Pioneers Rush Past the Giants

The Alfred State football team rushed for 388 yards as they defeated Keystone 34-13 in their final non-conference game of the season. The Pioneers head into ECFC play with a 2-3 overall record.

The Giants got on the board on their first possession when Thomas Roach connected with Angel Rodriguez on a six-yard pass play. The Pioneers answered back with a drive of their own to take the lead for good and start a stretch of 34 unanswered points. Dashown Wilson (Bronx/DeWitt Clinton) capped the eight-play drive when he connected with David Carroll (Mastic/Center Moriches) on a six-yard pass play.

After forcing a three and out, Wilson capped an 11-play drive with a two-yard run in the final minute of the 1st quarter. Neither team put any points on the board in the 2nd quarter as the Pioneers went into halftime with a 13-6 advantage.

Wilson scored his second of three rushing touchdowns on the day on the first drive of the 2nd half. He capped another 11-play drive with a one-yard run to make it 20-6. On the first play of the 4th quarter, Wilson hit Andrew Thomas (Bronx/Erasmus Hall) with a 21-yard pass to add to the lead. Wilson put the game out of reach and eclipsed the 200 yard rushing mark on the day with 7:07 remaining when he scored from 13-yards out with 7:07 left in the game.

Johnathan Bates connected with Evan Caro on a two-yard touchdown with 2:23 left to cap the scoring.

Wilson carried the ball 33 times for 211 yards and three scores. He also was 12 for 23 for 143 yards and two scores passing. Thomas led the receivers with seven catches for 92 yards and a score while Jake Palmer (Albany/Voorheesville) rushed for 85 yards on nine carries.

Elijah Rimpel (Queens/Bayside) led the defense with five tackles while Rylie Van Fleet (Maine Endwell) finished with four solo tackles and three pass break-ups. Brockton Weist (Harpursville) had four tackles and forced a fumble inside the Pioneer redzone that was recovered by Kahmani McLeod (Bronx/St. Raymond's) in the 2nd quarter when the game was 13-6.

Alfred State finished with 531 yards, 34 1st downs, and had possession of the ball for 39:45 of the contest. The team was also 11 of 14 on 3rd down conversions.

The Pioneers begin ECFC play next Saturday when they host Anna Maria. Opening kickoff of the Homecoming 2019 contest is slated for Noon.