Game #8: Alfred University (5-2, 2-1 Empire 8) vs Utica Pioneers (3-4, 1-3 Empire 8)
Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019; 1 p.m.
(Yunevich Stadium at Merrill Field, Alfred, NY)
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The Matchup: Alfred looks to close out the home portion of the regular season, hosting Utica Saturday at Yunevich Stadium. Alfred is 5-2 overall and is in third place in the Empire 8 standings with a 2-1 record. Utica is 3-4 overall and has lost its last two games to sit at 1-3 in conference action. Alfred comes off a 34-7 victory over Hartwick last Saturday, while Utica comes into town after a 41-14 loss at Brockport.
Series History
This is the 19th meeting all-time between Empire 8 foes Alfred and Utica, with the Saxons holding a 15-3 advantage.
The series began in 2001 in Utica's inaugural season, a 47-22 road victory by the Saxons. The teams have played every year since, with AU winning the first 11 contests before Utica won at home in 2012. The Pioneers also earned home wins in 2014 and last season.
Last Time We Met
In last season's contest, Utica opened up a 13-0 lead, before Alfred answered back with a Ben Burk 50-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Bragaglia and a 45-yard strike to Keandre Sanders at the beginning of the second quarter. Ben Sennett's 27-yard field goal gave the Saxons a 16-13 lead at the half. Utica responded with a touchdown run to take a 20-16 lead, before Sennett kicked his second field goal of the day, reducing the deficit to one, at 20-19.
The Alfred defense stepped up, as Jeremy Turene picked off a Logan Wilcox pass at the goal line, giving the ball to the Saxons with 6:57 left. AU could not take advantage, as the Utica defense forced a fumble and ran the other way for a touchdown, eventually sealing a 30-22 decision.
Senior Day
Alfred honors its 2020 senior class on Saturday. The group combines for a 32-10 overall record, which includes an undefeated regular season, an Empire 8 Championship, and a trip to the NCAA Elite 8, all as rookies in 2016. The seniors honored this weekend are John McDonald Horner, Ruggiany Georges, Jeremy Turenne, Casey Boston, Leo Pamphile, Ben Burk, Aaron Griffin, Caleb Rinko, Nick Milgate, Austin Walden, Taylor McCredie, Henry Chau, James Lucadamo, Russ Kohler, Wes Senn, Pat Hannon, Robert LoSordo, Spencer Wickert, EJ Staniszewski, and Justin Mosely.
Hall of Fame Weekend
Saturday's contest is also part of the Alfred University Athletics Hall of Fame Weekend. More than 40 former Hall of Famers have returned to AU to honor the class of 2019. Members of the 2019 Hall of Fame class who will inducted during an on-campus ceremony from 6-8:30 p.m. Saturday in the Knight Club and Nevins Theater, Powell Campus Center, are: twin brothers Matt and Mark Baker '09 (swimming and diving), Katie Calfee '08 (women's tennis), the late Tim Jaenecke '84 (swimming and diving) and Paul Keeley '08, M.S. '13 (football).
This year, the University added two new honors to the Hall of Fame ceremonies: Silver Saxon inductee and the Distinguished Saxon Alumni Award. Honorees for those awards are, respectively, are John Henderson '76 (football) and Dr. Kathleen Richardson '82, M.S. '88, Ph.D. '92 (volleyball).
The Class of 2019 and all previous inductees to the Saxon Hall of Fame will be honored at halftime of the AU football game vs. Utica on Saturday. This is the first year that the Hall of Fame festivities are on its own weekend. Previously, the Hall of Fame ceremony coincided with Homecoming.
A Look at the Saxons
Alfred bounced back after a loss at Cortland, defeating Hartwick to stay alive in the Empire 8 race. The 5-2 Saxons have received votes in five of the eight regular season D3football.com Top 25 polls, and have started 5-2 or better in four of the last five seasons.
