UTICA, NY - Usually, around this time of year, the buzz around the Utica football program is alive and well in anticipation of an upcoming campaign. This year, that buzz has become a roar.
 
The Utica University football program enters its 26th season of competition with one of its most promising preseason outlooks in team history, as the Pioneers have reassembled a strong core of players from the standout 2025 campaign. If that wasn't enough, a gauntlet of great opponents awaits, including a massive test right from the season-opening kickoff when the team welcomes back-to-back PAC Champion Washington & Jefferson for the 12th Annual Mastrovito Family Auto Group Believe Bowl. Down below, we'll get you caught up on all you need to know about the Utica football team heading into 2026, including new acquisitions, interesting storylines, and when you can catch the team at Gaetano Stadium in their quest for the program's first Empire 8 Championship. Get your football fix with our 2026 Utica Football Season Preview!
 
Opening Weekend has Arrived: The Pioneers will take the field on Saturday, September 5th, as they go to war with a nationally recognized Presidents team looking for revenge. During last season's opener at W&J, the Pioneers embarked on one of their most complete offensive performances in program history, using 593 yards of total offense and 8.1 yards per play to take down the Presidents by a 49-31 final. This season, the Presidents have an opportunity to halt Utica's recent win streak in the annual Believe 271 Bowl, which will kick off at 12:00 PM on Saturday. The Pioneers will enter the bout on a seven-game win streak in the Believe 271 Bowl, including a pair of powerful wins over Liberty League opponents Union College (  ) and RPI ( ) in the two most recent editions. In case you needed even more reasons to Pack the Gaet' for week one - both teams are currently receiving a massive amount of votes in both the D3football.com and AFCA top-25 polls. In summation, this matchup is among the best in all of Division III during week one, and will have much attention from publications all over the nation. Below is all the information you need for this Saturday's season-opening showdown.
 
The 12th annual Believe Bowl can be streamed by following this link: https://www.empire8network.com/utica/?B=4077607
 
Live stats can be viewed for the game by following this link: https://uticapioneers.com/sidearmstats/football/summary
 
Single Game Tickets are $5 and will be available at the gate. Season Tickets are $20 for all five games. Season Tickets can be purchased by Cash, Check, or Venmo. Contact Assistant Coach and New Hartford native Logan Kraft at lokraft@utica.edu to get your season tickets now!
  
 
In Honor of Coach Jones: The Utica University football team mourns the loss of Coach Bob Jones, a teacher, mentor, and friend to the program. Coach Jones was a former player for the Pioneers, being a pillar of the trailblazing 1970 Utica football team who will be inducted into the Pioneer Hall of Fame this October. Coach Jones was a member of the Pioneer coaching staff for 14 seasons, rejoining the program in 2012 and proving to be an integral part of the team ever since. He was passionate and dedicated to his hometown, graduating from New Hartford School District in 1968 before later returning to teach for 32 years, retiring in 2007. He also coached football for the Spartans for 38 years, serving as the head coach for 16 years from 1996 to 2011 while taking home a Section III title in 2008. Coach Jones's 1970 team will go into the Pioneer Hall of Fame on October 2nd, 2026, and the team will be honored at halftime of the team's Homecoming game against SUNY Cortland on October 3rd, 2026. Coach Jones will also be honored throughout the season for his dedication to helping mentor the program's athletes, along with having a positive impact on all who were fortunate enough to meet him.
 
Journey #26: This will be the 26th regular season campaign for the Pioneers, who will look to keep up their recent momentum built up over the past five seasons, where the team has compiled a record of 38-17, including three ECAC bowl appearances, one ECAC bowl win, and an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance in 2022.
 
Here is a look at the program's history over its 26 years as a varsity program:
2025 | 8-3 (6-1) | 2nd in Empire 8 | Loss, ECAC Bushnell Bowl
2024 | 5-5 (3-4) | 5th in Empire 8
2023 | 9-2 (4-2) | 3rd in Empire 8 | Win, ECAC Chapman Bowl
2022 | 10-2 (5-1) | 2nd in Empire 8 | NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2021 | 6-5 (3-3) | 4th in Empire 8 | Loss, ECAC Whitelaw Bowl
2020 | 1-1 (1-1) | COVID-19 Shortened Season*
2019 | 5-5 (3-3) | 4th in Empire 8
2018 | 7-4 (4-3) | 5th in Empire 8 | Win, ECAC Whitelaw Bowl
2017 | 3-7 (2-5) | 8th in Empire 8
2016 | 7-4 (5-3) | 4th in Empire 8 | Loss, ECAC Lynah Bowl
2015 | 4-6 (3-5) | 6th in Empire 8
2014 | 7-4 (5-3) | 3rd in Empire 8 | Loss, ECAC North Central Bowl
2013 | 3-7 (1-6) | 7th in Empire 8
2012 | 6-4 (4-3) | 6th in Empire 8
2011 | 5-5 (2-5) | 5th in Empire 8
2010 | 5-5 (0-5) | 5th in Empire 8
2009 | 4-6 (0-5) | 6th in Empire 8
2008 | 3-7 (2-4) | 5th in Empire 8
2007 | 3-7 (1-5) | 6th in Empire 8
2006 | 3-7 (1-5) | 6th in Empire 8
2005 | 6-4 (3-3) | 4th in Empire 8
2004 | 3-7 (1-5) | 6th in Empire 8
2003 | 1-9 (0-4) | 5th in Empire 8
2002 | 1-9 (0-4) | 5th in Empire 8
2001 | 1-9  
 
Head Coach Blaise Faggiano has put together a great run in the past few years, one that was made possible by all the Pioneers who paved the way for the program's recent success, including the vaunted 1970 Utica Football Team. The 1970 team, which brought early recognition to football at Utica, will be inducted into the Pioneer Hall of Fame this Homecoming weekend, with a celebration planned for halftime of the Homecoming football matchup against Cortland State, which will be one of the most anticipated games in program history. Alongside games against W&J and Cortland, the Pioneers will also take on eight other worthy challengers, all of which will be looking for a superb performance against a recently resurgent blue and orange battalion. Who will be leading the Pioneers into this 26th campaign? Two particular players have been named as team captains ahead of the 2026 season…
 
