in the 2nd quarter, three of which on offense and another on a fumble recovery in the end zone, the lead 42-0 entering halftime.
The Red Dragons started the half with the ball and pushed their lead to 49-0 on the opening drive with a 34 yard rush by AlfanoStJohn to go up 49-0. Utica went on to put together a 16 play drive that resulted in Lichtman's converted 39 yard attempt.
Cortland added seven more points early in the 4th quarter on AlfanoStJohn's second rushing touchdown of the game to put a close to the contest and hand Utica its first loss of 2023.
Utica (5-1, 1-1 Empire 8) will return home next Saturday, October 14, to host Morrisville State at noon.
