UTICA, NY – The Alfred University football team earned a 35-21 win at Utica College Saturday afternoon to clinch at least a share of the Empire 8 Conference title.
AU senior quarterback Tyler Johnson ran for four touchdowns as the Saxons improved to 9-0 (7-0 Empire 8). The four rush TDs gives Johnson 40 for his career, tying the school record held by Hall of Fame tailback Jesse Raynor (1999-2003). The four TDs also give him 18 for the year, breaking the school single-season record of 15 set by Max Freeman in 1996.
The win sets up a showdown between 15th-ranked Alfred and visiting 23rd-ranked St. John Fisher next weekend (Saturday, Nov. 12, 1 p.m.), with the winner earning the league's automatic bid to the NCAA championship tournament. Fisher beat Hartwick Saturday to move to 8-1 overall, 6-1 in E8 play.
The Saxons got on the board first, driving 76 yards in 10 plays on their second drive, with senior quarterback Tyler Johnson tossing a 10-yard TD pass to senior wide receiver Brendan Buisch with 5:40 left in the first.
Utica answered right away, with Nicodemus Gambill returning the ensuing kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. On Alfred's next possession, Utica intercepted Alfred at the Pioneer 19 and drove 81 yards in eight plays. Utica quarterback Teddy VanGalen connected with Imani Vincent for a 10-yard TD pass, putting the hosts up 14-7 seven seconds into the second quarter.
AU knotted the game up at 14-14 on the Saxons' next drive. Taking over at their own 35-yard line, Alfred went 65 yards in six plays, with Johnson capping the drive with a two-yard touchdown run with 11:08 left in the second. Johnson gave AU a 21-14 lead with a five-yard TD run with 2:06 left in the half to finish a nine-play 70-yard drive.
The Saxons boosted their lead to two touchdowns on their second drive of the second half. Taking over at midfield following a Utica punt, the Saxons scored on Johnson's third TD run, from 12 yards out, to take a 28-14 lead with 6:20 left in the third. Utica responded on its next drive, going 62 yards in 15 plays, with Ryan Burnett plowing in from a yard out to make it 28-21 just 42 seconds into the fourth.
Johnson's 40-yard TD run with 8:44 left in regulation gave AU 35-21 lead. Utica drove to the Alfred 15-yard line before turning the ball over on downs with 3:46 left. AU didn't give the Pioneer offense another chance, gaining a pair of first downs and running out the clock.
The AU offense piled up 406 yards of offense, with the Saxons, who lead the E8 in rushing, gaining 256 yards on the ground. Johnson led the way with 124 yards on just 17 carries, while senior tailback Casey Bright running for 80 yards and junior tailback Maleke Fuentes gaining 53.
Johnson completed nine of 15 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown. Buisch had four catches for 83 yards and Bright caught two for 36.
Utica was held to 256 yards of offense (192 passing, 64 rushing). VanGalen threw for 192 yards and a touchdown, with Vincent (83 yards receiving) and wideout Jerred Beniquez (48 yards) each catching seven passes. Burnett finished with 64 yards rushing on 20 carries.
Junior linebacker A.J. LiCata led the AU defense with a game-high 13 tackles (1 ½ for loss). Freshman linebacker Isaiah Moak had 12 (two for loss, one sack); senior free safety Shyheim Wingate had 10; and senior tackle Andrew Miller had five (two for loss, one sack).
Juwan Wilson had a team-best 12 tackles (2 ½ for loss) for Utica. Anthony Beaubrun had 10 tackles (one for loss) and Anthony Bierria-Anderson had seven (one for loss) and a pair of interceptions.
AU plays next on Saturday, Nov. 12, at home against St. John Fisher in the regular season finale. Fisher (8-1, 6-1 Empire 8).