Leading the Way: The Pioneers are proud to announce their pair of 2026 Captains, with information on each player listed below:
 
Captain - #18 | Tyler Szalkowski (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute): Szalkowski, a 2025 Gagliardi Semifinalist and the 2025 Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Year, returns to the Pioneers for one final season in 2026. The blue and orange signal-caller will be looking to build on an incredible season in which he helped propel the Pioneers to hosting the first-ever home postseason game in program history - a big Asa S. Bushnell Bowl tilt against Rowan. This Fall, Szalkowski will be eyeing the program's first-ever Empire 8 Championship, while also attempting to lead the team back to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history. The Rochester native was named a team captain ahead of the 2025 season, being recognized by his peers before having played a single snap for the Pioneers. He will return as one of the team's leaders this season, and joining him will be a defensive player who is seeing his first action as a team captain:
 

 
Captain - #23 | Isaiah Thomas (Kingston, NY/Kingston): Thomas joins Szalkowski as a team captain, receiving the honor for the first time in his young career. The speedy linebacker had a breakout campaign in 2025, leading the Pioneers in tackles by a wide margin. His 95 takedowns were 33 more than his next closest teammate, who posted 62. The Empire 8 All-Conference Third Team selection also proved to be quite powerful from the linebacker position, recording 5.5 tackles for loss, an interception, a fumble recovery, and a blocked kick. Thomas also saw a massive increase in responsibility during 2025, as he was one of the main forces guiding the linebacker corps through a season in which the position group suffered a variety of injuries. For his toughness and integrity, Thomas was awarded a role as team captain for 2026.


 
2025 Leadership Council: The team is also proud to announce its Leadership Council for the 2026 season, with a bunch of Pioneer veterans being rewarded for their hard work with a spot among the team's top leaders. Here are the members of this season's leadership council:
 
SR | QB | Tyler Szalkowski (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute)
JR | LB | Isaiah Thomas (Kingston, NY/Kingston)
SR | OL | A'Dante Bianchino
SR | DL | Jordyn Davis (Hempstead, NY/Uniondale)
JR | OL/LS | Caiden Ott (Kingston, NY/Kingston)
GR | TE | Logan Frederick (Little Falls, NY/Little Falls)
JR | LB | Mason Nolan (Hilton, NY/Hilton Central)
SR | QB | Matthew Pallouras (Rochelle Park, NJ/Hackensack)
SR | DL | Nick DeForrest
SO | LB | Nick Graziano (Albany, NY/Shaker)
SO | WR | Martino Rocco (Frankfort, NY/Frankfort-Schuyler)
SO | TE | Logan Hewitt (Mohawk, NY/Central Valley Academy)
 
 At the Helm: Head Coach Blaise Faggiano returns for his 19th season leading the Pioneers. Coach Faggiano maintains his spot as New York State's longest tenured head football coach in any division of collegiate competition. Over his 18 years, Coach Faggiano has led Utica to a 98-82 overall record, a 54.4% win percentage. The Pioneers have finished .500 or better each of the last eight seasons.
 
Alongside Coach Faggiano, the program will see some new faces and exciting promotions officially take full effect at the beginning of the season. Assistant Head Coach Jerrod Clowes enters his 10th season with the program and looks to spend another season mentoring Pioneer players from his spot as one of the heads of staff.
 
For more information about Coach Clowes, check out this article: https://uticapioneers.com/news/2025/8/8/utica-alumni-jerrod-clowes-promoted-to-assistant-head-football-coach.aspx
 
 The Pioneers will have a new playcaller heading into this season, as former Pioneer quarterback Braeden Zenelovic has quickly risen to the role of Offensive Coordinator in just his fourth season of coaching. Following a 2025 season in which the team broke nearly all of its passing records (many of which were set by Zenelovic), the former standout signal caller received massive recognition for his role as the team's Pass Game Coordinator, being promoted to the role of Offensive Coordinator heading into the 2026 season.
 
The core of the Pioneer staff will be rounded out by the hiring of defensive extraordinaire Holden Whitehead to be the team's Defensive Coordinator. Whitehead, a superstar player and coach at Alfred University, makes the move over from Buffalo State, where he helped engineer the Liberty League's top passing defense in 2025. His addition to the staff creates another incredible coaching corps that will help equip and manage the team throughout the season.
 
For more information about Coach Zenelovic and Coach Whitehead, check out this link: https://uticapioneers.com/news/2026/3/20/utica-football-names-holden-whitehead-as-new-defensive-coordinator-promotes-braeden-zenelovic-to-offensive-coordinator.aspx
 
Lastly, the team has promoted many of its graduate assistants to larger roles, with Matt Kaires promoted to Special Teams Coordinator, Logan Kraft to Video & Technology Coordinator, Jimmy Polito to Social Media Coordinator, and Amarie Jones hired as the team's Equipment Coordinator. All four will also be the primary coaches for four different position groups. For more information, check out the staff listings at this link: https://uticapioneers.com/sports/football/coaches
 
2025 Recap: The Pioneers celebrated their 25th anniversary as a varsity program in exciting fashion this past season, finishing the regular season with an 8-2 record and falling just short of the program's second-ever NCAA Tournament berth. Just short might be an understatement, as the team finished ranked #37 in the final NPI, placing them just two spots short of making the NCAA field of 40 teams. This final ranking was higher than five of the automatic qualifiers for the NCAA Tournament, and was even higher than some impressive programs, such as Ithaca (#39), Mary Hardin-Baylor (#40 - 2021 National Champions), Union (#42 - Liberty League Champion), and Washington and Jefferson (#44). That ranking of #37 put the Pioneers in the upper echelon of Division III football programs this past season, ranking 37 out of 241, which is better than 85% of all official Division III programs. This allowed the team to host the first-ever postseason Party at the Gaet', as the team played postseason football in Utica for the first time, battling to the final buzzer in a narrow loss to Rowan during the 2026 ECAC Asa S. Bushnell Bowl.
 
