UTICA, NY - The Utica University football team will hit the road this weekend to continue its slate of non-conference games. The Pioneers will make the trip to Williamsport, PA to take on Lycoming College at noon on Saturday. 
 
Follow Along: Those with a subscription to FloSports can watch live through https://shorturl.at/hDGM9 while live stats will be available at https://lycomingathletics.com/sidearmstats/football/summary. 
 
Last Time Out: The Pioneers celebrated a 35-20 non-conference win over Moravian in the 2023 Mastrovito Hyundai Believe Bowl at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium last Saturday. The game featured over 850 yards of total offense, with the Pioneers holding a 464-390 edge in total offense. They amassed a 346-299 advantage through the air, and a 118-91 rushing yardage advantage. The Utica defense allowed just four of sixteen third downs to be converted by the Greyhounds. The Utica offense averaged eight yards per play. Utica forced seven punts by the Greyhounds, while Freddie Callo (Milton, NY/Marlboro Central) Jr. had to punt just twice for Utica. Starting quarterback Brett Fuller (Port Jervis, NY/Port Jervis) was terrific in his home debut as Utica's varsity starter. The Port Jervis grad was 24-of-33 for 346 yards and two touchdowns. Two Pioneer receivers went over 100 yards to help Fuller amass his totals. Joey Nare (Canajoharie, NY/Canajoharie) made seven grabs for 141 yards and had the team's longest reception of the day at 41 yards. Peyton Ausfeld (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam) was an imposing presence at slot receiver with five catches, 104 yards, and two touchdowns on the day. Antonio Cianfarani (Scotia, NY/Scotia Glenville) contributed four catches for 81 yards, and Tyler Kolenda (Harwinton, CT/Lewis S. Mills) made three catches at the tight end position. Matt Brantley (Rochester, NY/Eastridge) had 57 net yards on 11 carries to guide the ground attack. Sam Florio (Port Jefferson, NY/Port Jefferson) rushed for two scores while participating in his usual role as a second quarterback option. James Salles (West Babylon, NY/West Babylon) had 44 net rushing yards. On the defensive side of the ball, Anthony Novello (Mepham, NY/Mepham) totaled 13 tackles while Eli Douglas (Ausable Forks, NY/Ausable Valley) and Anthony Fasano (Deer Park, NY/Deer Park) ended with 10 each. Doug Simmons (White Plains, NY/Archbishop Stepinac) caused havoc in the backfield all afternoon with 1.5 sacks for -17 yards and eight total tackles. The secondary consisting of Terrance Toussaint (West Orange, NJ/West Orange) and Nick Billand (Towaco, NJ/Montville) each came away with an interception while Toussaint, Novello and Douglas each had a pass breakup. 
 
Flick of the Wrist: Brett Fuller (Port Jervis, NY/Port Jervis) shined in his home debut as Utica's varsity starter. The Port Jervis High School graduate was 24-of-33 for 346 yards and tossed a pair of touchdowns. Fuller is off to a 2-0 start to his career and has not been afraid to air the ball out in those games. Through the first two games, Fuller ranks atop the Empire 8 in passing yards with 510, completions with 59, and completion percentage of 72.9. His strong offensive play has propelled the Pioneers to a 2-0 start for the 7th straight season. 
 
Gadget Guy: Senior quarterback Sam Florio (Port Jefferson, NY/Port Jefferson) has been unstoppable in goal-line situations for the Pioneers early on this season. Florio rushed for two touchdowns against Moravian after recording a rushing touchdown in week one at Rochester as well. Florio's three touchdowns through two games match his total from last season as he has been the go-to guy for the Pioneers to run the ball into the endzone this season. His toughness as a ball carrier should earn him more touches during scoring opportunities down the stretch for the Pioneers this season. 
 
Stepping Up: With the departure of three-time All-American wide receiver, Nate Palmer (Verona, NY/Vernon Verona Sherrill), Utica's receiving corps have stepped up in a big way to start the 2023 campaign. Without Travis Decker (Oneida, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) on Saturday vs Moravian, receivers Joey Nare (Canajoharie, NY/Canajoharie), Peyton Ausfeld (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam), and Antonio Cianfarani (Scotia, NY/Scotia Glenville) all had career games. Joey Nare (Canajoharie, NY/Canajoharie) racked up a career high in receptions with seven as well as a career high in receiving yards with 121 in the contest. Both marks led the Pioneers on Saturday. Nare also returned three punts for 23 yards. Peyton Ausfeld (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam) was fantastic in what was his home debut for Utica since transferring in this season. The senior notched a career high in receiving yards and catches as he had five catches for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Ausfeld's two touchdown receptions were the first two of his collegiate career as he seems to have found a home here in Utica as a key cog in their high scoring offense. Antonio Cianfarani (Scotia, NY/Scotia Glenville) also totaled a career high in receiving yards as he had four catches for 81 yards in the victory. Cianfarani caught a huge 31 yard pass on Utica's go ahead drive in the fourth quarter that resulted in an Ausfeld touchdown putting Utica back on top 28-21 at the time. 
 
Nose For the Ball: The Pioneers defense came up big again in Saturday's victory. Linebacker's Anthony Novello (Mepham, NY/Mepham), Anthony Fasano (Deer Park, NY/Deer Park), and Doug Simmons (White Plains, NY/Archbishop Stepinac) were all over the field making plays. Novello led the team with 13 tackles and broke up a pass. Fasano added 10 tackles, and Doug Simmons (White Plains, NY/Archbishop Stepinac) had eight of his own including a pivotal sack in the fourth quarter that resulted in a loss of 17 yards. Novello and Fasano are currently tied for second in the Empire 8 in tackles with 21 apiece. The Pioneers secondary made some huge plays in the matchup as well. Eli Douglas (Ausable Forks, NY/Ausable Valley) continued the strong start to his sophomore season with 10 tackles and a pass break up. Graduate students Terrance Toussaint (West Orange, NJ/West Orange) and Nick Billand (Towaco, NJ/Montville) each snagged an interception to go along with a combined 11 tackles. Billand's interception marked the first of his career. Toussaint broke up a pass as well in the victory. 
 
About Lycoming: The Warriors went 4-6 in 2022 and begin the new campaign 0-2 after falling to Cortland State 62-7 in its most recent match on Saturday, September 9. Will Fish is the team's gunslinger and is 17-for-51 this season with 225 passing yards, one touchdown pass, and three interceptions. Terrence Oliver and Quasim Benson lead the charge on the ground with each registering at least 15 attempts with over 85 rushing yards and finding the end zone at least once. Dawson Debebe is the team's most potent vertical threat with six catches for 152 yards and one touchdown while boasting an incredible 25.33 yards per catch. Billy Coppock and Brandon Timothy return as premium pass catchers with both grabbing at least 25 catches and 250 yards last season. Top linebacker Hunter Campbell returns for another season after back-to-back seasons with at least three interceptions and at least 65 tackles in his first two seasons. Jordan Rhinehart and Austin Rowley return as the team's starting corners with Rhinehart logging one interception this season and Rowley tallying three pass breakups. 

Up Next: The Pioneers will return home at noon September 23 to take on Curry College on First Source Federal Credit Union Day.