UTICA, NY - College football is back in the city of Utica this weekend following a three-week hiatus, with the St. John Fisher Cardinals coming to town in a clash of two of the Empire 8's elite teams. St. John Fisher has been resurgent under the guidance of former Morrisville head coach Ed Raby Jr, as they've shot out to a 5-2 record. The Pioneers, though, bring the firepower and are equally as powerful with a 5-2 record of their own. This battle will be for the right to stand near the top of the Empire 8 standings, and will be a big home test for the Pioneers on Mohawk Valley Challengers Day.
 
The Pioneers and Cardinals are scheduled for a 1:00 PM kickoff on Saturday afternoon at Gaetano Stadium.
 
Looking for a ticket? You can purchase one at the gate for just $5!
 
You can stream Saturday's game by heading to the following link: https://www.empire8network.com/utica/
 
Interested spectators can also view live statistics by heading to this link:
https://uticapioneers.com/sidearmstats/football/summary
 
Highlights will be available on our athletics YouTube either late Saturday evening or early Sunday morning. Click the links below to get caught up on game highlights from the previous Utica football games:
 
Week One at W&J: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1uwz6mKYyM&t=531s
 
Week Two vs RPI: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktlJmXAs8HY&t=9s
 
Week Three at Hobart: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNq7-fe0Dmo&t=6s
 
Week Four vs Alfred State: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJTkmX2tGK0&t=11s
 
Week Five at Cortland: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fncsbpbvSg0&t=8s
 
Week Six vs Morrisville: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMxhQjCwQTI
 
Week Eight vs Alfred University: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIVTP06Rf88
 
This Week's Game Sponsor: This weekend is Mohawk Valley Challengers Day at Gaetano Stadium, as Human Technologies is sponsoring the annual celebration, along with the Coach to Cure Muscular Dystrophy initiative that all the Utica coaches will be participating in during this weekend's matchup. Here is more information about each of those entities:
 
The Mohawk Valley Challengers is a special needs flag football and cheerleading not-for-profit organization for children ages five to twenty-five. The program was started in 2015 and has rapidly grown from seven to over thirty players in the past several seasons, including children from Ilion, Mohawk, Little Falls, Dolgeville, West Winfield, Frankfort, Sauquoit, Herkimer, and Utica. They are dedicated to providing a positive family and team-oriented experience to players as well as family members. Their focus is on celebrating the child's abilities, boosting self-esteem, getting the kids active, and supporting families with special needs children and adults. They are the only football program of our kind between Syracuse and Albany that provides an opportunity to play sports in an inclusive environment for people with disabilities.
This weekend's game sponsor, Human Technologies, is an innovative social enterprise dedicated to creating employment for people with disabilities. Since 1954, their employees have been at the heart of their success. With five diverse lines of business, including Facilities Management and Environmental Services, 3PL and Order Fulfillment Services, Uniform and Apparel Management Services, Manufacturing and Packaging Operations, and Screen Print and Embroidery Services, they're driving impact every day! At Human Technologies, you'll find more than just a job – discover a career where your work makes a difference. Go celebrate their legacy and be part of their future. At Human Technologies, you'll experience the Power of People with Purpose!
 
Saturday will also showcase the Coach to Cure Muscular Dystrophy initiative. In coordination with the Coach to Cure MD foundation, all Pioneer coaches will be wearing a special Coach to Cure MD patch in order to bring recognition to all those who fight against Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and all those who strive to find a cure. You can help us #Tackle Duchenne by visiting CoachToCureMD.org to make a donation. Additionally, click the hashtag Tackle Duchenne link on our football schedule, or in our football program section for more information on how you can donate!
 
Week Eight Recap: The Pioneers returned from the bye week in a big way this past Saturday, traveling to Alfred University where their explosive offense and turnover-minded defense allowed them to speed past the Saxons by a 51-28 final.
 
The Pioneers returned to their fast-hitting ways, opening up a 30-0 lead over Alfred just midway through the second quarter. This came thanks to stellar outings from all over the offense, as the pass game, run game, and clutch scenario units were all clicking with high efficiency. Utica outgained Alfred by 300 yards on the afternoon, stacking up 505 total offensive yards thanks to a balanced offensive attack.
 
Perhaps an even bigger area of strength for the Orange and Blue was their defense, which completely stumped the Saxons on Saturday. A big outing from the Pioneer secondary allowed the orange and blue to take firm control of the matchup, building up a massive advantage before salting away the clock for another Empire 8 win.
 