The Pioneers were positively dominant at home during 2025, going 5-1 (5-0 during the regular season), outscoring opponents by a 228-88 margin, outgaining opponents in total yardage by a margin of 2,729-1,423, while gaining at least 400 yards in all but two matchups, where the team racked up 354 and 398 yards, respectively. The Herd had a noticeable impact on the Pioneer performance, and with so many high-profile home matchups in 2026, the blue and orange are hoping to have a repeat performance at The Gaet' this season. The success didn't just extend to the team's home soil, though, as they had equally dominant numbers across the whole season, outscoring opponents 386-215 (35.09-19.55 per game), and outgaining opponents 4949-3019. The Pioneers' greatest source of strength was their aerial combat ability, as they dominated all opponents in the pass game on both sides of the ball. Utica outgained opponents through the air by a yardage margin of 3770-1585, scoring 37 passing touchdowns while only allowing eight to their opposition, and completing 439 passes compared ot just 277 completions by opposing quarterbacks. With Szalkowski and All-American tight end Logan Frederick (Little Falls, NY/Little Falls) back in the blue and orange, and Coach Whitehead at the helm of a Pioneer pass defense headed up by returning defensive backs Jah-Kobiah Cancer (Albany, NY/Kingston) and Joseph Gentile (Utica, NY/Thomas R. Proctor), the Pioneers will look to maintain this stellar production.
 
On defense, the Pioneers were extremely clutch, limiting opponents to just 43-129 on third down, a subpar 3rd down percentage of just 33.33%. Conversely, Utica converted third downs at a 51.45% rate. The Pioneers boasted a superb secondary, a fast and emphatic linebacker corps, and a powerful defensive line that has three of four starters returning. The line was a source of strength last season, something that the Pioneers will look to as one of their primary advantages in 2026, as they return 16 of their 19 sacks from last season. Additionally, as has been the case over the past few seasons, the Pioneers were among the best teams in the country on special teams. The Pioneers blocked ten kicks, with three coming from First Team All-Region II selection Nathan Hernandez (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville), who will look for a larger role in the pass defense this year. The punting and kicking units were also clutch, thanks to Second Team All-ECAC and First Team All-Conference Punter Devin Taylor, who will serve on the coaching staff this season, and Nico Duarte (Kearny, NJ/Saint Peter's Prep), who nailed a clutch game-winning kick over Brockport at the end of the season. Duarte will be back for this year's team.
 
The Pioneers battled to a 5-5 record in 2024, but the results were anything but boring. Three of those five losses came in one-score games, with each matchup being decided in the final minute of play (two on the final play of the game). A fourth loss came at the hands of nationally recognized Brockport, with the game being separated by one score until the final 10 minutes. Even just one of those games going in the other direction would have placed the Pioneers in bowl contention, something they hope to be firmly in during their 25th season. In each of their five wins, the Pioneers dominated play, defeating each opponent by at least 15 or more points. Three of those wins saw the team secure victory by a comfortable margin of 25+.
 
All in all, the team set a ridiculous number of records during the 2025 campaign. Here is a look at the new program-bests that the team set in its last campaign:

• Single-Season Pass Completions - 296
• Single-Season Passing Yards - 3770
• Single-Season Passing Touchdowns - 37
• Single-Season Pass Completion Percentage - 67.4%
• Single-Season Pass Efficiency - 163.7
• Single-Season Average Yards/Pass - 8.6
• Single-Season Passing Yards/Game - 342.7
• Single-Season Total Offense Yards - 4949
• Single-Season Total Offense Per Play - 6.53
• Single-Season Total Points Scored - 386
• Single-Season Touchdowns Scored - 54
• Single-Season Fumble Returns - 7
• Single-Season Quarterback Hurries - 27
• Single-Season Blocked Kicks - 10
• Single-Season Least Passing Touchdowns Allowed - 8
• Single-Season Least Yards/Completion Allowed - 10.7
• Single-Season Least Opposing Passing Yards Per Game - 130.4
• Single-Season Least Offensive Yards Allowed Per Game - 274.5
• Single-Season Tied Least Punt Return Touchdowns Allowed - 0
• Single-Game Passing Yards - 528 (at Washington and Jefferson - 9/13/25)
• Single-Game Blocked Kicks - 3 (vs Alfred State - 9/27/25)

 
The Pioneers shape up to be extremely strong in 2026, but have a few areas they will look for answers in, including defining the run game, filling in the defensive backfield, and adapting to a new coaching strategy in all three phases of the game. Additionally, the team will have to fill a few gaps left by departing players.
 
Key Losses: The Pioneers, despite returning an excellent portion of their starting talent, will have to adapt to losing a few playmakers at various positions. On offense, the Pioneers' big losses will be at the skill positions, as the team graduates All-Empire 8 First Team selections Bryce Palmer (Verona, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) and Antonio Cianfarani (Scotia, NY/Scotia Glenville), the former of which set the Empire 8 single-season record for receptions with 91, and the latter of which served as one of the team's four captains in 2025. In addition to those two graduations, the team also graduates two of its starting linemen, with Carson Tessitore (East Islip, NY/East Islip) and Mike Malzahn wrapping up their careers in 2025. Thankfully, in 2026, the team has lots of playmakers who already served in extensive roles at these various positions, including receivers like Tyshawn Taylor (Syracuse, NY/Syracuse Institute of Technology), who returns from injury after an explosive two games in 2025, and Lorenzo Velez (East Setauket, NY/Ward Melville), who broke out at the end of last season and will be a direct successor to Anthonio Cianfarani as a prime jump ball candidate. On the line, the team will return three starting stalwarts, including two-time Empire 8 All-Conference lineman ADante Bianchino (Albany, NY/Shaker), along with Gavin Grech (Merrick, NY/Sanford H. Calhoun) and Aidan Olsen (Rotterdam, NY/Schalmont), three-fifths of the unit that went over a month and a half without allowing a sack, and was even named D3football.com National Offensive Line of the Week last season.
 
