Pioneers Rush Past Maritime in ECFC Opener

Alfred State rushed for 267 yards as they opened up ECFC play with a 35-20 victory over Maritime on Saturday afternoon. The Pioneers have now won two straight and are 2-3 (1-0 ECFC) on the year.

The Pioneers sandwiched two huge drives around halftime to take control of the contest. Maritime tied the game at 14-14 with 51 seconds left in the 2nd quarter but Alfred State would only need three plays and 29 seconds to take back the lead. After the kickoff, Aaron Jenkins (Canfield, OH) registered a 23-yard rush, found Shy'rel Broadwater (Syracuse/Cicero North Syracuse) on a 16-yard pass play, and connected on a 23-yard touchdown pass to Ben Ba (Harlem/Park East) to make it 21-14 at halftime.

On the opening kickoff of the 2nd half, Alfred State surprised the Privateers when Dawson Fontaine (Bensalem, PA) executed a perfect on-side kick that he recovered to set up another scoring drive. Eight plays later, Jenkins connected with Broadwater on a 16-yard scoring play to make it 28-14.

Maritime's offense was held off the board the whole 2nd half but their special teams scored late in the 3rd when they recovered a botched snap on a punt to make it 28-20. On the ensuing drive, Jenkins made it a two-score game again when he outran the Privateer defense and ran in from 40-yards out to make it 35-20.

The Pioneer defense held Maritime on their next three drives to secure the victory.

Jake Palmer (Vorheesville) started the scoring when he ran in from three-yards to cap a short drive with 7:48 left in the 1st quarter. David Keogh connected with Nicholas Morman on a seven-yard pass play to tie it with just under two minutes left in the quarter.

Palmer scored his second touchdown of the game with 10:24 left in the 2nd quarter but Keogh connected with Ian Derda on a 46-yard pass play to tie it with 51 seconds left in the half. 

Jenkins finished the day with 222 yards rushing and one score on 22 carries. He also was 8 for 18 for 95 yards and two scores. Palmer rushed for 66 yards and two scores on 18 carries. Ba was the leading receiver with four catches for 51 yards.

Keogh finished 22 for 38 for 294 yards and two scores. Derda was his favorite receiver finishing with five catches for 111 yards and a score.

Brock Weist (Harpursville) was huge for the Pioneer defense. He recorded six tackles (five solo) and had three sacks. Silas Egenlauf (Spencerport) led the team with nine tackles. The Pioneer defense finished with five sacks and blocked both a field goal attempt and an extra point (Rayshawn Powell and Te'Hari Campbell).

James Varga and Frank Vano both had eight tackles for Maritime. 

Alfred State out-gained Maritime (1-4, 1-1 ECFC) 362 to 319. The Pioneers held the Privateers to 5 for 15 on 3rd down and 1 for 5 on 4th down. Maritime scored on only one of their four trips in the red zone while ASC scored touchdowns on all three of their trips.

The Pioneers are back home next weekend when they host Anna Maria in a Homecoming battle.