 
Three Big Things:
 
1 - No Fly Zone: As mentioned above, the Pioneer secondary was as strong as ever this past Saturday, limiting Alfred University's quarterbacks to a paltry 55 passing yards. The Saxons completed 10 of their 29 passes, with their leading receiver registering just 22 receiving yards in the game. No other Alfred receiver gained more than 10 yards in the matchup. In addition, the Pioneers managed to snag three interceptions in the matchup, with a member of the secondary also forcing a fumble that was returned for the opening touchdown. This unbelievable halt in the hosts' momentum came thanks to many different players in the secondary, but Mason Payton (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay) was chief among them. The senior cornerback had an unbelievable outing, logging three pass breakups, notching an interception, and forcing that impactful fumble. He also wrapped up three solo tackles as he landed the Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Week award for his performance. Payton punished the Saxons for going his way the entire game, but he was just one of many Pioneer standouts on the defensive end. Eli Douglas (Ausable Forks, NY/Ausable Valley) and Jah-Kobiah Cancer (Albany, NY/Kingston) had the other two interceptions in the game, with Douglas also getting six tackles (four solo). The Pioneer defensive backs were by far the most dominant force in Saturday's victory.
 
2 - Taking the Turnover Battle: Untimely turnovers had haunted the Pioneers during their few losses this season, and they looked to avoid these unforced errors against a Saxon squad that had achieved many victories thanks to their prowess in the turnover battle. In Saturday's matchup though, the Pioneers won that turnover battle by a significant margin, forcing four Alfred mistakes while only losing the ball a single time. Because of this, the team would steamroll the Saxons in the possession department, holding the ball for an incredible 35 minutes and 55 seconds, while allowing the hosts to hold possession for just 24 minutes. This gave the orange and blue full control of the matchup, something they'll want to accomplish this weekend against a methodical St. John Fisher squad. The team will look for even more spectacular ball control this coming weekend.
 
3 - Offensive Balance: The Pioneers had it all clicking this past Saturday, with a 505-yard performance putting the stamp on an excellent team victory. Tyler Szalkowski (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute) had another great day, completing 24 passes for 33 yards while piling up 351 passing yards and two passing touchdowns. He also added a rushing touchdown in the action, getting just one of the Pioneers' four rushing touchdowns as they managed to get the ground game humming. Eze Frazier (Garnerville, NY/North Rockland) had a big performance, gaining 96 yards on 17 carries while breaking the plane once in the action. Frazier was dangerous, averaging 5.6 yards per carry against the Alfred defense. Jani Strong (Bronx, NY/Christ The King Regional) and Matthew Pallouras (Rochelle Park, NJ/Hackensack) also added rushing scores to round out the quartet of touchdown recipients. The team's most recognized performance, though, came courtesy of Logan Frederick (Little Falls, NY/Little Falls), who returned to the lineup after missing the last game against Morrisville. In his return, Frederick logged game-highs in receptions (8) and yards (124) while also snagging a touchdown. Thanks to his incredible numbers, he was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week for the second time this season, also technically getting the nod in back-to-back appearances as he received the honor following his last game against Cortland. Frederick currently has 37 receptions for 486 yards and six touchdowns on the year, ranking third in the Empire 8 for receptions, fourth for receiving yards, and tied for second in receiving touchdowns, with the Little Falls native being surrounded by wide receivers in all of those categories. He is a key piece of one of Division III's most lethal passing games and has had a breakout season in his senior year.
 
Frederick became the only Pioneer this season to be named to the D3football.com Team of the Week multiple times, with the other three honorees getting the nod exactly one time each (Davis, Szalkowski, Isaiah Thomas (Kingston, NY/Kingston)).
 
Pioneer Playmakers: Below is a list of each accolade the Pioneers have achieved through six weeks this season.
 
Week One at W&J
Tyler Szalkowski (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute) - Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Week
Tyler Szalkowski (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute) - D3football.com Team of the Week
Tyler Szalkowski (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute) - D3football.com Week One Game Ball
Isaiah Thomas (Kingston, NY/Kingston) - D3football.com Team of the Week
 
Week Two vs RPI
Tyler Szalkowski (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute) - Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Week (2)
 
Week Three at Hobart
Mason Nolan (Hilton, NY/Hilton Central) - Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Week
 
Week Four vs Alfred State
Tyler Szalkowski (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute) - Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Week (3)
 
Week Five at SUNY Cortland
Logan Frederick (Little Falls, NY/Little Falls) - D3football.com Team of the Week
 
Week Six vs Morrisville
Isaiah Thomas (Kingston, NY/Kingston) - Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Week
Devin Taylor (New Port Richey, FL/Wendell Krinn Technical) - Empire 8 Special Teams Player of the Week
Jordyn Davis (Hempstead, NY/Uniondale) - D3football.com Team of the Week
 
