UTICA, NY - This Saturday, for the first time in program history, a postseason gridiron game is coming to Gaetano Stadium.
 
The Pioneers notched a massive victory over Brockport this past Saturday, coming back in stunning fashion to defeat the Golden Eagles and improve to 8-2. Thanks to that win, Utica was listed as the top overall team among the ECAC Bowl bidders, gaining the right to host NJAC side Rowan University in this season's Asa S. Bushnell Bowl. This Saturday, the Profs will travel north to battle the blue and orange in the first-ever game of its kind at The Gaet'. This weekend's Asa S. Bushnell Bowl will be a battle of two top-tier teams, with the winner gaining a Bowl Championship and a massive momentum boost heading into next season. Get caught up ahead of this Saturday's final Party at the Gaet' of the 25th anniversary season!
 
Looking for a ticket? Tickets will be available for purchase at the entrance to the stadium with cash only! Regular tickets are $5. Kids under 11 get in for $2, while Utica University students and staff can get in for free with a valid Utica ID.
 
You can stream Saturday's Asa S. Bushnell Bowl 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 at Alfred University: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIVTP06Rf88
 
Week Nine vs St. John Fisher: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1uWbsPQZlg
 
Week Ten vs Hartwick: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOeMgsvgoVc&t=18s
 
Week Eleven at Brockport: https://youtu.be/KeqVVfI-oos?si=o5te5LkcjNJwWs-z
 
Week Eleven Recap: The Pioneers traveled down the thruway this past Satruday for a meeting with the stifling SUNY Brockport Golden Eagles, a side who had traditionally given the blue and orange some problems with their gritty defense and explosive rushing attack. At a place where they had historically struggled, the Pioneers once again got out to a slow start, trailing 14-0 until the final moments of the first half. After the break, though, the Pioneers found a rhythm, battling through unfavorable offensive conditions to overcome the Golden Eagles thanks to a 21-point second half. The win came in emphatic fashion, as a Nico Duarte (Kearny, NJ/Saint Peter's Prep) field goal would give the visitors their first lead at 22-20, before Eli Douglas (Ausable Forks, NY/Ausable Valley) would end the affair by jumping a route on the ensuing possession to wrap up a 28-20 win.
 
Three Big Things:
 
1 - Rain or Shine: The Pioneers completely shook off their first-half struggles heading into the second half of play on Saturday, especially the duo of Tyler Szalkowski (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute) and Bryce Palmer (Verona, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill), who connected on all three of the team's offensive scores in the outing. Even a travel delay, coupled with a lightning delay and a constant downpour in the second half, couldn't rain on the duo's parade, as Palmer hauled in 10 passes from Szalkowski, totaling 145 yards and a hat trick of receiving touchdowns. The two made it look like it was completely clear conditions, as they tore through the Brockport secondary during the latter half of play to complete the comeback. The Pioneers' pass attack didn't just end with those two players, as it saw Logan Frederick (Little Falls, NY/Little Falls) also putting up a stellar stat line of 11 catches for 92 yards. The trio of Empire 8 All-Conference first team performers gave the team all they needed to catch up to Brockport and stun the Golden Eagles on their Senior Day, getting revenge for a Brockport victory at The Gaet' during last season's Pioneer Senior Day. The Pioneer passing attack remained unfazed despite the constant downpour and piled on points while not consuming too much clock, a crucial factor in the legendary come-from-behind win.
 
