Pioneers Down Giants - Tied for Top Spot in ECFC

The Alfred State football team evened their record and moved into a four-way tie in the ECFC standings with a 38-7 victory over Keystone on Saturday afternoon. The Pioneers are now 4-4 on the year and 3-1 in ECFC play.

Joseph Alvarado (Queens) got the Pioneers on the board with 57 seconds remaining in the 1st quarter when he intercepted a Giants pass and returned it 79-yards for a score. The play was the first defensive touchdown of the season for the Pioneers. A pair of rushing touchdowns late in the 2nd quarter by Aaron Jenkins (Canfield, OH) gave ASC a 21-0 lead at half. His first scoring run, eight yards, capped a 13-play drive and his second TD run, a 19-yard play, capped a 78-play drive that took only 39 seconds.

Dawson Fontaine (Bensalem, PA) connected on a 20-yard field goal with 2:35 left in the 3rd quarter and Jenkins made it 31-0 early in the 4th with his third rushing touchdown. His 13-yard run capped an 83-yard drive.

The Giants broke the shutout with 4:51 left in the game when Kevin Lewis rushed in from one-yard out but Jason Salcedo (Staten Island) answered right back in three minutes later with a three-yard rushing touchdown to cap the scoring.

Jenkins finished with 122 yards rushing (three TD's) on 13 carries and was 8 for 12 for 126 yards passing on the day. Dylan Banks (Baldwinsville) carried the ball 10 times for 54 yards while Ben Ba (Harlem/Park East) caught four passes for 51 yards.

Nuhsar Mike (Syracuse/Leadership Academy) led the defense with 11 tackles (two for a loss). Rylie Van Fleet (Endwell) and Te'Hari Campbell each had seven tackles. Alvarado had five tackles to go along with his 79-yard interception return for a score.

Mujaheed Muhammad led the Giants (0-9) with 59 yards rushing on 16 carries while Frankie Vega led the defense with six tackles.

Alfred State outgained Keystone 395 to 250. 269 of those yards were on the ground for the Pioneers.

After the action on Saturday, Alfred State is now tied with Anna Maria, Castleton, and Gallaudet on top of the ECFC standings. Castleton defeated previously unbeaten Anna Maria 38-31 today. 

The Pioneers host Castleton next weekend in a key ECFC battle. The final home game of the season kicks off at Pioneer Stadium at Noon.