On defense, the team will experience more losses, having a few impactful players graduate at each level of the defense. The defensive line will experience only one major loss, with the graduation of Mason Mascari (Webster, NY/Webster Schroeder) opening up a starting spot. However, the Pioneers have an exciting fix, as first-year phenom Austin DeGroat (Oneida, NY/Oneida) now enters his second season with the team and will look to slot right in alongside the Route 12 Roadblock, which already features a trio of All-Conference selections in Jordyn Davis (Hempstead, NY/Uniondale), Nicholas DeForrest (Rome, NY/Holland Patent), and Mason Miranowicz (Pine Bush, NY/Pine Bush). The linebacker corps will also be strong for the Pioneers, but it has to withstand the graduation of Ceejay Newton (Brooklyn, NY/Midwood) and Mekhi Bailey, two impactful players in the heart of the defense. Bailey will return as a coach and look to help hone the skills of a linebacker lot that boasts talents such as last season's leading tackler, Isaiah Thomas (Kingston, NY/Kingston), a returning Mason Nolan (Hilton, NY/Hilton Central), who won Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Week directly prior to receiving a season-ending injury, and Luke Sheldon (Lake George, NY/Lake George), who did a stellar job filling in after Nolan's injury. The team will experience its highest turnover in the defensive backfield, as it graduates an array of talented athletes, like All-American safety Eli Douglas (Ausable Forks, NY/Ausable Valley), and a standout supporting cast, including All-Conference cornerback Mason Payton (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay) and starters Ronaldo Lewis (Brooklyn, NY/Abraham Lincoln) and Michael Mecca (Oceanside, NY/Oceanside). The Pioneers have already taken measures to ensure the pass defense remains solid, such as hiring experienced pass-defense coach Whitehead as the new Defensive Coordinator.
 
Finally, the special teams unit will look a bit different this year around, with one of the program's best punters graduating in Devin Taylor. Taylor, following a stellar season that saw him snatch the career yards per punt (43.86) and single-season yards per punt (42.93) program records, will transition to a coaching role. Main kick returner Nick Maritato (Congers, NY/Clarkstown North) also graduates; however, the Pioneers have a few promising options with Gabriel Zawolo (Rochester, NY/McQuaid Jesuit) and Martino Rocco (Frankfort, NY/Frankfort-Schuyler) both set to increase their touches in 2026.
 
A few returners have already been mentioned, but let's dive into how those returners will slot into the Pioneers' 2026 game plan.
 
Returning Talent:
 
Offensive Standouts: As mentioned, the Pioneer passing game looks to be as primed as ever, and the team looks to round out its ground attack with its top seven rushers from 2025 also returning. Combined with three returning starters on the offensive line, this unit has the potential to place all over the NCAA's top statistical rankings. Overall, the offense returns seven of its 11 main starters and nine of its 11 second-string players.
 
In the backfield, Tyler Szalkowski (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute) will be under center for his second season in the orange and blue. The Gagliardi Semifinalist signal-caller had some of the best all-around marks in Division III, completing 285 passes for 3,638 yards and 33 touchdowns, while completing passes at a 67.7% rate and only tossing seven interceptions all season. The reigning Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Year will look for a repeat in 2026, albeit with a new blend of skill players to distribute the ball to. Backing up Szalkowski will be a returning Matt Pallouras, who was an Empire 8 All-Conference selection as a utility player. The New Jersey native was extremely efficient in short-yardage situations, running the Pioneers' vaunted Raven Set at a high rate as he averaged 5.1 yards per rush and racked up a team-high eight rushing touchdowns.
 
The team also returns a high volume of skill players, headlined by a strong trio of returning receivers in Tyshawn Taylor (Syracuse, NY/Syracuse Institute of Technology), Lorenzo Velez (East Setauket, NY/Ward Melville), and Gabriel Zawolo (Rochester, NY/McQuaid Jesuit). These three receivers all have very different skills, all of which will combine to give the Pioneers lots of different looks in the passing game. Taylor, who Coach Faggiano has routinely touted as one of the top receiving talents in the country, returns from injury in 2026. The Syracuse native is the top all-around talent in the Pioneer receiving corps, as in only two games, Taylor managed to snag 10 receptions for 250 yards and two touchdowns, setting the program record for longest reception (82 yards) and single-season yards per catch (25) in the process. Taylor is set for a strong senior season, but he'll be flanked by two other senior receivers in Velez and Zawolo. Velez was a solid supporting piece toward the end of the season, even hauling in a touchdown during the Pioneers' bowl battle against Rowan while landing inches away from securing the game-winning score. Zawolo returns an element of speed to the team, as the Rochester native has the ability to get open quickly. Zawolo scored the opening touchdown of the 2025 campaign and is primed for many more in his senior year. The Pioneers have many other returning receivers other than that top trio, though, and will seek out larger roles for players like Tony Dorozynski (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro), Justin Laniyan (West Orange, NJ/West Orange), Sam Pucci (Fairport, NY/Fairport), and Martino Rocco (Frankfort, NY/Frankfort-Schuyler), all of whom will be juniors or sophomores this season.
 
