UTICA, NY - Pioneer Football met Brockport on ABM Field Saturday afternoon following a well-orchestrated Senior Day Ceremony where the Orange and Blue honored a spectacular group of student staff, student coaches, and players. The stellar energy from the ceremony poured over into the matchup as the Pioneers struck immediately against a Brockport defense that hadn't allowed a single score in Empire 8 play up to that point. Despite the strong start from Utica, the Golden Eagles slowly crept back into the game, eventually taking and holding a 20-10 lead and leaving Gaetano Stadium with a close win to remain undefeated in conference play.
 
The Pioneers picked up many important first downs during the crucial contest, moving the ball very well against a previously unblemished Brockport defensive unit. Utica picked up 289 total yards in the contest, earning 75 yards on the ground and 214 through the air. The Pioneers managed to out-gain the visitors during aerial combat, accruing 14 more passing yards than the Golden Eagles.
 
Despite being outgained by almost 200 yards due in large part to a lethal Brockport rushing attack, the Pioneers key affinity for nabbing first downs at opportune times led to the first down margin being fairly equal, with Utica achieving 16 first downs, only four less than the Golden Eagles' 20.
 
The Pioneers were also efficient on their redzone opportunities, nearly converting at a 100% rate but settling for two-out-of-three against the Brockport defense.
 
Brett Fuller (Port Jervis, NY/Port Jervis) had all of the 214 passing yards for the Pioneers, achieving that total by way of 26 completions.
 
Matt Brantley (Rochester, NY/Eastridge) was the leading rusher for Utica in the afternoon, getting 61 yards on 12 attempts and scoring the Pioneers' lone touchdown on the first offensive play from scrimmage.
 
Darius Johnson (Webster, NY/Webster) topped the Pioneer tackle charts yet again, keeping up a streak of immaculate defensive prowess. He also found himself on the receiving end of a Brockport pass, hauling in the interception late in the second quarter after a batted ball from Pioneer Defensive Lineman Jordyn Davis (Hempstead, NY/Uniondale).
 
John Stroughn (Baldwin, NY/Holy Trinity), Mekhi Bailey (Auburn, NY/Auburn), and Nick DiStefano (Roxbury, NJ/Webster Schroeder) each ended the matchup with seven tackles, with Stroughn also picking up half of a sack alongside the aforementioned Davis.
 
Game Summary:
 
The momentum in the matchup shifted immediately towards the Pioneers' side with the kickoff unit for the hosts forcing a Brockport fumble on the opening boot. Jesse Barnes (Bellport, NY/Bellport) forced the Golden Eagle error, with Christain Davis picking up the ball to give the Pioneers a sudden redzone situation.
 
Brantley made sure that the opening play paid dividends, rushing right on the Pioneers' first offensive play from scrimmage to not only give the hosts a 7-0 lead, but create a scratch on the Golden Eagles' previously untouched defense, with Brantley's score being the first points that Brockport had allowed in all of Empire 8 play this season.
 
Brockport couldn't find an immediate response, with Stroughn and Davis combining for the Pioneers only sack of the game to shut down the Golden Eagles' opening possession. Brockport retained possession after a quick Pioneer three-and-out, but stalled once again, this time in the redzone as a 4th and five pass from the Golden Eagles' QB Ben Gocella was broken up by Ronaldo Lewis (Brooklyn, NY/Abraham Lincoln) in the endzone.
 
Utica had a chance to extend their lead to 14, but couldn't seal an important redzone score as Fuller threw his only interception of the game to Elijah Grooms of Brockport in the endzone. Grooms' pick also brought him level with Eli Douglas (Ausable Forks, NY/Ausable Valley) atop the Empire 8 interception column.
 
Brockport closed out the opening 15 minutes with a 76-yard run by the Empire 8's leading rusher in Isaiah Simmons, who broke free directly following the key interception. The visitors wasted no time as the second quarter got underway, punching in the equalizing touchdown on the first play of the period.
 
In a fast-moving first half, Brockport once again pushed their way down into the Utica redzone, looking to strike a major blow and take a lead into the half. On third down from the Utica 18, Davis broke through the line, timing his run perfectly and batting a Ben Gocella pass into the air. Johnson got under the floating ball, intercepting the pass and giving the Pioneers a chance for a rare double-dip with the Pioneers also set to receive the ball to start the second half.
 
With 2:33 remaining in the half, the Pioneers launched a few short plays, looking to get themselves into position with the idea of taking a few shots. The two-minute drill fizzled out after a short six-play, 25-yard drive, giving the Golden Eagles a shot to secure the half's final score.
 
Brockport was stuffed near the endzone after a couple pass defenses by #21, settling for a field goal to take a 10-7 advantage into the half.
 
Utica looked to strike as soon as the second half got underway, with Brantley nearly breaking free down the sideline but having to settle for a big 24-yard gain on the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter. The drive gave out afterward, with a couple incompletions forcing the Pioneers into a punt.
Brockport fought through the punt protection, with Aidan Thomas of the Golden Eagles landing two hands on the boot and setting up Brockport with excellent field position on their initial drive of the second half. A sturdy Pioneer line pushed back the Empire 8's leading rusher in Simmons, cornering the Golden Eagles and forcing them to convert a 37-yard field goal, giving them a 13-7 advantage.
 
The Pioneers punched back right away, embarking on a long 12-play 62-yard drive spanning six and a half minutes and ending in a made Freddie Callo (Milton, NY/Marlboro Central) field goal from 31 yards out to bring the game back within three points.
 
Brockport's ensuing possession took them into the final quarter of play, with the Golden Eagles deciding to go for it on a huge 4th and one from the Utica 20. Daniel Manneh lined up in the wildcat formation for the Golden Eagles, looking to pitch the ball to his Running Back Simmons, but seeing a miscommunication resulting in a loose football that was scooped up by Mason Miranowicz (Pine Bush, NY/Pine Bush) of Utica.
 
The Pioneers gave Brockport the ball back after another quick possession, with the Golden Eagles taking advantage of their field position on this drive, taking a 20-10 lead off of a 32-yard Simmons rush.
 
Two empty drives doomed the Pioneers in their final few comeback efforts, seeing the Pioneers fall to 3-5 with the close loss to a very solid Brockport team.
 
Utica will hit the road for their final two matchups, heading to Hilbert next week and Fisher the week after to finish their 2024 regular season.