UTICA, NY - The Utica University football team is set to return home at noon on Saturday to host Curry College on First Source Federal Credit Union Day. 
 
Follow Along: Those unable to attend can keep up with live video and/or stats through https://portal.stretchinternet.com/utica/. 
 
Last Time Out: In a contest that saw two sides trading blows for 60 straight minutes, it would be the Utica University football team that walked away with a hard-fought, 38-35 road win over the Lycoming College Warriors on Saturday afternoon. The Pioneer offense was fueled by the Brett Fuller (Port Jervis, NY/Port Jervis)-Joey Nare (Canajoharie, NY/Canajoharie) connection through the air as the duo produced 112 yards and a score. In all, Fuller totaled 358 yards (25-for-40) with four touchdowns and three interceptions. His other three touchdown passes were split between Doug Elsesser (Massapequa, NY/Plainedge), who had two over his three catches for 38 yards, and Antonio Cianfarani (Scotia, NY/Scotia Glenville), who totaled one score over three catches for 50 yards. Peyton Ausfeld (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam) also had a solid outing with four catches for 83 yards. On the ground, Matt Brantley (Rochester, NY/Eastridge) touched the ball nine times for 76 yards while punching it in once for six points. James Salles (West Babylon, NY/West Babylon) contributed 14 carries for 35 yards, too. Utica's defense was once again led by Anthony Fasano (Deer Park, NY/Deer Park) and his 11 total tackles (nine solo), two tackles for a loss, and one pass breakup. John Stroughn (Baldwin, NY/Holy Trinity) (six tackles, 0.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks, one PBU), Nick Billand (Towaco, NJ/Montville) (six tackles, one TFL, one PBU), and Anthony Novello (Mepham, NY/Mepham) (five tackles 1.5 TFL, one sack, one PBU) each had their noses on the ball all afternoon as well. Kicker Corey Lichtman (Bellmore, NY/Mepham) played a crucial part in the win as well as the graduate student drilled all five point after attempts and was successful on a 27-yard field goal that proved to be the three-point difference in the win. 
 
Bring Your Blue: Fans are encouraged to wear their blue Utica gear on Saturday to participate in the "blue out." 
 
Game Sponsor: First Source Federal Credit Union will be the presenting sponsor of Saturday's Game. First Source currently serves over 60,000 members. As a not-for-profit, financial cooperative, First Source is member-owned, and governed by a Board of Directors elected by their Membership. First Source operates five branch locations in New Hartford, North Utica, South Utica, Herkimer, Rome; and a full-service Member Care Center.
 
Getting in: For those attending, tickets will be $5 for adults and $2 for students with a valid ID. Fans can also purchase their 2023 season tickets for $20. Also on Saturday, children wearing their youth sports jerseys will be granted free admission. 
 
In the Polls: The Pioneers received the No. 24 ranking in this week's American Football Coaches Association Top-25 Poll, as announced by the AFCA on Monday. Utica is off to a 3-0 start for the third straight season following wins against Rochester, Moravian and Lycoming. The team received 112 points this week in what was the initial AFCA Division III Coaches' Poll of the 2023 season.
 
The Gunslinger: Brett Fuller (Port Jervis, NY/Port Jervis) delivered once again to lead Utica to its third victory of the season. The sophomore quarterback isn't afraid to air it out as he battled through throwing three interceptions to still compile a huge game. Fuller topped his 346 passing yards two weeks ago to throw for 358 yards and four touchdowns in week three. His live arm has been used a plethora thus far as he has totaled 868 yards through three games which places him right behind Cortland's Zac Boyes for second in the Empire 8. This high-powered offense shows no signs of slowing down with Fuller under center. 
 
Everywhere and Then Some: Anthony Fasano's (Deer Park, NY/Deer Park) performance vs Lycoming has earned him the honor of being Utica's male Athlete of the Week. Fasano led the Pioneers defense with 11 tackles and broke up two passes as well in the victory. The graduate student has delivered in a big way this season to lead Utica with 32 tackles on the season which ranks third in the Empire 8. His prowess on defense has fueled the Pioneers to their second consecutive 3-0 start. 
 
Can't Guard 'Em: Joey Nare (Canajoharie, NY/Canajoharie) continued to be a matchup nightmare for opposing cornerbacks in the Pioneers' victory at Lycoming. Nare comfortably paced the Pioneers offense in receptions and yards for the second straight week. The graduate student notched his second 100-plus yard game in a row with seven catches for 112 yards and a touchdown. His impressive start to the season ranks him second amongst the Empire 8 in receptions and fourth in total yardage. Peyton Ausfeld (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam) has found his groove in the Pioneers offense with another strong game as well. The transfer from Assumption caught four passes for 83 yards in the victory. Antonio Cianfarani (Scotia, NY/Scotia Glenville) came up clutch for the Pioneers as he caught the game-winning touchdown with just over two minutes remaining in the fourth. With the game on the line, Utica faced a 4th and 17 situation where Cianfarani broke free in the end zone and caught a 22 yard touchdown to put Utica back in the lead. The junior receiver has made his presence felt during the last two games and should continue to be called upon a lot this season. 
 
Between the Uprights: Corey Lichtman (Bellmore, NY/Mepham) was phenomenal on special teams for Utica in the team's win at Lycoming on Saturday. Lichtman converted on each of his five point after attempts while drilling his lone field goal of the afternoon, a 27 yarder, that proved to be the three point difference in the win. On kickoffs, Lichtman averaged 59.9 yards per attempt and totaled 419 yards over his seven tries to go with two touchbacks. Lichtman's leg has provided consistent offense for the Pioneers over the past two seasons as he has accounted for 69 points via seven made field goals and 48 extra point attempts knocked through the uprights during his tenure as the starting kicker. 
 
About Curry: The Colonels went 3-7 in 2022 and enter Saturday's matchup with the Pioneers with a 1-2 start to the season. They come into this matchup with some momentum after earning their first victory of the year over Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The game manager for Curry is sophomore Dallas Murphy. In a run-heavy offense, Murphy has compiled 26 completions on 51 attempts for 249 yards and two touchdowns. The star of the Curry offense is sophomore running back, Montie Quinn. As a freshman, Quinn led the Commonwealth Coast Conference in rushing yards and touchdowns with 1165 yards and 14 touchdowns. He picked up right where he left off this year with 461 yards and a touchdown through three games thus far. Murphy's top target has been sophomore wide receiver Matthew Bowen. Bowen has eight receptions for 118 yards and has snagged both Colonels passing touchdowns this year. Curry returns Adem Kica and Michael Sims who were their two top linebackers this season. Kica and Sims lead the Colonels in tackles thus far with 26 and 22 a piece. Freshman defensive back Jolil Walker has been a ball hawk this season with three interceptions thus far. 
 
Up Next: The Pioneers will host Empire 8 Conference opponent Hartwick College on Saturday, September 30 at 1 p.m. for Coach to Cure MD Day and Homecoming.