UTICA, NY - This Saturday, Utica football will head into battle against yet another undefeated opponent. Alfred State awaits the No. 23 Pioneers, as the orange and blue gear up for their first-ever contest as a D3football.com-ranked team. For the fourth straight week to open the season, the visiting Pioneers will take on a program without a loss in the 2026 campaign, as both teams enter this weekend's contest with records of 3-0, setting up another high-profile outing. The orange and blue will look to continue their raucous start to the season, but senior running back Noah Currier, the current #1-ranked rusher in all of Division III, stands opposed to the Pioneers' bid for a 4-0 start. Get caught up ahead of this weekend's matchup down below!
 
You can stream this Saturday's contest by heading to the following link: https://sunyacsportsnetwork.com/alfredstate/?B=4129941
 
For live statistics, you can head to this link: https://alfredstateathletics.com/sidearmstats/football/summary
 
This weekend is Homecoming at Alfred State, which means there are no tickets required for entry into the event.
 
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 vs W&J: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_czjU8x7og
 
Week Two at RPI: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Fe5s5ZTvf8
 
Week Three vs Hobart: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHDKr7EhZ3w&t=6s
 
Week Three Recap: In D3football.com's Region II Game of the Week, the Pioneers pushed out to a shocking 23-0 halftime lead over a strong Hobart team, using a mix of explosive passing offense and timely defense to help build an overwhelming advantage. However, the Liberty League hopefuls would come out firing in the second half, as former Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year EJ Taylor would hit two home runs, scoring a pair of touchdowns on long plays to help Hobart inch back into the contest. Hobart would eventually make the contest a one-score affair with about 10 minutes remaining, but the Pioneers would hit back, with Logan Hewitt (Mohawk, NY/Central Valley Academy) jumping on top of a fumble in the endzone to log his first career touchdown, a game-sealing score that would wrap up a 75-yard drive and give the Pioneers the final advantage they needed to secure a 36-29 win.
 
Three Big Things:
 
1 - Displaying Depth: The most notable performances of the afternoon came thanks to a group of strong depth pieces, with numerous Pioneer backups making their mark and helping the team achieve a 3-0 record.
 
Backup safety Jack Lamphere (Chittenango, NY/Chittenango) had the Pioneers' most exciting play of the afternoon, scooping up a fumble caused by cornerback Jah-Kobiah Cancer (Albany, NY/Kingston) and returning it 24 yards for a touchdown to make it 23-0 just before halftime. Lamphere also logged a key pass breakup on the second-to-last play of the game, getting some important snaps towards the end of a one-score contest. For his performance, Lamphere was gifted a D3football.com Game Ball, an honor that's only given out to two players across all of Division III each week.
 
Lamphere was just one of a few backups who showed up in big moments, as a crew of other Pioneers also had breakout games. The aforementioned Logan Hewitt (Mohawk, NY/Central Valley Academy) was one of those players, jumping on a Matt Pallouras fumble in the endzone to give the Pioneers a key two-score advantage late in the game. Hewitt, a third-string tight end, logged his first career touchdown on the play, and provided exactly what the team needed to hold on against a perennially tough Hobart team.
 
In the secondary, Calvin Crews (Cuddebackville, NY/Port Jervis) had a great outing, as the former wide receiver-turned cornerback grabbed two key pass breakups, both of which could have easily gone for touchdowns. Each breakup was an outstanding display of athleticism, as Crews reached the ball just in time to record the pair of important stats.
 
Finally, former Whitesboro wideout Tony Dorozynski (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) had a breakout outing, converting a few crucial third downs in addition to snagging the game's greatest catch, a one-handed grab near the sideline that ultimately resulted in a Pioneer touchdown.
 
Thanks to this group of unsung heroes, the Pioneers were able to make big plays in key spots and advance to 3-0.
 
2 - Accurate and Efficient Offense: Heading into last weekend's contest, the Statesmen secondary was coming off a matchup that saw them record five interceptions in a strong win against Brockport. However, against the Pioneers, the Statesmen failed to record an interception, due in large part to an accurate performance from Pioneer quarterback Tyler Szalkowski (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute). The Pioneer signal-caller completed 33 passes at a 79% rate, tallying 319 yards and two touchdowns while not tossing a single interception, even against a Hobart defense that was riding high following week two. Szalkowski also guided the team to an 8-for-12 performance on third down, something that was absolutely essential in the eventual 36-29 win.
 
