Pioneers Sting Defiance with TD in Final Seconds

Jake Palmer (Albany/Voorheesville) scored from two yards out with 15 seconds remaining to lift Alfred State to a 35-28 victory at Defiance College on Saturday afternoon.

The Yellow Jackets got on the board on the first play of the game when Michael Martin took the opening kickoff 92-yards to give Defiance the 7-0 lead.

With just over two minutes left in the 1st quarter, Rylie Van Fleet (Maine Endwell) intercepted his first of three passes on the day and returned it to the Defiance 20. Five plays later Aaron Jenkins (Canfield, OH) rushed in from three yards out to tie the game.

Van Fleet picked off another pass on the next drive and set the Pioneers up at the Defiance 21 after a 32 yard return. Eight plays later on a 4th and Goal, Jenkins scored from one yard out to give ASC the 14-7 advantage.

Halfway through the 3rd quarter, Van Fleet intercepted his third pass and returned it 48 yards to set up the Pioneers on the Defiance 31. Four plays later, Alfred State made it 21-7 when Jenkins connected with Shy'rel Broadwater (Syracuse/Cicero North Syracuse) on a 23-yard scoring play on 4th and 2. Joel Smith (Livonia) picked off a pass on Defiance's next play and set up the Pioneers at the Defiance 34. Four plays later, Jenkins connected with Ben Ba (Harlem/Park East) on a 37-yard pass play on 4th and 13 to make it 28-7.

Defiance didn't go away as they put together three scoring drives and tied the game up with Cole Recker connected with Amin Shaheed on a eight-yard pass play with 3:37 remaining in the contest.

The Pioneers got the ball back and put together a nine-play game-winning drive. Palmer had a big 3rd down catch for 15 yards and Ba picked up 37-yard catch on 3rd and 11 to set up ASC at the Defiance 10 yard line. Palmer picked up eight yards on 1st down and then finished the drive and sealed the victory when he ran in untouched from two yards with 15 seconds left.

After the kickoff, Defiance had one last chance and Van Fleet forced a fumble after a lateral as time expired.

Jenkins finished 13 for 26 for 172 yards and two scores and he rushed 28 times for 94 yards and two scores. Ba was the leading receiver with four catches for 81 yards.

Recker was 22 for 44 for 215 yards and two scores. He also led the team with 45 yards rushing.

Van Fleet finished with a team high six tackles to go along with his three interceptions (101 yards of returns). Smith was credited with five tackles and had the Pioneers other pick. 

Thomas Coltrain led the Yellow Jackets (0-3) with 12 tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery. Marcell Maxwell made eight tackles.

Alfred State gained 311 yards and forced five turnovers. They also won the possession game holding the ball for nearly 37 minutes. The Pioneers were also 4 for 4 on 4th Down including three that led to touchdowns. 

The Pioneers have next weekend off. They start ECFC play on October 9th when they host Maritime at Noon.