However, the Pioneers' top returning weapon is most assuredly D3football.com Pre-Season All-American Logan Frederick (Little Falls, NY/Little Falls), the team's superstar tight end. Frederick, the season after moving to tight end from the wide receiver position, put together one of the greatest tight end seasons in all of Division III, and the single greatest tight end season in Pioneer history, as he hauled in 74 receptions for 867 yards and a team-high 12 receiving touchdowns. The 6'4 tight end's most unique skill is his ability to rack up insane yardage after the catch, with the Little Falls native proving to be even more dangerous with the ball in his hands than without it. Frederick was named a three-time All-American last season for his efforts, and will be at the top of almost every opponent's depth chart. He's not alone at the end of the offensive line, though, as Scotty Thompson (Fairport, NY/Fairport) returns after an Empire 8 All-Conference Second Team selection in 2025. Thompson averaged 9.8 yards per catch last season and was extremely important in the blocking game.
 
On the topic of blocking, the Pioneers are set to be extremely strong in the trenches on both sides of the ball. On the offensive line, the team returns eight of its 10 top blockers, including three starters from last year's blocking brigade that went a month and a half without allowing a sack. This year's line will feature a senior-laden core, with seven seniors set to return alongside a lone junior in Caiden Ott (Kingston, NY/Kingston). Blindside starters Aidan Olsen (Rotterdam, NY/Schalmont) and ADante Bianchino (Albany, NY/Shaker) will be back to guard Szalkowski, and will both look for another stellar season on the left side of the line. On the right, 6'5 senior Gavin Grech (Merrick, NY/Sanford H. Calhoun) returns to his position as the team's starting right guard. Tackle Michael Devlin (St. James, NY/Smithtown East) and guards Gavin Kuc (Camden, NY/Camden) and Vinny Trovate will also see snaps behind those top three starters, and look to fill in on a Pioneer line that will flex its extraordinary depth this season. The right tackle and center positions will look for new leadership, and Caiden Ott (Kingston, NY/Kingston) and Emil Abreu (Brentwood, NY/Brentwood) looked poised to potentially step into those open roles, as each player was second on the final depth chart in each position this past season.
 
The final piece to the offensive puzzle, and the key to the Pioneers having one of the most powerful offenses in all of Division III, is the running game. Thankfully, as noted above, the team will return its top seven rushers from last season. To get an idea of how much production will be back, the Pioneers will return 1355 of 1399 total rushing yards (96.8%), and all 14 rushing touchdowns from 2025. Senior back Eze Frazier (Garnerville, NY/North Rockland) returns after a year in which he tallied 134 carries for 596 yards, averaging 4.1 yards per carry and scoring three touchdowns. Frazier is once again lined up to be the lead back, but he'll have plenty of help from a supporting corps led by the aforementioned Matthew Pallouras (Rochelle Park, NJ/Hackensack). Additionally, the quartet of Jani Strong (Bronx, NY/Christ The King Regional) (28 att, 138 yds, one TD), Tyler Hall (Holbrook, NY/Sachem North) (17 att, 123 yds, one TD), Drevariis Yeomas (Victor, NY/Victor) (18 att, 56 yds), and Micah Davis (Fredonia, NY/Fredonia) (nine att, 41 yds) are all back and ready to help complete the Pioneer offense. If the Pioneers can establish the run this season, they will be more well-rounded on the offensive side of the ball than any other Pioneer unit before.
 
The Pioneers are set to return some extremely strong pieces on the offense, and look to continue their run as one of the most exciting teams in all of New York State. However, the offense is not alone, as the team also has some key returners on defense.
 
Defensive Standouts: On the other side of the ball, the Pioneers are looking to maintain their stellar speed from last season. The blue and orange built a defense that flew around the field, meeting opponents extremely quickly at the point of attack. This year, the Pioneers will be looking to move beyond and meet opponents before they can attack, thanks in large part to a spectacular returning defensive line.
 
The team will return three starters in the trenches, with a fourth player set to potentially round out the starting lineup after a raucous rookie season. 2024 All-American Nicholas DeForrest (Rome, NY/Holland Patent) returns on the right end a year after posting five quarterback hurries and a team-high six sacks. DeForrest totalled 30 tackles last season in addition to a blocked kick, forced fumble, and a single fumble recovery, while blossoming into an All-Conference caliber defensive starter. Alongside DeForrest will be the interior pairing of Jordyn Davis (Hempstead, NY/Uniondale) and Mason Miranowicz (Pine Bush, NY/Pine Bush). Davis was an All-Conference First Team selection, while Miranowicz joined DeForrest on the All-Conference Second Team. Davis was second on the team for sacks with 4.5, adding a team-high six quarterback hurries. However, the Long Island native was also disruptive in the passing game, grabbing five pass breakups, an extraordinary amount for someone on the interior defensive line. Miranowicz bolstered the line to the tune of 32 tackles and seven pass breakups, also adding four tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries, and a forced fumble. The fourth and final major returning piece of the defensive line is sophomore Austin DeGroat (Oneida, NY/Oneida), who had a dazzling debut season in 2025, totalling 25 tackles (1.5 for loss), two quarterback hurries, two pass breakups, a forced fumble, and two blocked kicks. DeGroat lined up on the interior last season, but it remains to be seen if he'll stay there due to the departure of starting left end Mason Mascari (Webster, NY/Webster Schroeder). The Pioneers also have a few other big pieces on the defensive line that are poised for standout seasons, including Jerome Nembhard (Valley Stream, NY/Valley Stream) (12 tackles, 1.5 sacks) and Aidan Terry (Centerport, NY/Harborfields) (six tackles). This position group will be instrumental during a 2026 schedule that sees the team face off against many rush-first programs, such as SUNY Cortland with their new-look option offense, and other star running backs in Hobart's EJ Taylor and Alfred State's Noah Currier.
 