Alfred's Record After Seven Games, Last Five Seasons
2019: 5-2
2018: 4-3
2017: 5-2
2016: 7-0
2015: 5-2
Statistically, AU averages 29.3 points per contest, holding teams to 16.1 points per game, good for second in the conference. Defensively, the team leads the Empire 8 in sacks (22) and are second in rushing yards allowed (62.6 yards allowed per game), passing yards allowed (175.9 per game), and total yardage allowed (238.4 yards allowed per game). Offensively, the Saxons lead the league in rushing (273.7 yards per game) and third down conversion percentage (51.2 percent). They are second in first downs (22.0 per game) and time of possession (33.15 minutes per game).
Casey Boston leads the offense with 728 yards, completing 54.2 percent (64-of-118) of his passes. He has six touchdowns through the air, adding 168 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Aaron Griffin leads the league in rushing with 977 yards on 151 touches (6.5 yards per carry) and nine touchdowns. Kevin Bragaglia adds 271 yards on 53 carries and three touchdowns, and Will Coats contributes 197 yards on 27 carries (7.3 yards per carry) and two touchdowns. In the air, A.O. Othman has a team-leading 216 yards, on 15 receptions and three touchdowns. Steven Moretti-Ransom leads the team with 21 receptions, contributing 119 yards. Zach Leinenbach (12 receptions, 195 yards) and Griffin (11 receptions, 69 yards) are the other receivers with double-digit receptions. Defensively, Nick Milgate is 18th nationally with 79 tackles, adding three forced fumbles and four sacks. Milgate is also ninth nationally with 2.0 tackles for loss per game. Leo Pamphile leads the team with 6.5 sacks. Sean Cameron, Ryan Elliott, and James Jones III have all recorded interceptions for the Saxons.
Last Time Out for the Saxons
The Saxons bounced back last Saturday, getting back into the win column thanks to a 34-7 home victory over Hartwick. AU is a perfect 4-0 at home this season. Aaron Griffin got the party started with a 20-yard touchdown run, then Ben Burk found Keandre Sanders for an 83-yard touchdown pass to take a 13-0 lead. A nifty onside kick by Kieran Horton set up Alfred's next score, a 13-yard run by A.O. Othman off a jet sweep. Late in the second quarter, with Hartwick lining up for a 21-yard field goal, James Jones III blocked the try, as Ryan Elliott raced 91 yards the other way for a score. Midway through the third quarter, the Saxons finished the scoring with a scintillating 53-yard touchdown run by Griffin, his second of the day.
AU outgained Hartwick by a 396-282 margin. Casey Boston completed 6-of-12 passes for 95 yards, while Burk threw a passing touchdown, going 3-for-6. Griffin tallied 119 yards on 18 carries, his fourth consecutive 100-yard rushing game. Defensively, Nick Milgate earned D3football.com Team of the Week honors after tallying 15 tackles, two for loss, adding a sack and a forced fumble. Jones III earned Empire 8 Special Teamer of the Week after his blocked kick. He added four tackles and an interception.
A Look at the Pioneers
Utica enters this weekend with a 3-4 overall record and a 1-3 mark in Empire 8 contests. The Pioneers have lost the last two games and are 1-4 after a strong 2-0 start with victories over Liberty League opponents St. Lawrence and Buffalo State.
Statistically, the Pioneers average 30.0 points per game offensively, but give up 33.0 points on the other end. Utica's offensive line is strong, giving up just six sacks all year, good for second in the conference. On the defensive end, the Pioneers are third with 20 sacks. The team is second in penalty yardage per game (45.0) and are last in time of possession (27:16 minutes per game).