Week Eight vs Alfred University
Mason Payton (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay) - Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Week
Logan Frederick (Little Falls, NY/Little Falls) - D3football.com Team of the Week (2)
 
Total Awards Count
 
Team:
Empire 8 Players of the Week: 7
D3football.com Team of the Week: 5
 
Individual:
Tyler Szalkowski (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute) - Empire 8 Player of the Week: 3
Isaiah Thomas (Kingston, NY/Kingston) - Empire 8 Player of the Week: 1
Mason Nolan (Hilton, NY/Hilton Central) - Empire 8 Player of the Week: 1
Devin Taylor (New Port Richey, FL/Wendell Krinn Technical) - Empire 8 Player of the Week: 1
Mason Payton (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay) - Empire 8 Player of the Week: 1
 
Logan Frederick (Little Falls, NY/Little Falls) - D3football.com Team of the Week: 2
Tyler Szalkowski (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute) - D3football.com Team of the Week: 1
Isaiah Thomas (Kingston, NY/Kingston) - D3football.com Team of the Week: 1
Jordyn Davis (Hempstead, NY/Uniondale) - D3football.com Team of the Week: 1
 
Tyler Szalkowski (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute) - D3football.com Week One Game Ball
 
Orange and Blue Archive - vs St. John Fisher University: The Pioneers have a 7-16 record all-time vs the Rochester-based program; however, they are currently on a run of massive proportions, having defeated the Cardinals in six straight contests dating back to 2018 and seven of their last eight dating back to 2016.
 
The Pioneers will look to continue a streak that they added to in the final game of last season, when they took down the Cardinals in enemy territory by a 35-20 margin. Despite being outgained in total offense, the orange and blue won the turnover battle 2-0, also utilizing some chunk plays to control the game and cap off the regular season with a win. The biggest outing during last year's contest came from the defensive line, as Jordyn Davis (Hempstead, NY/Uniondale) led a Pioneer front that combined for six sacks in the win. Davis had 3.5 sacks by himself, also achieving the Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Week for his performance. He will look for a repeat this coming Saturday, as Davis and the defensive line will need to be momentum-wreckers in order to maintain control of the tempo.
 
In 2022, the Pioneers dispatched Fisher by a 35-21 score for their final victory of the regular season, completing the program's best-ever campaign with a 9-1 record. The orange and blue would also receive their first-ever Division III NCAA Tournament appearance the following week. Current Pass Game Coordinator Braeden Zenelovic went 22 for 28 passing with 290 yards and four passing touchdowns in the win, getting Utica out to a 28-12 lead that they wouldn't relinquish. Nate Palmer was on the receiving end of one of those passing scores, snagging his program-record 16th receiving touchdown.
 
In 2019, the orange and blue recorded their 75th win in the history of the program, taking a 34-28 victory in the team's third-ever Believe Bowl. The Pioneers sped out to a big lead once again, holding a 34-14 advantage early in the fourth quarter. However, two late Cardinal touchdowns would put St. John Fisher in a position to snatch a comeback win. With the score at 34-28, St. John Fisher had the ball and an opportunity to take a late lead. However, much like the Morrisville ending from this current season, the Pioneer strung together three massive defensive plays, as Antonio Scala, Jack Derby, and Robbie Schempp recorded three back-to-back-to-back sacks to seal the game in Utica's favor.
 
In 2017, the Pioneers and Cardinals engaged in an all-time classic matchup, one that was decided after five overtimes. Maki Medici would tie the school record with five field goals, including four in overtime, but Fisher would ultimately score a touchdown in the fifth OT to take a 39-36 victory. The game was a one-score affair for nearly the entire matchup, with only a brief nine-point Fisher lead in the third quarter separating the teams by more than one score. The game would enter overtime with the two teams tied at 18 each, an amount they would double by the end of the extra periods.
 
Preparing for the Cardinals: Last season, the Cardinals finished with a 3-7 record and a 2-5 Empire 8 mark in what was the final season under legendary head coach Paul Vosburgh, who retired following the campaign. The Pioneers would defeat Vosburgh in the final game of his 336-game career at St. John Fisher.
 
This season, the Cardinals have seen massive growth under the guidance of head coach Ed Raby Jr., who made the move to Rochester after coaching Morrisville to four ECAC Bowl appearances and even a 21-18 victory over Stevenson in last season's Robert M. Scotty Whitelaw Bowl. Raby immediately bolstered his staff, adding former Cortland quarterback and Gagliardi Trophy Finalist Brees Segala to the mix. With Raby's defensive mind and Segala's offensive experience, the Cardinals have been a top team in the Empire 8 this season, holding a 5-2 overall record and a 3-1 ledger in conference play. The Cardinals' only defeats have come at the hands of the University of Rochester (28-21) and SUNY Cortland (31-7), while they've picked up a host of tough wins, even defeating Brockport 31-24 in overtime to capture a win in their biggest rivalry game for the first time since 2016.
 