The team also returns talent at the heart of the defense thanks to a linebacking corps that will be led by new defensive captain Isaiah Thomas (Kingston, NY/Kingston). Thomas encapsulates the Pioneers' defensive style to a T, as the speedy central linebacker flew all over the field during his sophomore season, leading to an All-Conference campaign that was headlined by a team-high 95 tackles, 35 more than the next closest teammate. Thomas also logged one interception, one pass breakup, three quarterback hurries, a fumble recovery, and a blocked kick. Thomas will lead a group that includes a returning Mason Nolan (Hilton, NY/Hilton Central), who is back after a stellar start to the 2025 season that was upended by a week three injury. Nolan, now a junior, will look to build on a sophomore season that included 15 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble, and an Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Week. Nolan will be joined by Luke Sheldon (Lake George, NY/Lake George), a player who had an excellent breakout season after filling in for the gap left by Nolan's injury. Sheldon, who enters his senior season, had 31 tackles, an interception, a quarterback hurry, a fumble recovery, and two pass breakups. The Pioneers will have many other players to hold down the linebacker room, including plenty of young talent in sophomore Nick Graziano (Albany, NY/Shaker) (12 tackles, one sack), junior Brady Rhatigan (Latham, NY/Shaker) (12 tackles, one sack), and Andrew Lake (Johnstown, NY/Johnstown) (six tackles).
 
The position group with the most turnover heading into this season is most assuredly the Pioneer secondary; however, that does not point towards a decline, as the Pioneers have taken steps to address the group heading into 2026. Junior cornerback Jah-Kobiah Cancer (Albany, NY/Kingston) will matchup with opponents' top targets throughout the year, as the Kingston graduate gathered 40 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one interception, and six breakups in 2025. The team will be looking for a new cornerback opposite Cancer, due to the departure of Mason Payton (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay) to graduation. A prime candidate to step into the role is Nathan Hernandez (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville), an All-Region selection from last season who was instrumental in the program's special teams success. Hernandez became the second straight Pioneer to earn All-Region honors thanks to his kick-blocking prowess, as he managed three kick blocks throughout the season, in addition to 10 tackles. At the safety position, Joseph Gentile (Utica, NY/Thomas R. Proctor) will look to step into a primary role after the rising senior had a few spectacular performances last year, most notably a great showing on the road at Cortland, where the Proctor graduate logged six tackles and two forced fumbles. Just like with the cornerback position, the Pioneers saw the departure of Ronaldo Lewis (Brooklyn, NY/Abraham Lincoln), who was normally paired opposite Eli Douglas (Ausable Forks, NY/Ausable Valley) last season. Because of this, Gentile will be looking for a co-star this upcoming season. The Pioneers have a few options waiting in the wings, with a large group of returning defensive backs including Aidan Higgins (Merrick, NY/Sanford H. Calhoun), Calvin Crews (Cuddebackville, NY/Port Jervis), Tahjir Fernand (Fort Lauderdale, FL/New Rochelle), Jack Lamphere (Chittenango, NY/Chittenango), Nick Reardon (Plymouth, MA/Plymouth North), and Adonis Singletary (Coram, NY/Brentwood).
 
Special Teams Standouts: As mentioned, Nico Duarte (Kearny, NJ/Saint Peter's Prep) returns after a season that saw him go 5-8 on field goals. Duarte will also serve as the team's main kickoff man after taking 61 such kicks last season. Brendan Griffey (West Seneca, NY/West Seneca West) will also provide support, as the sophomore enters his second season with the program. With the graduation of All-Conference punter Devin Taylor, the team will now look for a new boot brigadier, which, based on the Pioneers' roster construction, might be the aforementioned Griffey. Another area that was touched upon is the Pioneer return game, where Gabe Zawolo and Rocco Martino look to continue receiving touches.
 
Rookie Rundown: The Pioneers welcome a bunch of new faces to the program for the 2026 season, as they've targeted some talented freshmen and impact transfers who look to slot in and find roles within a stacked Pioneer squad.
 
A few transfers will join the team this season, headlined by University of Albany transfer Taden Chester (Syracuse, NY/Westhill), who joins the Pioneers as a defensive back, despite two seasons listed as a wide receiver for the Great Danes. It will be interesting to see how the former Division I talent fits in with the rest of the roster, although, the team has had a great experience with Albany transfers, as evidenced by Szalkowski and former quarterback Zenelovic.
 
The Pioneers will also add some depth at defensive back with the addition of Rochester native Anthony Vazquez (Rochester, NY/Gates-Chili), who helped lead Gates-Chili to a top-four finish in the Section V Class A2 standings last season, and Jack Barton (Ithaca, NY/Ithaca City), who joins the team following a great career for Section III's Ithaca City.
 
On the defensive line, freshman defender Rodney Walker Jr. (Peekskill, NY/Archbishop Stepinac) comes from one of New York's premier high school powerhouses as he recently graduated from Archbishop Stepinac, a school routinely ranked among the top programs in the state.
 
Although the quarterback position is fairly spoken for, don't sleep on 6'1 freshman Shane Kiernan (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place), who bolsters the signal-caller selections for 2026 and onward. Kiernan has received high praise from the coaching staff and has a bright future with a program that will be looking for answers about the future of the quarterback position, seeing as their two main options will both be seniors this season.
 
Rookie running back Jayden Smith (Wheatley Heights, NY/Half Hollow Hills West) looks to bring some energy to the ground game, with the 6'2 talent hoping to add to a Pioneer rushing unit that holds lots of potential.
 
Some new faces are set to potentially slot in and block for the Pioneers' returning runners, including Section VI's James Crooks (Akron, NY/Akron) and Section III's Gavin Robinson (Adams, NY/South Jefferson), who will be youthful additions to a more veteran-laden offensive line
 
Linebacker Gavin Baker (Morrisville, NY/Morrisville-Eaton) is set to make an impact at the linebacker position, following a great senior year with Section III 8-man Champion Morrisville-Eaton. Baker is one of many stellar Oneida County prospects set to join the squad, as they once again gather an influx of talent from the local area.
 