Individually, Logan Wilcox leads the team in passing with 1,539 yards. He sports a 49.1 completion percentage (110-for-224) and has 14 touchdowns to 10 interceptions. His main target is Peyton Miller, who has 40 receptions for 512 yards and seven touchdowns. Keegan Wright is next with 21 receptions for 357 yards and two touchdowns. On the ground, Jamarious Morgan leads the team with 479 yards rushing on 78 carries, scoring five touchdowns. Brad Dougherty has the same amount of carries as Morgan (78), rushing for 269 yards and three touchdowns. Defensively, Kwasi Addo has a team-leading 67 tackles, adding two sacks, an interception, and a fumble recovery. Antonio Scala and Robbie Schempp each lead the team with three sacks. Elijah Belle has a team-leading three interceptions. On the special teams' front, Maki Medici leads the Empire 8 with 10 made field goals.
Last Time Out for the Pioneers
The Pioneers were within thirteen points of defending Empire 8 Champion Brockport in the fourth quarter, but the Golden Eagles pulled away late to a 41-14 win in Brockport. The Pioneers became the first Empire 8 team to score points on the Golden Eagles this season and are just the third team in eight weeks to score more than six points against a highly touted defense that is ranked first in all of college football against the run entering Saturday's game.
The Pioneers employed two quarterbacks with Ryan Vangalen going for 113 passing yards and a touchdown in the first half. Logan Wilcox played the second half and was 9-of-17 for 81 yards and a touchdown. Keegan Wright had three catches for a team-leading 72 yards, and Peyton Miller snagged five passes for just over 50 yards. Both players had a receiving touchdown. Kwasi Addo made fourteen tackles to lead the defense, and Antonio Scala had twelve tackles. Both players recorded a season high for tackles in the game. The Pioneers totaled 202 yards of offense while holding Brockport to 387.
Party At "The Pit"
The Saxons will look to finish perfect at Yunevich Stadium this season. AU is undefeated at home with a 4-0 record and will look for its first undefeated regular season since 2016. Alfred sports a 23-5 record at home since the start of the 2015 season and won 12 consecutive regular season home contests between the 2015-2017 seasons.
The Griffin Train Rolls On
- Aaron Griffin is among the nation's best running backs, rushing for 977 yards in seven games this season
- Griffin is seventh nationally in rushing yards and seventh with 139.6 rushing yards per game
- Griffin is also 21th nationally with 6.47 rush yards per carry and 19th in rushing touchdowns (nine)
- Griffin tallied a career-high 229 yards vs. Rochester on Sept. 28 - the sixth-highest individual rushing total in AU history
- Named to the D3football.com Team of the Week on Oct. 1 and the Empire 8 Co-Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 30
- Griffin has rushed for 90+ yards in each of the last six contests (91 vs. George Fox, 97 at Ithaca, 229 vs. Rochester, 179 vs. Morrisville, 201 at Cortland, 119 vs. Hartwick)
Dominating The Trenches
- Griffin's production is due in part to a strong offensive line unit, headlined by starters Robert Felder Jr., Patrick Hannon, Wes Senn, Robert LoSordo, and Ethan Stewart
- Casey Boston, Kevin Bragaglia, and Will Coats have also benefited from strong run blocking. Boston has rushed for 168 yards on 41 attempts (4.1 average), Bragaglia is second on the team in rushing with 271 yards on 53 carries (5.0 average), and Coats is third with 197 yards on just 27 attempts (7.3 average)
- Alfred leads the Empire 8 in rushing yards (1,916 yards, 273.7 yards per game, 5.9 yards per carry)
