Pioneers Fall Just Short at Rochester

Alfred State and Rochester battled to the final seconds on Saturday. The Yellowjackets scored what would be the game winning touchdown with 2:03 remaining and sealed the game with an interception in their own territory with 22 seconds remaining to earn the hard fought 28-27 victory.

Rochester took the opening kickoff and jumped out to a 7-0 lead when Will Varney capped a 76-yard drive with a four yard run.  Alfred State answered back with an 11-play drive that was slowed down deep in Rochester territory. The Pioneers cut the lead to 7-3 when Dawson Fontaine (Bensalem, PA) connected on a 21-yard field goal.

After Rochester intercepted a pass they scored just ten seconds into the 2nd quarter when Sean Casey connected with Liam McManus on a 5-yard pass play to make it 14-3. Fontaine cut it 14-6 when he capped a 19-play drive that took over ten minutes with his second 21-yard field goal. Jeremiah Nixon (Staten Island/Curtis) forced a fumble and recovered it with 2:07 left in the half to give the Pioneers one last scoring opportunity in the 1st half. They were able to make it 14-13 when Jake Palmer (Albany/Voorheesville) scored from two yards out to make 14-13 with just 19 seconds left.

Sean Casey rushed in from five yards out with 1:46 left in the 3rd quarter to give the Yellowjackets the 21-13 lead. Alfred State would score on back to back possessions to take their first lead of the game. On the third play of the 4th quarter, Aaron Jenkins (Canfield, OH) connected with Shy'rel Broadwater (Syracuse/Cicero North Syracuse) on a 25-yard pass play. The two point conversion was not successful. After Joseph Alvarado (Queens/John Adams) forced a fumble recovered by Dakotah Mathis (Farmingdale), Jenkins and Broadwater connected again to give the Pioneers the lead. The 53-yard pass play followed by a two-point conversion run by Jenkins made it 27-21 with 12:16 left in the game.

The Pioneer defense came up with a big 4th down stop on Rochester's next possession but the offense was unable to add to lead. The Yellowjackets got the ball back with 8:37 remaining and put together a 15-play drive that was capped off by a one yard touchdown run by Varney to tie the game up with 2:03 remaining. The extra point by Shane Bombace was good to give U of R the one-point advantage.

Alfred State's offense had one more opportunity. After a sack on 1st down, they were able to pick up a 1st down to move the sticks but two plays later Jack Yensel was able to intercept a pass with 22 seconds remaining to seal the victory.

Jenkins finished 19 for 31 for 324 yards and two scores. Broadwater caught nine passes for 247 yards and two scores. Palmer rushed the ball 19 time for 62 yards.

Daniel Papantonis carried the ball 24 times for 143 yards while Varney finished with 94 yards on 12 carries. Casey was 12 for 16 for 108 yards.

Nixon led the Pioneer defense with 12 tackles, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Rylie Van Fleet (Main Endwell), Joel Smith (Livonia), and Nuhsar Mike (Syracuse/Leadership Academy) all were credited with seven tackles.

Braydon Bush led Rochester with 12 tackles while Caden Cole had 10 tackles.

The Pioneers out-gained the Yellowjackets 429 to 347. They were 9 for 15 on 3rd downs and held Rochester to 2 for 6. Both teams turned the ball over twice and Alfred State won the time of possession battle (34:53).

Alfred State returns to Pioneer Stadium next Saturday for a Noon kickoff with the University of New England.