Utica 20, Frostburg 12 - Empire 8 Football Final
Utica, NY (September 20, 2014) – The Utica College football team improved to 3-0 for the third time in program-history on Saturday as the Pioneers fended off visiting Frostburg State, 20-12, in Empire 8 Conference action at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium. Freshman running back J'Von Evans (Utica, NY/Proctor) punched in two first quarter touchdowns and the UC defense stood its ground, allowing just nine second half points in the victory.
Sophomore linebacker Juwan Wilson (South Ozone Park, NY/Holy Cross) led the Pioneers with 14 tackles (13 solo) and he also broke up one pass, while Brandon Burnham (Fulton, NY/Mexico) added eight tackles for UC. Wilson has 14 tackles in each of the last two games and he leads the team with 36 this season.
"It's great to get the first conference win under our belts and winning at home in front of a great crowd makes it even more satisfying. Frostburg is a good program and we're excited to be 3-0 right now," said Head Cach Blaise Faggiano. "We still have a lot work to do as the seasons rolls on, but we're happy with the results so far and we will get right back to work at practice next week as we prepare for a big night game against Brockport back at home next weekend."
Utica quarterback Will Kassar (Lattingtown, NY/Glen Cove) rushed the ball 13 times for a team-best 70 yards and he also tallied his team-best fourth touchdown of the season to put the Pioneers on top 20-6 with just seconds to go in the third quarter of play. Kassar now has a team-high 175 yards rushing through three games.
Frostburg quarterback Ken Emmons, who carried the ball 19 times for 43 yards, scored a fourth quarter rushing touchdown to bring the Bobcats to within eight points, 20-12, with 8:35 to go but the ensuing extra point attempt failed, leaving the visitors behind one score and a two point conversion.
Frostburg forced a punt on the next Pioneer possession, giving the Bobcats a shot at tying the game with 6:16 left in regulation. After a 26-yard carry by Austin Bonsall, the visitors found themselves with a first down opportunity inside the Pioneers ten yard line. The UC defense stood strong, holding off two carries, and then forcing two incomplete passes by Emmons inside one minute to play to force a turnover on downs while securing the key Empire 8 Conference victory.
UC's James Lenahan (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) picked off his second pass of the season in the first half and he now has 13 for his career. Lenahan needs five more interceptions this season to tie the school-record. Frank DeNome (New Windsor, NY/Cornwall) added seven stops and one fumble recovery, while Nick Woodman (Utica, NY/Proctor) made six stops and a sack and he now has a team-best 2.5 sacks this season.
Utica has now won three straight against the Bobcats and the Pioneers own a 3-1 all-time series advantage.
UC's Jerred Beniquez (Port Ewen, NY/Kingston) posted a 64-yard kick return after Frostburg connected on its first field goal of the day in the first quarter. The big kick return set up the Evans' 23-yard touchdown run to put the Pioneers on top 13-6 as the first quarter horn sounded. Evans finished the day with 29 yards on six carries. He now has four scores this season (three rushing, one punt return).
UC's Anthony Acevedo (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) finished the day with three catches and he needs just three more receptions to break former All-American Jeremey Meier's school-record for career receptions (188).
The Pioneers return to action back at home on Saturday when they host Brockport in Empire 8 play on Adirondack Bank night at UC. The contest is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. and it will mark the first match-up between Utica and Brockport in program-history.