2 - Aerial Aces: The team's complete control of the airwaves extended to the defensive side of the ball, too, as Eli Douglas (Ausable Forks, NY/Ausable Valley) and Mason Payton (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay) made life tough for the Golden Eagle offense. Douglas and Payton put together disruptive outings in the matchup, helping hold Brockport to just 100 yards passing. Thanks to the Pioneers' lockdown defending, the Brockport offense was rendered one-dimensional, leading to the Pioneers gaining an edge in the second half. The Golden Eagles looked to chew up clock in the second half, however, the Pioneer secondary stopped them from notching any super meaningful conversions through the air, getting Szalkowski and company the ball back on numerous occasions in quick succession. Douglas had an insane day, logging a team-high eight tackles (four solo), three pass breakups, and an awesome 78-yard pick-six to put the game to bed. Payton was excellent in his own right, getting four tackles (three solo), a pass breakup, and a forced fumble. The Pioneers continued to dominate in the air on both sides of the ball, keeping up their reputation as a quick and agile squad.
 
3 - Infallible Front: Another major factor in the team's offensive success was the Pioneer offensive line, which held its opponent without a sack for the fifth straight game, dating back to an October 4th matchup against Cortland. The offensive front has been superb in both skill and longevity, as all five of the starters in the trench have suited up for all 10 games. Thanks to this consistency, the team has found a rhythm and has warded off all would-be attackers from reaching Szalkowski in the pocket. Against a vaunted Brockport defense, the team held strong in the face of pressure, keeping a top rushing team out of the backfield completely. For their efforts, the Utica offensive line was placed on the D3football.com Team of the Week, with all five starters being recognized for their efforts. They weren't the only Pioneers who gained accolades this week, though, as the team had a MASSIVE week for recognition. Let's get into all the awards:
 
Pioneer Playmakers: The five starting Pioneer offensive linemen (Michael Malzahn (Sparrowbush, NY/Port Jervis), Gavin Grech (Merrick, NY/Sanford H. Calhoun), Carson Tessitore (East Islip, NY/East Islip), ADante Bianchino (Albany, NY/Shaker), and Aidan Olsen (Rotterdam, NY/Schalmont)), achieved just five of the nine total honors that the team took him following this past weekend's war. Eli Douglas (Ausable Forks, NY/Ausable Valley) snagged an Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Week nod along with a selection to the D3football.com Team of the Week. Bryce Palmer (Verona, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) also received Empire 8 recognition, earning the Empire 8 Co-Offensive Player of the Week award. Logan Frederick (Little Falls, NY/Little Falls) wrapped up a big weekend, gaining his third selection to the D3football.com Team of the Week.
 
This was all followed by the release of the 2025 Empire 8 Football All-Conference selections, which occurred at 1:00 PM earlier this afternoon. 15 Pioneers were named to All-Conference teams, while Eze Frazier (Garnerville, NY/North Rockland) earned a Tomorrow's Leader Team selection. Szalkowski took home the Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Year for his legendary season, while Frederick grabbed topped academic honors with the Empire 8 Torchbearer Award.
 
You can read all about the other 13 Pioneer players who were honored by checking out this afternoon's All-Conference release. Click this link to view the story: https://uticapioneers.com/news/2025/11/20/football-szalkowski-tabbed-as-e8-player-of-the-year-15-pioneers-receive-all-conference-recognition.aspx
 
With the regular season wrapping up, here is a look at how many accolades the team received this season:
 
Empire 8 All-Conference honors: 15
Empire 8 Offense Player of the Year: 1
Empire 8 Torchbearer: 1
Tomorrow's Leader Team: 1
Empire 8 Player of the Week: 10 (4 Offense, 5 Defense, 1 Special Teams)
D3football.com Team of the Week: 12
D3football.com Game Ball: 1
Pioneer Athlete of the Week: 3
 
TOTAL INDIVIDUAL ACCOLADES: 44
 
Here is a look at what awards the team won during each week of play:
 
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
Tyler Szalkowski (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute) - Pioneer Athlete of the Week
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)
Nathan Hernandez (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) - Pioneer Athlete of the Week
 
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)
 
Week Nine vs St. John Fisher
Mason Miranowicz (Pine Bush, NY/Pine Bush) - Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Week
 
