Pioneers and Nor'easters Battle to Final Seconds

Alfred State and the University of New England battled back and forth until the final seconds of their non-conference match-up on Saturday afternoon. The Nor'easters were able to keep the Pioneers off the board in the final seconds to hold on for a 20-17 victory.

The Nor'easters got on the board on their opening drive when Matthew Hankins connected with Jack Mahoney on a 35-yard pass play 2:57 into the game. UNE made a defensive stop and drove 70-yards to make it 13-0 when Connor Sirois connected with Mikey Brennan on a 31-yard pass play. The two-point conversion failed.

The Pioneers bounced right back and drove 62-yards on 12-plays on their next possession to get on the board. Aaron Jenkins (Canfield, OH) rushed in from five yards out to make it 13-7. Late in the 2nd quarter, the Pioneers got the ball back and quickly went 65-yards (1:52) to score again right before halftime. Jenkins capped that drive off with a 2-yard rush and a Dawson Fontaine (Bensalem, PA) extra point sent the Pioneers into half with a 14-13 advantage.

Fontaine added to the Alfred State lead on the team's second possession of the 2nd half when he connected on a 22-yard field goal. 

UNE (2-1) answered right back and drove 64-yards on their next possession to take back the lead. Mahoney rushed in from two-yards out to make it 20-17 after the extra point.

Neither team would score the rest of the way but both teams had chances. The Nor'easters drove into the Alfred State red zone with just over six minutes left but the Pioneer defense held strong and a field goal attempt was missed.

The Pioneers final possession of the game was a roller coaster of emotions. The Pioneers drove into the Nor'easters red zone but a penalty and a sack forced them to try to convert a 4th and 26 from the UNE 31. A heave into the end zone fell incomplete but Alfred State got a second chance when a penalty gave them a 1st down. The Pioneers couldn't get any closer than the UNE 16 and tried a field goal from 33 yards out to tie it with 28 seconds left but the kick sailed wide.

Jenkins finished 16 for 34 for 192 yards and accounted for 31 yards rushing and two scores. Jake Palmer (Albany/Voorheesville) rushed 19 times for 84 yards. Ben Ba (Harlem/Park East) caught seven passes for 69 yards.

Harkins finished 7 for 10 for 114 yards and a score while Sirois was 6 for 11 for 72 yards and a score. Jack Mahoney led the rushing attack with 85 yards on 14 carries.

Joel Smith (Livonia) and Silas Egenlauf (Spencerport) led the Pioneer defense with nine tackles. Smith had a sack and Eglenlauf intercepted a pass. Josh Borowicz (Highland Falls/James O'Neill) had two sacks.

Kyle Messenger and Nick Lombard each had nine tackles for UNE. 

The University of New England out-gained Alfred State 358 to 307. Eight Pioneer penalties for 79 yards were costly compared to four penalties (51 yards) for UNE

The Pioneers play their final non-conference game next Saturday when they travel to Defiance (OH) for a Noon kickoff.