3 - Possession Power: During the third quarter, the Statesmen embarked on a 19-play, 75-yard drive that spanned 10 minutes and 49 seconds of game time. Despite that colossal clock usage, the Statesmen still lost the possession battle by an overwhelming margin, as the Pioneers had the ball for almost 10 more minutes, winning possession by a 34:23 - 25:37 margin. The Pioneers also managed to stack up a large majority of the possession while throwing the ball 42 times, showcasing the team's ability to manage the clock even when using a powerful pass-first scheme. The Pioneers have won the possession battle by a significant margin in all three of their contests this season, and will seek another week of high-possession against one of Division III's current top rushing offenses in Alfred State.
 
In the Polls: This past Sunday was a notable one for the Pioneers, who achieved their second-ever D3football.com ranking and their first-ever regular-season ranking in program history. Although not the ultimate goal, this is a massive achievement for the orange and blue, who are making their first appearance since the final 2022 poll, slotting in at #23 after racking up three wins against three tough teams in W&J, RPI, and Hobart. Division III has 243 total teams, ranking the Pioneers 23rd out of 243. Notably, the team's jump to #23 saw them hop over perennial playoff contenders Mount Union and Randolph-Macon. In the AFCA poll, the team also jumped into the rankings, slotting in at #24. This weekend, the team will play its first game as a ranked program. Since the 2022 poll that featured Utica was the final poll of the season, the team had no way to defend its standing. However, this time around, the team has a chance to battle and improve its positioning. It all starts with a matchup at 3-0 Alfred State this weekend.
 
Statistical Stars: The NCAA recently updated its Division III football statistics through week three, and a few Pioneers are heavily featured among the nation's leaders. In fact, the team has a player who currently leads in TWO different categories…
 
Senior kicker Nico Duarte (Kearny, NJ/Saint Peter's Prep) has had an all-time start to the season, and the NCAA Division III football statistics back up this claim. When called upon, Duarte has been huge for the program, as the New Jersey native has remained perfect on field goals through the team's first three games. In addition to an Empire 8 Special Teams Player of the Week nod, Duarte is currently ranked first in two different categories: field goal percentage and field goals made per game. The Pioneers have called Duarte's number eight different times, and on all eight occasions, Duarte has delivered, posting an 8-for-8 start to the season during field goals. His eight kicks are two more than the next closest players who have also been perfect, meaning that despite a tie atop the field goal percentage column, Duarte technically leads due having the most field goals made while also having a 1.000 rate. In addition, Duarte has converted 2.67 field goals per game, which currently leads the nation. These stats put the stamp on a solid three-week stretch from Duarte.
 
As was normally the case last year, Pioneer quarterback Tyler Szalkowski (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute) is also ranked fairly high in a few different statistical categories. Through three games in 2026, the 2025 Gagliardi semifinalist holds an array of strong stats, here are some of his top placements among all of Division III's quarterbacks.

• Total Passing Yards - 3rd - 1,023 (Szalkowski is one of three QBs with over 1,000 yards)
• Completions per Game -  3rd - 27.67
• Passing Yards per Game - 8th - 341.00

• Completion Percentage - 10th - 75.5%
• Pass Efficiency Rating - 34th - 167.94

 
Of course, one of Szalkowski's top targets has helped the Pioneer passer achieve those feats. Tyshawn Taylor (Syracuse, NY/Syracuse Institute of Technology) has been tearing it up, most recently reaching the 1,000 career receiving yards mark during last week's matchup. Taylor, much like Szalkowski, is heavily featured among Division III's best. Taylor currently ranks 7th in the nation for receiving yards with 386, and 16th for receiving yards per game with 128.7.
 
Taylor's wideout partner, Gabriel Zawolo (Rochester, NY/McQuaid Jesuit), has also had a great start to the season, and is currently one of only 35 wideouts who have caught four or more receiving touchdowns through three weeks. Additionally, Zawolo and tight end Logan Frederick (Little Falls, NY/Little Falls) are both extremely high in the receptions category, with Zawolo ranking 7th with nine receptions per game, and Frederick ranking 17th with 7.33 receptions per game.
 
Pioneer Playmakers: Below is a list of each accolade the Pioneers have achieved through three weeks of play.
 
