Pioneers Lose Heartbreaker in OT

Joe Seccareccia scored overtime to lift Husson to a 34-28 come from behind victory over Alfred State on Saturday afternoon. The Pioneers put together two scoring drives in the 4th to grab a 28-21 lead but the Hawks scored in the closing minutes and held the blue & gold on their possession in OT to set up the winning drive.

Kyle McKinnon accounted for the lone points of the 1st quarter when he ran in from 10-yards out to give Husson a 7-0 lead.

Alfred St. tied it up on the first play of the 2nd quarter when Ben Wilkerson (Buffalo/Fayette-Ware) connected with Erik Simmons (Elmira Free) on a nine-yard scoring pass. The PAT attempt was blocked.

Seccareccia connected on a 32-yard pass play to Deon Wiggins with 6:50 remaining in the half but Rasheed Williams (Swedesboro, NJ) answered right back 21 seconds later when he raced in from 75-yards to send the game into halftime 14-13.

Husson added to their lead with 1:49 remaining in the 3rd quarter when Seccareccia connected with Ryan Stroud on a 22-yard scoring play to cap a eight-play 72-yard drive.

Alfred State would gain the momentum with two consecutive scoring drives. Wilkerson and Simmons connected on a 13-yard scoring play with 14:00 left to make it 21-19. The same two connected on the 2-point conversion to knot the game up at 21-21.

After a Husson punt, Wilkerson found Simmons for the 3rd time in the contest and 5th time this season for a 35-yard scoring pass play to give the Pioneers their first lead of the game, 28-21.

The Hawks then took their next possession 62-yards on 11-plays to tie the game up. Logan Steward capped the drive with a 5-yard run.

Alfred State drove the ball to the Husson 24 in the final seconds but a game-winning field goal attempt went just wide left to force overtime.

The Pioneers had the ball first in OT but turned the ball over on the first play. Husson needed five plays to drive down the field in their possession to earn the victory capped by Seccareccia's 2-yard rush.

Williams had another monster game for the Pioneers. He finished with 234 yards rushing on 27 carries. He now has 519 yards on 77 carries in the blue & gold's first three games.

Wilkerson was 14 for 26 for 175 yards and three scores, Simmons had five catches for 69 yards and three scores, and Josh Ashley (Brooklyn/Grand Street Campus) had four catches for 66 yards.

Seccareccia finished the day 24 for 35 for 251 yards and two scores. Wiggins caught eight passes for 99 yards while Stroud had eight catches for 81 yards. McKinnon rushed for 50 yards on 14 carries.

Keegan Phalen (East Aurora) and Nick DePofi (Union Endicott) both finished with eight tackles for the Pioneers. Alex Richardson (West Irondequoit) added seven.

Stephan Dance led Husson with 11 tackles and came up with the big interception in OT.

Husson (1-1) gained 408 yards of offense compared to Alfred State's 403. The Hawks were a +2 in the turnover battle.

Alfred State (0-3) begins a four-game home stand next Saturday when they host Castleton State. Kickoff for the Homecoming contest is slated for 1 p.m. at Pioneer Stadium.