That local talent pool includes many athletes who were named Section III All-Stars last year, as the Pioneers were once again able to add many players who performed at Gaetano Stadium last year during the Section III All-Star Game. In 2024, Austin DeGroat (Oneida, NY/Oneida) took home the MVP of the all-star game, then joined the Pioneers and experienced a superb debut season. There are a few Pioneers who have the opportunity to experience something similar, as the team has brought in lots of talent from last year's all-star game, including linebacker prospect Jake Kilbourn (Carthage, NY/Carthage), offensive linemen Moses Shan (Utica, NY/Utica Notre Dame), Cole Shlotzhauer (Vernon, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill), and Brock Hoffman (Carthage, NY/Carthage), tight end Parker Wentrick (Sauquoit, NY/Sauquoit Valley), and the game's Defensive MVP in defensive lineman Wil Cirino (Utica, NY/Thomas R. Proctor).
 
For more information on the Pioneers' incoming additions, check out the 2026 roster here: https://uticapioneers.com/sports/football/roster
 
Record Watch: The Pioneers shattered many program records last season, both in the single-season and career fields. The team will be looking for a repeat performance in 2026, as they have plenty of players who are close to reaching some special milestones.
 
Chief among them all is Coach Faggiano, who currently sits at 98 career wins. Just two victories will allow the coach to break the 100-win threshold, a huge milestone for the Pioneers' head honcho and one that will be a testament to the strong program he's built in his career with the blue and orange.
 
Szalkowski is close to cementing his name near the top of a few different career quarterback categories. Pioneer Hall of Famer Andrew Benkwitt has a few nearly untouchable marks, which were built up over the course of a spectacular four-year run, but Szalkowski can easily play himself into second in an array of categories. The Pioneers' signal-caller needs 163 completions, 1,834 passing yards, and four passing touchdowns to break into second place in each of those categories. Additionally, Szalkowski currently holds the career records for pass completion percentage (67.7%) pass efficiency (162.8), and passing yards per game (330.7) by a wide margin, and can cement those records with another top-tier season in 2026.
 
With just a single punt return touchdown, Gabriel Zawolo (Rochester, NY/McQuaid Jesuit) would become the first Pioneer in program history to return multiple punts for touchdowns.
 
Lastly, Nicholas DeForrest (Rome, NY/Holland Patent) still holds the program record for blocked kicks with five. However, Nathan Hernandez (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) and Austin DeGroat (Oneida, NY/Oneida) are hot on his trail with three and two, respectively.
 
Schedule Preview: Earlier this offseason, we previewed the Pioneers' 2026 home schedule slate, also giving additional information about each home game sponsor and festivities that are planned during the 2026 campaign. Below is a link to that release:
 
2026 UTICA FOOTBALL HOME SCHEDULE PREVIEW: https://uticapioneers.com/news/2026/5/15/utica-pioneer-football-releases-2026-home-schedule-and-information.aspx
 
This season, The Gaet' will play host to many of the Pioneers' top challengers, including two-time reigning PAC Champion Washington and Jefferson (Week 1 - Believe Bowl), the always tough Hobart Statesmen (Week 3 - Mohawk Valley Challengers Day), and a gigantic battle against pre-season ranked Cortland (Week 5 - Homecoming). Those three opponents, alongside other powerhouses Alfred University and SUNY Brockport, create an incredibly difficult and exciting regular season gauntlet at Gaetano Stadium.
 
The Pioneers will also undergo a few tough road tests, including matchups at 2025 Bowl Champion RPI (Week 2), and a resurgent St. John Fisher (Week 9).
 
Week One - vs (RV/RV) Washington & Jefferson (Believe Bowl) - 9/5 - 12:00 PM
Week Two - at RPI - 9/12 - 12:00 PM
Week Three - vs Hobart (Mohawk Valley Challengers Day) - 9/19 - 1:00 PM
Week Four - at Alfred State - 9/26 - 1:00 PM
Week Five - vs (#23/25) SUNY Cortland (Homecoming) - 10/3 - 1:00 PM
Week Six - at Morrisville State  - 10/10 - 1:00 PM
Week Seven - BYE WEEK - 10/17
Week Eight - vs Alfred University (Breast Cancer Awareness Game) - 10/24 - 12:00 PM
Week Nine - at St. John Fisher - 10/31 - 2:00 PM
Week Ten - at Hartwick - 11/7 - 1:00 PM
Week Eleven - vs Brockport (Senior Day/Veterans Day Game) - 11/14 - 12:00 PM
 
 Blue and Orange Archive: Last season's opening clash was the first meeting between the Presidents and Pioneers, with Utica claiming a 49-31 statement win.
 
Prepping for the Presidents: Washington & Jefferson saw NCAA postseason contention last season, making the big dance for the second straight year after going 8-2 in their regular season games and taking home the program's second-straight PAC Championship, which was also their 28th overall. The Presidents fell in back-to-back games to open the season, before rebounding with eight straight wins to make the NCAA Tournament. In the first round of the NCAA's, W&J fell on the road in an all-time classic matchup to Susquehanna, who took advantage of two key turnovers to defeat the Presidents by a 38-32 final.
 
W&J will be a junior-heavy group this season, returning seven starters who were sophomores the year prior. The team graduated a bevy of top talent, but under Head Coach Mike Sirianni, the Presidents will reload and be as formidable as usual. However, the team does have a trio of top seniors in Antoine Smith, Michael Roginsky, and Nathaniel Kadosh-Harris, the former two of which have been named PAC Players to Watch ahead of the 2026 season.
 