Week One vs W&J
Logan Frederick (Little Falls, NY/Little Falls) - D3football.com National Team of the Week
Nico Duarte (Kearny, NJ/Saint Peter's Prep) - Empire 8 Special Teams Player of the Week
Nico Duarte (Kearny, NJ/Saint Peter's Prep) - Pioneer Athlete of the Week
Logan Frederick (Little Falls, NY/Little Falls) - 1,000 career receiving yards
 
Week Two vs RPI
Tyshawn Taylor (Syracuse, NY/Syracuse Institute of Technology) - D3football.com National Team of the Week
Tyshawn Taylor (Syracuse, NY/Syracuse Institute of Technology) - Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Week
Blaise Faggiano - 100 Career Head Coaching Wins
 
Week Three vs Hobart
Jack Lamphere (Chittenango, NY/Chittenango) - D3football.com Week Three Game Ball
Tyshawn Taylor (Syracuse, NY/Syracuse Institute of Technology) - 1,000 career receiving yards
 
Total Awards Count
 
Team:
Empire 8 Players of the Week: 2
D3football.com Team of the Week: 2
D3football.com Game Ball: 1
 
Individual:
Logan Frederick (Little Falls, NY/Little Falls) - D3football.com Team of the Week: 1
Nico Duarte (Kearny, NJ/Saint Peter's Prep) - Empire 8 Player of the Week: 1
Tyshawn Taylor (Syracuse, NY/Syracuse Institute of Technology) - Empire 8 Player of the Week: 1
Tyshawn Taylor (Syracuse, NY/Syracuse Institute of Technology) - D3football.com Team of the Week: 1
Jack Lamphere (Chittenango, NY/Chittenango) - D3football.com Game Ball
 
Trax Fax:

• The Pioneers' entry into the D3football.com Top-25 poll is the team's second-ever top-25 ranking by the publication, with the only other ranking coming at the end of the legendary 2022 campaign, where the Pioneers hopped up to #20 thanks to an NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance. This is the team's first time earning a ranking during the regular season. In the AFCA poll, this is the Pioneers' fifth time being ranked, as the team spent three weeks in the polls during 2023 (#22-#23-#24) in addition to being ranked at the end of 2022 (#22).
• With no official NPI rankings available through week three, the Hansen Ratings are the nearest equivalent, as the model supplies ratings based on an array of different information and simulations. On these ratings, the Pioneers currently have the 12th best resume in all of Division III, having defeated a trio of conference championship-caliber competition in Washington & Jefferson, RPI, and Hobart. 
• The Pioneers will take on another undefeated team this weekend, as Alfred State will enter week four with a record of 3-0. W&J (0-0), RPI (1-0), and Hobart (2-0) all engaged in a battle with the orange and blue while not having a single blemish on their resume. 
• Pioneer wideout Tyshawn Taylor (Syracuse, NY/Syracuse Institute of Technology) became the second player this season to surpass 1,000 career receiving yards, now sitting with 1,014 yards over his four years. Taylor joined tight end Logan Frederick (Little Falls, NY/Little Falls), who achieved the feat earlier this season. In addition, Bryce Palmer (Verona, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) and Antonio Cianfarani (Scotia, NY/Scotia Glenville), who have since graduated, also surpassed 1,000 career yards last season, making it four total players who have reached 1,000 career yards in the past two seasons. Gabriel Zawolo (Rochester, NY/McQuaid Jesuit), who has put together back-to-back 100-yard games, could be the next receiver to reach 1,000 yards, as the Rochester native currently has 648, just 352 yards short.

Orange and Blue Archive - Alfred State: The Pioneers will look to continue their perfect all-time record against Alfred State this weekend, as Utica enters Saturday with a 3-0 mark against the opposing Pioneers. The two programs first met during Utica's inaugural season in 2001, with the orange and blue traveling to Alfred State and earning a 29-7 victory for the first win in program history. The teams would not meet again for another 20 years, with Utica returning to Alfred in 2021 and coming away with a 39-21 victory. Last season, the two programs met for the first time as Empire 8 opponents, with Utica cruising to a 45-13 victory at Gaetano Stadium. The Pioneers have outscored Alfred State 113-41 across the three meetings and will look to keep that perfect record intact during Saturday's trip to Pioneer Stadium.