Week Eleven at Brockport
Eli Douglas (Ausable Forks, NY/Ausable Valley) - D3football.com Team of the Week
Eli Douglas (Ausable Forks, NY/Ausable Valley) - Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Week
Eli Douglas (Ausable Forks, NY/Ausable Valley) - Pioneer Athlete of the Week
Bryce Palmer (Verona, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) - Empire 8 Co-Offensive Player of the Week
Logan Frederick (Little Falls, NY/Little Falls) - D3football.com Team of the Week (3)
ADante Bianchino (Albany, NY/Shaker) - D3football.com Team of the Week
Michael Malzahn (Sparrowbush, NY/Port Jervis) - D3football.com Team of the Week
Gavin Grech (Merrick, NY/Sanford H. Calhoun) - D3football.com Team of the Week
Aidan Olsen (Rotterdam, NY/Schalmont) - D3football.com Team of the Week
Carson Tessitore (East Islip, NY/East Islip) - D3football.com Team of the Week
 
Record Watch: The Pioneers had a historic Saturday against Brockport, with a couple of players notching their places in the record books. The best part? The Pioneers get one more game to try and break even more program records!
 
Here's a look at where each player stands, what they've broken, and what they still have a chance at.
 
Tyler Szalkowski (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute)
Single-season passing yards program record holder - 3,821
5 completions from the total completions record (record: 254, Szalkowski 249)
One passing touchdown from the record (record: 31, Szalkowski: 30)
Closing in on the completion percentage record (record: 66%, Szalkowski: 69.55%)
Closing in on the passer rating record (record: 159.1, Szalkowski: 170.84)
Closing in on the passing yards per game record (record: 314.3, Szalkowski: 328.10)
 
Matt Pallouras
Four touchdowns away from the rushing TD record (record: 12, Pallouras: 8)
 
Bryce Palmer (Verona, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill)
7 receptions from the total receptions record (record: 87, Palmer: 80)
Closing in on receptions per game (record: 8, Palmer: 8)
 
Tyshawn Taylor (Syracuse, NY/Institute of Technology)
Taylor hasn't played since week two due to an injury; however, he will break the yards per catch mark if his numbers stay put (record: 22.55 yards per catch, Taylor: 25 yards per catch)
 
Devin Taylor (New Port Richey, FL/Wendell Krinn Technical)
Closing in on the yards per punt record (record: 42.30, Taylor: 42.67)
 
Eli Douglas (Ausable Forks, NY/Ausable Valley)
One interception away from tying the single-season record (record: 7, Douglas: 6)
 
Isaiah Thomas (Kingston, NY/Kingston)
10 total tackles from tying the single-season record (record: 98, Thomas: 88)
 
Fumble Return Touchdowns
Mason Mascari (Webster, NY/Webster Schroeder) or Nicholas DeForrest (Rome, NY/Holland Patent) would break the single-season fumble return touchdown record with a scoop n' score.
 
What is the Asa S. Bushnell Bowl/ECAC Bowl Series?: The ECAC (Eastern College Athletic Conference) is an eighty-five-year-old organization with well over 200 member schools across all three NCAA Divisions - I, II and III. The ECAC exists to enhance the experience of student-athletes participating in intercollegiate athletics and provides great value for universities and colleges by sponsoring championships, leagues, bowl games, tournaments and other competitions throughout the Northeast.
 
To that end, the ECAC sponsors a series of postseason "Bowl Games", giving an opportunity for deserving teams to test their mettle against fellow top competitors in a game that can produce a playoff atmosphere. With so few teams making the NCAA Tournament, this game provides an opportunity for teams to play one final game with some high stakes on the line. The winner gets to add a banner, trophy, and number to their list of program accolades, and an MVP is also awarded following the matchup. These games provide a big boost in momentum to programs that find themselves just on the outside of the NCAA Tournament field, and can be a big turning point for a program looking to break into the big dance.
 
