Turnovers Prove Costly to Pioneers

Five Alfred State College turnovers led to two touchdowns for Lackawanna College in the Falcons 29-19 victory at Pioneer Stadium on Saturday.  The Pioneers are now 3-4 (0-3 NFC) while the Falcons improve to 5-2 (3-1 NFC).

The Pioneers scored first with 10:34 remaining in the 1st quarter when Xavier Makell (Baltimore, MD) found Rod Streater (Burlington, NJ) on the half-back option pass.

Terrance Kerns tied it up on the first play of the 2nd quarter capping a 62-yard drive after a Pioneer fumble with a three yard score.  Kerns rushed for all 62 yards in the drive including a 60-yard run.

The first play of the second half proved to be biggest as Alfred State tried an on-side kick.  It appeared that the Pioneers had recovered the on-side kick but the officals ruled that ASC had interferred with Falcon receiver and awarded the ball to Lackawanna.  The Falcons marched down the field and scored on a 10-yard pass to Raju Easterling from Steffen Miller-Colon.

The Falons added to their lead less than five minutes later when Raashad Bass recovered a Pioneer fumble and returned it 17-yards to put Lackawanna up 21-7.

ASC cut the lead back to one score on the last play of the 3rd quarter when Sir Aaron Taylor (Lincoln Hall) connected with Streater on a 20-yard scoring play.  The extra point attempt was blocked.

Easterling gave Lackawanna a two score lead again with 9:29 remaining when he rushed in from 29-yards out.  The two-point conversion was good and gave the Falcons a 29-13 lead.

With under three minutes left in the game, Kyle Ricks (Alexandria, VA) blocked a Lackawanna punt that Robert Edmonds (Washington, DC) recovered and returned 24-yards for the score.  The two-point conversion was no good.

Alfred got the ball back after using all their timeouts but could not muster up any more offense.

Taylor led Alfred State with 68 yards rushing on 17 carries while Streater finished with four catches, two for scores, for 68 yards.  ASC's offense finished with 227 total yards but fumbled the ball five times.

Easterling finished with 94 yards rushing on nine carries while Kerns had 80 yards on 17 carries.  Lackawanna's offense finished with 213 yards and turned the ball over three times (two interceptions and one fumble).

Chadd Parker (Erie, PA) led the defense with eight tackles while David Everts (Randolph), John Zappolo (Sewanhaka), Ricks, Wendell Williamson (New Haven, CT), and Obi Ezemma (Ramapo) all finsihed with seven stops.  Everts and Zappolo both had sacks while Dmeetri Wilson (Monroe) and Rod White (Baltimore, MD) had 1st quarter interceptions.

Hugh Thorton and Greg Wilson each had six tackles for the Falcons.  Christopher Yoo, D'Armond Pierce, Todd George, and Joshua Francis all finished with five stops.

Alfred State returns home next Saturday when they take on Dean College.  Kickoff is scheduled for Noon at Pioneer Stadium.