ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College football team gave No. 21 Alfred University all it could handle in the 2017 season opener for both programs at Butterfield Stadium on Saturday, but the Saxons were able to battle back and hold on to win a 20-17 non-conference contest. With the loss, Ithaca starts a season 0-1 for the first time in 20 years.
Alfred received the opening kick-off of the game and marched 69 yards on nine plays, which was capped off by a two-yard run by Maleke Fuentes after 5:10 elapsed off the clock. The Saxons moved deep into Ithaca territory with a 39-yard completion from Bryce Morrison to Kenny Speed on a 3rd and 5 to set up the score five plays later.
The Bombers moved the ball with ease on their initial possession of the season and got things going on a wide receiver pass by sophomore Will Gladney to sophomore Zach Raymond that went for 25 yards. Alfred committed an unsportsmanlike conduct foul on the play to move Ithaca into Alfred territory at the 38. Three plays later, senior Adam Fron found Gladney for a 12-yard gain down to the Alfred 20. A pair of pre-snap penalties hurt the Bombers, and after a 10-yard catch by Gladney, senior JR Zazzara came down with a potential touchdown grab, but was ruled out of bounds. Ithaca's drive ended on a missed 38-yard field goal attempt.
The Saxons took over midway through the quarter and once again moved to Ithaca's end of the field after converting a fourth down play, but would turn the ball over on downs at the Bomber 37-yard line.
As the first quarter came to an end, Ithaca had the ball around midfield, but punted two plays into the second period. Junior Pat Minogue pinned Alfred back to its own 9-yard line on a 38-yard punt.
The Saxons went three-and-out and Ithaca regained possession at its own 36 after a penalty on the punt.
Facing a 3rd and 15 at the 31, Fron connected with Gladney for a 35-yard completion to flip the field. After a first down, Fron and Gladney hooked up again for a 21-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7-7 with 10:20 remaining in the half. The scoring drive lasted 11 plays and covered 64 yards.
Alfred once again went three-and-out on its next drive, which ended on an eight-yard sack by senior Jordan Schemm with 8:40 to go.
IC wasted no time to take a 14-7 lead as Fron scampered 52 yards on a 3rd and 7 on a quarterback draw. He would finish the game with 95 yards rushing on 20 carries, to go along with 156 through the air on 13-for-29.
The Saxons started with great field position on their next drive, as they took over at their own 48 after Ithaca's kick-off. Alfred was up against another third-and-long situation, but Morrison hit Jayden Gavidia for a 34-yard strike down to the Ithaca 17 with just over three minutes left in the half. After a botched snap that resulted in a no gain, Morrison found Christopher Harders for an incredible grab in the end zone with 2:58 left. The ensuing extra point was missed to keep Ithaca in front, 14-13.
After trading punts, a 20-yard return by Schemm placed Ithaca in plus territory with 44 seconds left in the half. Ithaca quickly got into scoring range with a 27-yard completion from Fron to Gladney, and three plays later, junior David Prudhomme drilled a 37-yard field goal to put Ithaca up, 17-13, heading into halftime.
Gladney finished the first half with nine catches for 132 yards and a touchdown.
It was a defensive battle for a majority of the second half.
Ithaca started with the ball and moved up to midfield before the drive stalled. Minogue boomed a career-long 52-yard punt to end the possession, but the ball rolled into the end zone for a touchback.
After punts by both teams, Alfred took over at its own 30 with 7:41 on the clock in the third. The Saxons reached Ithaca territory after an 18-yard pass play to mark the ball at the Bombers 37, and then a 12-yard run moved Alfred to the 25. On 2nd and 10, Alfred tossed an incomplete pass, but Ithaca was called for a roughing the passer. The Saxons were unable to find the end zone and settled for a 27-yard field goal try, but missed to keep the score in favor of Ithaca, 17-13.
Ithaca took over at the 20 and ran out the remaining time in the third after a fourth down conversion by Fron at the Bombers 44-yard line. The Bombers had to punt three plays later and gave the ball back to Alfred at the 22-yard line with 13:26 left in the game.
On the ensuing drive, the Saxons converted a 3rd and 7 on a pass interference call that gave Alfred a fresh set of downs at the IC 38. Alfred would be called for a holding on the next play, and were later forced with a 4th and 5 at the Ithaca 33. Morrison kept the drive alive with an 8-yard completion to Gavidia.
A 7-yard Morrison run two plays later set Alfred up with a 3rd and 1 at the 16, but a delay of game was whistled. Now at 3rd and 6, Morrison found Rodney Etienne for an 11-yard connection, but it was brought back on an illegal man down field. On the next snap, Morrison scrambled and hit Gavidia for a leaping 26-yard grab in the end zone for the eventual winning touchdown with 7:51 to play.
Ithaca attempted its comeback from the 20 and moved up to midfield five plays later. A 5-yard rush by sophomore Isaiah D'Haiti moved the Bombers across the 50, but Fron was then taken down two plays later in the backfield to set up a 4th and 10. The senior signal caller faced intense pressure on fourth down and scrambled back nearly 20 yards before finding some space and heaved a pass towards Zazzara, who came down with the grab around Alfred's 30, but was ruled out of bounds and the Bombers turned the ball over.
Alfred would then turn the ball over on down deep in Ithaca (27-yard line) territory with under a minute to play in regulation. IC took over with 45 seconds left, but its first down play was intercepted by the Saxons to end the game.
Ithaca finished the game with 307 yards of offense, while Alfred racked up 347 – 239 passing and 108 rushing. The Saxons also held a slim edge in first downs, 17-15, and won time of possession, 35:14 to 24:46. Both teams were 7-for-17 on third down conversions.
Gladney caught one more pass in the second half to give him 147 yards on the day, while D'Haiti rushed for 22 yards on eight carries.
Defensively, Minogue led the way with 10 tackles, while senior Dan Loizos added nine. Senior Kenny Bradley recorded eight stops with two pass break-ups and junior Brian Gill and sophomore John Hadac each had seven tackles.
Ithaca returns to action next Saturday, September 9 for a 1 p.m. kick-off at Brockport.