St. John Fisher, much like the many Morrisville teams under Coach Raby, likes to control tempo and fields a tough and rugged defense. Thanks to an emphasis on what seems to be an RPO style of attack, Fisher's biggest strength on offense is its balanced rushing attack, as the Cardinals utilise three main rushing options. Deante Hall leads the pack, having team-highs in attempts (88), rushing yards (454), and rushing touchdowns (8). However, Hall didn't play in the team's most recent game against SUNY Cortland, meaning the Pioneers might see more of secondary back Camden Chance, who has rushed 70 times for 404 yards and four touchdowns, very similar numbers to Hall.
 
Beyond the two running backs, the Cardinals' third rushing option is quarterback Mason Lister, with the junior from Pennsylvania rushing 69 times for 308 yards and two rushing touchdowns since taking over the starting duties from fellow junior Ryan Whitney following St. John Fisher's week two win over St. Lawrence.
 
Lister also leads an effective passing game, tossing for over 1112 yards in his six games played this season. The St. John Fisher signal caller has averaged 185 passing yards per game, while also throwing for two touchdowns. He has a solid completion percentage of 61.16%, a figure consistent with that of Cardinal quarterbacks of past years, thanks to their emphasis on finding high-percentage plays.
 
Lister's most favored target is fifth-year wide receiver Jaylen Brantley, who has racked up 437 yards and a touchdown on just 24 catches. Brantley is no stranger to chunk plays, as he's averaged over 18 yards per catch during the 2025 season. Brantley averages 62.43 receiving yards per outing.
 
The Cardinal passing game is also extremely balanced, though, as despite Brantley having nearly 200 more receiving yards than the next closest option, he isn't even top three in receiving touchdowns for the team.
 
That honor goes to senior wideout Ethan Curtis, who has caught 20 passes for 227 yards and a team-high three touchdowns on the year. Alongside Curtis as a major endzone target is Jackson Cusack, who also has 20 catches, but for a bit more yardage with 224 and one less touchdown reception with just two.
 
Running back Camden Chance is also a home-run hitter out of the back field. In addition to his strong rushing numbers, the Clyde, New York native has caught eight passes for 175 yards and two scores, averaging the highest yards per reception on the team with 21.88. The Pioneer defense will have to keep an eye on Chance even when he leaks out of the opposing backfield.
 
Another note about the Fisher offense is that they've allowed the second-most sacks in the Empire 8, with 15. This might give Jordyn Davis (Hempstead, NY/Uniondale) and the defensive line another opportunity to have a big outing.
 
On defense, the Cardinals are paced by the trio of sophomore linebacker Jack Tanoory, junior defensive back Timothy Vanderbrink, and freshman defensive back Colin Clark, who have all logged over 50 tackles on the year, double the amount that the fourth-highest tackler has. Tanoory is top of the team for solo takedowns with 42, demonstrating a powerful defensive style as he's also logged a team-high three forced fumbles.
 
Outside of those tackling numbers, the Cardinal defense is extremely balanced, with five different players having one interception each, and six players having at least half a sack.
 
Keys Against St. John Fisher: The Cardinals' defensive line has been near the bottom of the conference at creating pressure, having just six sacks on the season so far. If the Pioneer offensive line can keep the pocket clean, the Utica offense will be in an excellent position to keep up its stellar numbers. St. John Fisher likes to control the tempo of the game and prevent the pace from getting out of hand. However, the Pioneers can dominate in a fast-paced environment, something they will try to create this coming Saturday.
 
On the defensive side, this will be another big game for the orange and blue front, as the Pioneers will look to create massive amounts of pressure and force St. John Fisher to become one-dimensional in their offensive tactics. They'll try to speed up the Cardinals on offense, too, with a blend of pressure and solid form in the secondary being a big area of emphasis for the orange and blue.
 
After Squaring Off With St. John Fisher: The Pioneers will be back next Saturday in their final home game of the 2025 regular season. The team will welcome Hartwick for the annual Veterans Day Game sponsored by GPO Federal Credit Union, a matchup in which the Pioneers will also honor their senior class. That game gets underway at 1:00 PM, while the Senior Day ceremony will take place in the 30 minutes leading up to kickoff.
 
Tune in on Saturday as the Pioneers clash with the Cardinals!