On offense, the team returns seven of its 11 starters, including four offensive line starters. Despite the consistency at the line of scrimmage, the Presidents will be asking many more questions under center, as quarterback Kellan Stahl departs the program following a great single-season as the team's main starter. The offense will also be under new leadership at the top, with Andrew Cergan taking over as Offensive Coordinator. At quarterback, the team will have to choose between a senior in Campbell Pivnick and three sophomores in Derek Burk, Kole Olszewski, and Luke Goodworth, none of whom saw extensive game time next season thanks to the logjam of top talent at the position that the Presidents possessed in 2025. The running game will be a strength for the Presidents, with two of the team's top three rushers returning from last season. Andrew Sharp returns after finishing with 811 yards from scrimmage and 13 total touchdowns, while Luke Edwards looks to step into a bigger role after recording 188 rushing yards last year. At wideout, the team saw the departure of the 1,000-yard duo of Jacob Macosko and John Peduzzi. In lieu of those losses, the team will look to Joey DeSabato, who finished as the team's third option last season with 435 yards and two touchdowns.
 
On defense, the Presidents return six of their 11 starters from a season ago after finishing among the best defensive units in Division III. W&J allowed just 17.5 points per game in 2025 while recording 18 interceptions, six fumble recoveries, 84 tackles for loss, and 38 sacks, which tied for third-most in Division III. Up front, Antoine Smith returns for his senior season after leading the team with 7.0 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, 40 tackles, and eight quarterback hurries last season. Nathaniel Kadosh-Harris also returns on the edge after recording 5.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss, and 30 tackles. Alex Boyce will look to make an impact on the interior after recording 3.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss in just seven games last season. At linebacker, the Presidents will be led by Brock Sherman, who returns after pacing the team with 97 tackles while adding 10 tackles for loss, three sacks, eight quarterback hurries, and two fumble recoveries. In the secondary, Dante DeRubbo returns after a breakout season that saw him record seven interceptions, while Rudy Morris, Sam Coleman, and Da'Jahn Telfair also return with starting experience. DeRubbo and Morris combined for 10 interceptions last season, giving the Presidents a strong veteran presence in the back end.
On special teams, the Presidents return the bulk of their specialists from a season ago, including starting kicker and punter Deven Wyandt. The fifth-year specialist earned Second Team All-PAC honors after converting 61-of-62 extra-point attempts and 7-of-9 field-goal attempts in 2025, including a season-long 39-yarder. Wyandt also averaged 37.0 yards per punt, with 13 punts downed inside the 20-yard line and six punts traveling at least 50 yards. Liam Campbell returns as the primary kickoff specialist, while Jake Mele is expected to handle holding duties for the third consecutive season. At kick returner, Joey DeSabato will look to continue his role after earning Second Team All-PAC recognition for his work in the return game, with Luke Edwards also expected to contribute. The Presidents will need to find a new punt returner following the departure of Angelo Volomino, while also replacing long snapper Al Magnelli.
 
Keys to the Game:

• The Pioneers gifted W&J seven first downs via penalty last season, and were heavily penalized throughout the course of the season-opening showdown. A massive point of emphasis will be playing clean, as the team looks to limit flags this time around.
• As will be the case throughout this season, a major battle will take place in the trenches between the Route 12 Roadblock, and opposing offenses who have a superb rushing attack. The Pioneer defensive line will do battle with a heavy returning cast of President blockers, along with a great running back corps led by Sharp. The Pioneers need to win this battle should they want to give themselves an advantage in the matchup.
• Similarly, the Pioneers' offensive line will have to be a bastion from the very beginning of the season, as the Presidents' unique athleticism and blitz packages kept opponents off guard all season last year. Keeping the backfield clear will be a big key to taking the matchup.

 
History of the Believe Bowl: The annual Believe Bowl has been a Utica football tradition that has existed since the 2014 season. The game has drawn extremely well over the years, evolving into one of the premier sporting events in the yearly Mohawk Valley sports calendar. The Believe Bowl game benefits the Believe 271 Foundation. Founded in 2014, Believe 271 provides financial support to volunteer firefighters, EMTs, and members of ladies' auxiliary programs in Oneida and Herkimer counties who suffer from life-threatening illnesses such as cancer.
 
"Cancer in the fire service is the leading cause of deaths to both career and volunteer firefighters. Since 2014, our foundation has assisted 109 volunteer firefighters in their battles with cancer," said Brian McQueen, President and Co-Founder of the Believe 271 Foundation.
 
Since 2021, The Mastrovito Family Auto Group has sponsored the yearly event, helping to give back to the community and support the Believe 271 foundation. Mastrovito has been integral in growing the status of the Believe Bowl and has helped guide the game into becoming the renowned spectacle that it is today.
 
"As an avid supporter of first responders, The Mastrovito Family Auto Group is proud to once again partner with the Believe 271 Foundation and the Utica University Pioneers Football Team to sponsor the Believe Bowl and give back to the community and its firefighters that give so much to us every day," said Frank Mastrovito, owner of the company.
 
After Opening Weekend: The Pioneers will prepare to face off with RPI on the road on Saturday of Week 2. The Engineers will be in search of revenge after the Pioneers defeated them by an emphatic 41-14 final. RPI, who won an ECAC Bowl Game last season, will be primed for another strong season. The blue and orange will head to ECAV Stadium on Saturday, September 12th to battle the Engineers. That game is slated for a 12:00 PM kickoff.  
 
12th Man Club: Are you looking for a way to support your Pioneers this season? CHECK OUT THE 12TH MAN CLUB! You can be a part of the action by helping Utica's team get the best gear, care, and experience possible to keep challenging the best in Division III Football. Follow the link below to join the 12th Man and get some complimentary gifts today:
 
JOIN THE 12TH MAN TODAY: https://store.masteryourimage.com/UUF12/shop/home
 
SWING BY THE GAET' THIS SATURDAY AS THE 26TH SEASON OF UTICA FOOTBALL GETS UNDERWAY!!! Make sure to keep an eye on our athletics website for postgame analysis and highlights!
 
Also, be sure to follow the Utica Football social media channels:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uticafootball
X: https://x.com/@Utica_Football
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UticaFootball/#