At a glance
The Alfred State College football team enjoyed playing on campus for the first time in the program's 13-year history as the Pioneers downed Stevens Tech 21-14 in front of 1,278 fans on Saturday. The Pioneers have now won season openers six of the last seven years.
The Alfred State College football team enjoyed playing on campus for the first time in the program's 13-year history as the Pioneers downed Stevens Tech 21-14 in front of 1,278 fans on Saturday. The Pioneers have now won season openers six of the last seven years.
A-State got on the board first on their first possession of the game. Geoff Hicks (Cleveland Hill) connected with Josh Griffin (Englewood, NJ) on a 9-yard scoring strike to cap a 11-play 65-yard drive that took 6:05. The Bulldogs came right back and tied it on a 23-yard pass play from Kyle Bennett to Darron Perkins with 1:57 remaining in the first quarter.
Hicks and Griffin connected again for the only scoring in the second quarter on a 32-yard pass play with 11:55 remaining in the half. The Pioneers used just 1:18 and three plays to drive 49-yards for the score.
On the Pioneers second drive of the second half, Hicks tossed his third touchdown of the game on a play action to Preston Washburn (Dundee) for a 37-yard score to put the Blue & Gold up 21-7.
Stevens bounced right back and cut it to 21-14 when Bennett and Perkins hooked up again on a 26-yard scoring strike.
Neither team could put any points on the board the rest of the way and the Pioneer defense sealed the victory with a interception by Rodney Streater (Burlington, NJ) with 57 seconds remaining in the contest.
Hicks, making his first collegiate start at quarterback, finished 11 for 21 for 139 yards and three scores. Griffin finished with four catches, two for scores, and 78 yards receiving. DeAndre Johnson (Detroit, MI) led the rushing attack with 50 yards on 14 carries.
Bennett finished the day for Stevens 25 for 50 for 356 yards. He tossed two touchdown passes, was intercepted three times, and sacked six times. The Bulldog rushing attack was held to -9 yards on the day.
Clifton Krotz (Cattaraugus Little Valley) led the defense with seven tackles and a sack. Willie Burnett (McKinley) and Andy Eichas (Hilton) each finished with six tackles. Ike Iloegbu (Brentwood) stopped two Bulldog first half drives with big interceptions inside the Pioneers 20-yard line.
Head Coach Mick Caba was excited about the win. "We had a total team effort in today's victory. This team felt like they were playing for all the past football teams in the program's history and they thought it was their legacy to open up this new era with a victory."
Stevens (1-1) finished the game with a 347 to 259 advantage in yards gained and a 28 to 13 advantage in first downs but the Bulldogs came up empty on four scoring chances deep inside Pioneers territory (two interceptions, a missed field goal, and a botched field goal attempt.).
The Blue and Gold now shift their focus to their homecoming contest versus Erie CC next Saturday (9/13) at 7 p.m.