Last season, the Pioneers opened Empire 8 play with an emphatic 45-13 victory over Alfred State at Gaetano Stadium. Utica jumped out to a 14-0 lead before exploding for 21 points in the final four minutes of the second quarter to take a 35-7 advantage into halftime. Tyler Szalkowski (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute) completed 29 of 39 passes for 338 yards and five touchdowns, connecting with Bryce Palmer (Verona, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) 10 times for 112 yards and a touchdown. Logan Frederick (Little Falls, NY/Little Falls) added four catches for 64 yards and two touchdowns, while Antonio Cianfarani (Scotia, NY/Scotia Glenville) and Gabriel Zawolo (Rochester, NY/McQuaid Jesuit) also found the end zone through the air. On the ground, Tyler Hall (Holbrook, NY/Sachem North) led the Pioneers with 46 yards, while Matthew Pallouras (Rochelle Park, NJ/Hackensack) added a rushing touchdown. Utica finished with 478 total yards and 28 first downs while limiting Alfred State to just 177 yards of total offense. Noah Currier still provided a glimpse of the explosiveness that would define his season, rushing 14 times for 57 yards and a touchdown while also returning three kickoffs for 80 yards.

The 2021 meeting in Alfred was another high-scoring affair, with Utica overcoming an early deficit to take a 39-21 victory. Alfred State jumped out to a 7-3 lead after a 75-yard touchdown connection from Aaron Jenkins to Roman Napoleon, but the visiting Pioneers responded with 22 points in the third quarter to take control of the game. Sonny Badyna put together an impressive performance through the air, completing 27 of 44 passes for 350 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Nate Palmer was his primary target, hauling in nine passes for 180 yards and a touchdown, including a 58-yard reception that set up one of Utica's scores. Elijah Parker added seven catches for 77 yards and a touchdown, while the Pioneers' defense forced two Alfred State turnovers, including a fumble recovery by Josh Powell after a sack. Utica finished with 467 yards of total offense and 22 first downs while limiting Alfred State to 257 total yards.
 
The inaugural meeting between the two programs came on September 8, 2001, when Utica traveled to Alfred State for the first game in program history. The Pioneers left with a 29-7 victory, giving the fledgling program its first-ever win. That victory established the tone for what has become a perfect 3-0 all-time record for Utica against Alfred State, with the Pioneers' three victories coming by margins of 22, 18 and 32 points. Saturday's matchup will mark the first time the two programs have met at Pioneer Stadium in Alfred State since the 2021 contest, with Utica looking to continue its dominance in the all-time series.

Preparing for the (Opposing) Pioneers: Alfred State enters Saturday's matchup as one of the hottest teams in the Empire 8, sitting at 3-0 after opening the season with three dominant victories. The Pioneers began the year by defeating Thiel 74-13 before rolling past Hilbert 57-12 and traveling to Buffalo State last weekend for a 41-7 victory. Alfred State has outscored its opponents 172-32 through three games while averaging 57.3 points and 450.3 yards per game. The Pioneers have been particularly explosive on the ground, due in large part to D3football.com Preseason All-American running back Noah Currier, who has led the team to   average 273.3 rushing yards per contest and 8.0 yards per carry. After finishing 5-5 overall and 3-4 in Empire 8 play during their first season in the conference, Alfred State has clearly taken another step forward entering its second Empire 8 campaign.

Offense: The Pioneers' offense begins with quarterback Chase Shepanski, who has been extremely efficient through the first three games. Shepanski has completed 33 of 48 passes for 531 yards and seven touchdowns without throwing an interception, giving him a 68.8 percent completion rate. He has also contributed on the ground, scoring a rushing touchdown in the season opener against Thiel. Shepanski has already demonstrated his ability to create explosive plays, throwing touchdown passes of 35, 62 and 84 yards during the opening three weeks. Against Hilbert, he completed all six of his attempts for 149 yards and three touchdowns, while his performance against Thiel included nine completions for 117 yards and two touchdowns.

The biggest name on the Pioneers' offensive scout, however, is of course Noah Currier. The junior returns after rushing for 1,234 yards and 19 touchdowns on 213 carries in 2025, while also catching 42 passes for 357 yards and scoring four receiving touchdowns. He has been even more explosive to begin 2026, already rushing for 611 yards and 10 touchdowns on just 48 carries, averaging an astounding 12.7 yards per attempt and 203.7 yards per game, all of which lead Division III. Currier opened the year with 217 rushing yards and four touchdowns against Thiel before adding 178 yards and two scores against Hilbert. Last weekend at Buffalo State, he continued to lead the ground attack, including a 27-yard touchdown run that capped a 98-yard drive. The Pioneers' defensive front will have its hands full trying to slow one of the most productive backs in the conference.

