The Utica College football team (4-0) looks forward to playing its first ever home night game Saturday as it welcomes Empire 8 powerhouse and nationally-ranked No.24 St. John Fisher College. Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium. Both teams are currently 4-0 and will go head-to-head in the Empire 8 Conference opener for both squads. Plenty of live options will be available if you cannot make it out to the contest.
Follow the Game live:
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The Series:
Last year, St. John Fisher downed the Pioneers by a score of 34-17 on Oct. 17 at Growney Stadium in Pittsford, N.Y. UC took an early 10-7 lead, however could not hold on, allowing 20 straight points to the Cardinals. A late drive resulting in a touchdown pulled the Pioneers within ten points, however, the Fisher defense would shut out Utica for the remainder of the game . Utica looks to change history Saturday night as the Pioneers have never beaten St. John Fisher in eight attempts.
This Season:
The Pioneers are currently ranked third in the nation in scoring offense (50.75 points per game), sixth in 
total offense per game (510 yards), seventh in passing offense per game (336 yards) and passing efficiency (182). The Pioneer defense is currently ranked 27th in the nation in sacks, averaging 3.25 sacks per game. Sophomore quarterback Andrew Benkwitt is ranked 19th in the nation in total offense, good enough for an average of 282.5 yards per game. Freshmen wide receiver Anthony Acevedo leads the Pioneers receiving corps in receptions (23), yards (449),touchdowns (four), and average yards per game (112). Acevedo is currently ranked first in the conference and tied for 25th in the nation in receiving yards per game. Sophomore running back Jake Scott leads the UC backfield with 390 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Scott is averaging 4.7 yards per carry, 90 yards per game and is tied for first in the conference in scoring. Senior linebacker Travis Ladd is leading the conference in tackles averaging 11 per contest. Ladd heads up the Pioneers’ defense with 23 solo tackles, 44 total tackles and one and a half sacks and one interception.
Last Week:
The Utica College football team improved to 4-0 for the first time in the program’s ten year history Saturday. UC beat Wilkes University, 24-10, during the College’s Homecoming Weekend in a non conference game in front of 2,750 fans at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium. The Pioneer defense held the Colonels to just 130 yards of total offense (41 yards passing) and just three points in the second half. The game was televised live on Time Warner Cable Sports and will be showed several times over the course of the next few weeks.