Teams are able to submit a bid, which will then cement their status as a possible selection for a Bowl berth. The top teams are decided on by a committee, and the matchups are set for three to four games. Each Bowl is named after a former commissioner of the ECAC, hence the Asa S. Bushnell Bowl, named after the founding director and first ECAC Commissioner, who served from 1938 to 1970. The selection committee selected Utica and Rowan as the top two teams, pitting them against one another in the first-ever home postseason football game at The Gaet'.
 
History of Utica Football Bowl Appearances: The Pioneers have made five bowl appearances over their 24-year history, with this year marking their sixth. The previous five bowls all took place on the road or at a neutral site, as the Pioneers put together a 2-3 record in those games. This weekend will be the Pioneers' first bowl game at home, giving them an edge as they hope to secure a perfect 6-0 record at The Gaet' Here are all the bowl games in Pioneer football history:
 
2023: ECAC Clayton Chapman Bowl - at Hobart College (8-2) - W, 10-6
2021: ECAC Scotty Whitelaw Bowl - at Grove City (7-3) - L, 7-49
2018: ECAC Scotty Whitelaw Bowl - vs Ithaca (8-2) at Schoellkopf Field in Ithaca, NY - W, 44-42
2016: ECAC James Lynah Bowl - vs Westminster (PA) (6-3) at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, PA - L, 6-33
2014: ECAC North Central Bowl - at Morrisville State (8-2) - L, 41-52
 
In the team's most recent bowl appearance, the team put together a total defensive effort, holding the hosting Statesmen without a single touchdown, while the blue and orange scored one of their own in the fourth quarter to pull away by a 10-6 margin. The team trailed for the majority of the game before Sam Florio (Port Jefferson, NY/Port Jefferson) broke into the endzone to give them their first lead, an advantage they wouldn't relinquish as they pulled away for the program's third postseason win.
 
In 2018, the Pioneers defeated favored Ithaca College on the campus of Cornell University in a crazy game that may be the program's most exciting postseason affair to date. The Pioneers scored 20 points in the fourth quarter to erase an 11-point final period deficit in a 44-42 win. Maki Medici nailed a 36-yard field goal with 48 seconds left to give the Pioneers a big win. Logan Wilcox tossed for a colossal 467 yards in the game, also racking up two passing touchdowns. The Pioneer secondary was also up for the task, batting down 13 passes in the affair. It was the Pioneers' first postseason win in program history.
 
Orange and Blue Archive - vs Rowan University: In terms of history… there is no history - these two teams will meet for the first time on the gridiron come Saturday! The Pioneers have battled three other current NJAC members, and have a 4-4 record against these teams (2-0 vs Kean, 2-0 vs VSU Castleton, 0-4 vs Salisbury). A few former NJAC members, such as Cortland and Morrisville, currently reside in the Empire 8, but the Pioneers haven't met a current NJAC side since 2022 when they defeated Kean 21-15 in Utica.
 
Preparing for the Profs: The Profs out of the NJAC went 6-4 in 2024, falling in a few close games against then #22 Johns Hopkins (13-20) and then #6 Salisbury (35-42). This year, they picked up one extra conference victory, improving their NJAC record from 4-2 in 2024, to 5-2 in 2025. This season, the Glassboro guardians have a 7-2-1 mark, with their losses coming in overtime against current NCAA Championship contender Christopher Newport (41-49) and against Salisbury (28-31). They have a stellar mark against nearly the entire rest of their schedule, and are no slouch when playing on the road, as they have a 4-0 record in enemy territory.
 
That last stat will be of particular importance, as unstoppable force meets immovable object this weekend - Utica is 5-0 at home, while Rowan is 4-0 on the road - something will have to give.
 
