Pioneers Rally Falls Short

The Alfred State football team could not overcome a slow start in a 35-20 loss at Castleton State. The Pioneers trailed 35-6 at a time but rallied to within two possessions but could not get any closer.

Castleton put together three scoring drives in the 1st quarter to jump out to a 21-0 lead. George Busharis connected with Soren Pelz-Walsh on a 21-yard pass play and a 69-yard pass play while Moe Harris ran in from 5-yards out.

Ben Wilkerson (Buffalo/Fayette-Ware) hit Dante Jordan (New York/Law & Public Service) on a 9-yard pass play to get the Pioneers on the board with 14:11 left in the 2nd quarter. The Pioneers got the ball back right away after recovering an on-side kick. The team drove to inside the Spartans 10-yard line but was unable to get points. 

In the closing minutes of the 1st half, Castleton put together a 65-yard drive capped by a TD pass by Busharis to Jordan Goodrich with 36 remaining to make it 28-6 at halftime.

Busharis and Pelz-Walsh connected on a 51-yard scoring play just over four minutes into the 3rd quarter to give Castleton their largest lead.

The Pioneers started their comeback with 30 seconds remaining in the 3rd when Wilkerson connected with Khris Greggs (Rochester/Aquinas) on a 80-yard scoring play. After a Donnell Scott (Brooklyn/Grand Street Campus) interception that stopped the Spartans next drive, Wilkerson connected with Erik Simmons (Elmira Free) on a 18-yard pass play. 

Alfred State had two more possessions but could not get back on the board.

Busharis finished 18 for 20 for 239 yards and four scores, Pelz-Walsh had seven catches for 180 yards and three scores, and Harris rushed for 101 yards on 19 carries.

Wilkerson finished 23 for 42 for 306 yards and three scores. Greggs had six catches for 123 yards and a score while Josh Ashley (Brooklyn/Grand Street) caught nine passes for 111.

Leo Audy and Darren Callan had 10 tackles to lead Castleton. Derek McAdoo and Nick Romeo each had interceptions.

Kenneth Nelson (Oakland, CA) led the Pioneers defense with 12 tackles while John Garbowski (Mohegan Lake/Lakeland) recorded 11 and forced a fumble. Scott returned the lone interception 57 yards.

The Pioneers offense collected a season high 340 yards and 20 first downs.

Alfred State travels to Brockport next week for a 4 p.m. kickoff with the Eagles.