Alfred State also possesses plenty of explosiveness in the passing game, with wideout Elijah Georges emerging as one of Shepanski's primary targets. Georges has caught seven passes for 277 yards and three touchdowns through three games, averaging 39.7 yards per reception. He opened the season with four catches for 82 yards and a touchdown against Thiel, then produced one of the biggest plays of the Hilbert game with a 62-yard touchdown reception. Georges was even more productive against Buffalo State, hauling in four passes for 133 yards and a touchdown. Jordan Jackson has also emerged as a major piece of the passing attack, catching 10 passes for 84 yards against Buffalo State after scoring on a 35-yard touchdown reception against Hilbert. The Pioneers have several avenues to generate explosive plays, meaning Utica's secondary will need to remain disciplined throughout the afternoon.

Defense: Alfred State has been just as impressive on the defensive side of the ball, allowing only 10.7 points per game while limiting opponents to 301.7 yards per contest. The Pioneers have recorded 10 sacks and forced four turnovers through their first three games. Against Thiel, Alfred State forced three turnovers, including a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown by Donnell Hall, while Thomas Pratton recorded 1.5 sacks and two tackles for loss. Aaron Ellis also led the team with seven tackles in the opener.
The defensive effort has continued to feature strong individual performances. Zackery Hornquist led Alfred State with 13 tackles against Hilbert, while Marcus Roney added 10 tackles and three tackles for loss. Against Buffalo State, Trevor Maly led the way with 12 tackles, while Donnell Hall added 10 and Liam McQuiggan and Demarii Thompson each finished with nine. Thompson recorded a sack in the victory, while Ryan Heinz posted eight tackles, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble. The Pioneers have also shown an ability to create game-changing plays in the secondary, with Maly returning an interception 56 yards for a touchdown against Hilbert.

Up front, Ryan Heinz, Aaron Ellis, Conner McWilliams and Gage Cornell provide a disruptive group that can make life difficult for opposing quarterbacks and running backs. Heinz already has 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble this season, while the Pioneers have generated 10 total sacks through three games. Cornell was an Empire 8 Third-Team All-Conference selection last season after recording 54 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks as a sophomore. McWilliams also returns after producing 33 tackles, eight tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in 2025.

Special Teams: Special teams could also play an important role against an Alfred State team that has plenty of explosiveness in the return game. Currier was an All-Region return specialist last season after totaling 501 kickoff-return yards and two touchdowns, including a 97-yard return. He also averaged 26.37 yards per kickoff return, although he has been utilized less in the return game this season. Elijah Georges has already shown his ability to contribute outside of the traditional passing game as well, returning a punt 44 yards for a touchdown against Hilbert. Matthew Perry has handled the kicking duties, converting all 21 of his extra-point attempts this season, while Alfred State's punting duties have been shared.

Keys Against Alfred State:

1: Limit Explosive Plays: Something that hurt the Pioneers last weekend, and has been a big advantage for Alfred State in 2026, are explosive offensive chunk plays. As seen last season, Noah Currier, much like Hobart back EJ Taylor, has the ability to use speed and quickness to break away from defenses, creating many opportunities for large gains. The Pioneers main job against Alfred State is to contain, contain, contain, and not let Currier and Alfred State notch any momentum-shifting plays, especially in front of what will be a lively Homecoming crowd down in Alfred this weekend.
 
2: Continue Possession Trends: A really easy way for the orange and blue to limit Alfred State on the offensive end is to just possess the ball exactly how they've been through the first few weeks. Through three weeks, the opposing Pioneers have held the ball for just under 20 minutes per game, mostly due to their ability to quickly launch scoring drives. However, if the orange and blue can limit the explosiveness of the opposing offense, and hold onto the ball for a majority of the contest, it will put them in a stellar position.
 
3: Manage Pressure: Saturday's atmosphere is set to be a high-pressure environment, with Alfred State's Homecoming this weekend, and the Pioneers' new status as a ranked team. The opponents will be amped and ready for a fight as they also enter Saturday's game with a 3-0 record. This is a big opportunity for them, and Utica will need to handle the pressure in what is shaping up to be the orange and blue's most hostile road game to date. If the Pioneers continue to play how they played against their trio of non-conference opponents, the visitors will put themselves in a good position on Saturday.
 
After Battling Alfred State: The Pioneers will be back home the following Saturday for a massive Homecoming battle against SUNY Cortland. The team will honor the 1970 Football Team at halftime, along with the other Pioneer Hall of Fame Class of 2026 inductees. That Homecoming clash kicks off at 1:00 PM down at Gaetano Stadium.
 
Tune in on Saturday as the Pioneers head to Alfred State!