Rowan is led in his second season by head coach and Rowan alumnus Pat Ruley. He is no stranger to the Pioneers, as he squared off against the blue and orange during the 2022 NCAA Tournament while serving as the associate head coach and defensive coordinator against Susquehanna. Ruley will be in for another battle against Jerrod Clowes and Braeden Zenelovic, the minds of the Pioneer offense; however, this time around, Zenelovic will be in coaching gear instead of under center. Despite that, Tyler Szalkowski (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute) will look to have a similar start to the one that Zenelovic did in that game, with the Pioneer quarterback and his pass game coordinator in Zenelovic looking to thwart Ruley's defensive gameplan. That will certainly be a battle to watch in this matchup.
 
Rowan's defense is a big strength for the Profs, allowing just 23.30 points per game while allowing under 100 rushing yards per game and just a tick over 200 passing yards per game. The Profs are aggressive up front and look to put lots of pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The offensive line will be in for another test against a tenacious defensive attack, which will be led by junior defensive lineman Giaini Derameux. The Burlington, New Jersey native leads the team with both 11.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, along with eight quarterback hurries. Linebacker Jackson Ferrante is also aggressive up front, having 63 total tackles along with eight tackles for loss and three sacks. Senior Anthony Henriquez is the highest-volume tackler for the Profs, having 86 total takedowns on the season, along with 8.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. The Profs' biggest disruptor in the secondary is sophomore CJ Carter, who enters Saturday's matchup with two interceptions, four pass breakups, and one fumble recovery.
 
The Profs' advantage on offense is their versatility, shaking things up with 160 rushing yards per game and 280 passing yards per game. The Pioneers will need a total defensive effort on Saturday, as they'll need to be ready to stop many different offensive looks. The Profs convert third downs at a high rate, having gone 56-121, good for a 46.28% conversion percentage, which is a few ticks above the average of 39%. They are also solid on fourth down, converting 14 of their 23 opportunities for a 60.87% conversion percentage.
 
Junior quarterback Nate Maiers holds the keys to the Rowan offense, having completed 64.89% of his passes for 2,104 yards and 20 touchdowns to just five interceptions. Maiers rarely makes mistakes and tosses for an average of 210.40 yards per game. He'll face off with a stellar Pioneer secondary in what's likely to be another one of many interesting battles taking place on Saturday.
 
Maiers' top two targets are wideout Michael Zarfati (43 receptions, 777 yards, eight touchdowns) and running back Nunes Bukula IV (30 receptions, 512 yards, six touchdowns), who is a main focal point of the Rowan offense at all levels.
 
Third-string running back Mordecai Ford is also dangerous in the checkdown game, having just four catches for 133 yards, an average of 33.25 yards per catch.
 
On the topic of rushing, Rowan possesses a three-headed monster in the backfield, led by the versatile Bukula IV. In addition to having over 512 receiving yards, the junior running back also leads the team with 621 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground, averaging 4.9 yards per carry.
 
Behind him are Tyshawn Bookman (547 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns) and the aforementioned Ford (391 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns).
 
The Profs seem excellent at utilizing many different options on offense.
 
Keys Against Rowan: The Pioneers will need to excel at every spot against a balanced Rowan squad this Saturday, as the Profs have many options all over the field and at every position. Rowan relishes being in the away atmosphere, possessing a 4-0 record on the road, but the blue and orange will need to feed off of the energy brought by the first home postseason crowd in Utica history.
 
The team needs to win its various position battles, seeking victories in the passing game, at the line of scrimmage, and in clutch situations.
 
Another key is to simply play free and leave it all out there. For the Pioneer seniors, Saturday will be the final matchup of their collegiate career. There's no better time to go all-out and try to notch a statement win before heading off onto their next endeavors.
 
After Squaring Off With the Profs: This game will wrap up the Pioneers' 25th anniversary season, presenting them an opportunity to cap off the program milestone with some hardware.
 
Pioneer fans, come brave the cold with us on Saturday, come be a part of history. Wear orange, be loud, be proud, and come witness this historic moment! This has been a game 25 years in the making.
 
See you on Saturday at Gaetano Stadium!!!