- The Saxons rank 11th nationally in rushing yards per game, and 16th in time of possession (33:33 minutes)
- AU is also on pace to break the school record for rushing yards per game in a season (1989 team rushed for 247.1 yards per game)
- AU has given up just seven sacks all season, third in the Empire 8
Sack-son Party
- Alfred leads the Empire 8 with 22 sacks
-Leo Pamphile leads the team with 6.5 sacks, followed by Nick Milgate with four, and Rodney Bailey with three
-10 Saxons have recorded at least a sack
Milgate Takes Over in the #32
- Senior linebacker Nick Milgate was hand-selected by the AU coaching staff to wear the #32 at AU in 2019 in honor of NYS Trooper Nicholas F. Clark '11, who was tragically killed in the line of duty in the summer of 2018
- Milgate has 187 tackles and eight interceptions in his career entering the 2019 season
- He is a health & fitness management major
- Named a team captain for the 2019 season
- Native of Hilton, NY where he attended Hilton High School
- Named Empire 8 All-Conference Honorable Mention in 2017 and 2018
-Milgate currently leads the team with 79 tackles and three forced fumbles
-Milgate was honored by D3Football.com on Sept. 17 and Oct. 26, named to its Team of the Week
-Milgate also earned Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Week honors on Oct. 21
Alfred in the NCAA National Rankings
- Rushing Yards Per Game Aaron Griffin 7th (139.6)
- Rushing Yards Aaron Griffin 7th (977)
- Rush Yards Per Carry Aaron Griffin 21st (6.47 yards per carry)
- Rushing Touchdowns Aaron Griffin 19th (9)
- All Purpose Yards Per Game Aaron Griffin 28th (149.4)
- Sacks Per Game Leo Pamphile 11th (1.30)
- Tackles for Loss Per Game Nick Milgate 9th (2.0)
- Tackles Per Game Nick Milgate 18th (11.1)
- Third Down Conversion Percentage Team 22nd (.506)
- Rushing Offense Per Game Team 11th (273.7 yards)
- Rushing Defense Per Game Team 6th (62.9 yards per game allowed)
- Sacks Per Game Team 28th (3.14)
- Total Defense Team 7th (240.6 yards per game allowed)
The Saxons Offensive Ranking in the Empire 8
- Completion Percentage Casey Boston 4th (.542)
- Rushing Yards Per Game Aaron Griffin 1st (139.6)
- Rushing Yards Aaron Griffin 1st (977)
- Rush Yards Per Carry Aaron Griffin 1st (6.47 yards per carry)
- Rushing Touchdowns Aaron Griffin 3rd (9)
Casey Boston 8th (4)
The Saxons Defensive Ranking in the Empire 8
- Sacks per Game Leo Pamphile 1st (1.08)
Nick Milgate 5th (0.57)
- Solo Tackles Per Game Nick Milgate 1st (5.6)
Raeqwon Greer 2nd (5.3)
- Tackles for Loss Per Game Nick Milgate 2nd (2.0)
Leo Pamphile 4th (1.4)
- Total Tackles Per Game Nick Milgate 1st (11.1)
- Passes Defended Per Game Ryan Elliott 7th (1.0)
The Saxon Special Teams Ranking in the Empire 8
- Field Goals Made Dustin McCaslin 5th (2)
- Punt Return Average Kevin Bragaglia 4th (6.6 yards per return)
AU Empire 8 Athletes of the Week honorees
•The Saxons have played seven games in 2019 and have placed a student-athlete on the Empire 8 Athlete of the Week slate in four of those weeks:
-Week One Leo Pamphile (Defensive: 10 tackles; 5 TFL; 4 sacks)
-Week Four Aaron Griffin (Offensive: 229 rushing yards; 3 rushing TDs)
-Week Seven Nick Milgate (Defensive: 11 tackles, 2.5 for loss, 1 Pass Breakup)
-Week Eight James Jones III (Special Teams: 1 blocked kick, 1 interception, 4 tackles)
AU D3Football.com Team of the Week honorees
•The Saxons have played seven games in 2019 and have placed a student-athlete on the D3Football.com Team of the Week on four occasions:
-Week Two Nick Milgate (13 tackles; 6.0 TFL; 2.0 sacks)
-Week Four Aaron Griffin (229 rushing yards; 3 rushing TDs)
-Week Six Raeqwon Greer (12 tackles; 9 solo; 1.5 TFL)
-Week Eight Nick Milgate (15 tackles, 6 solo, 2 for loss, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble)