Empire 8 Champs! Ithaca Football Wins Overtime Thriller
Ithaca 24, Salisbury 23 (OT) Box Score
The 24th-ranked Ithaca College football team rallied from a 10-point first half deficit and defeated Salisbury 24-23 in overtime Saturday afternoon at Sea Gull Stadium. The victory clinched the Empire 8 championship for Ithaca and automatic qualification to the NCAA Division III Football Championships. Ithaca is 8-1 overall and finished conference play with a 6-1 record in Empire 8 games. The Bombers wrap up the regular season Saturday with a noon home game against Cortland.
The game was tied 17-17 in the final minute when Salisbury drove deep into Ithaca territory and missed a 28-yard field goal with 54 seconds left. In overtime, Ithaca possessed the ball first and scored on a 9-yard touchdown pass from
Tom Dempsey to
Jared Prugar. Garrett Nicholson added the extra-point for the Bombers. Salisbury converted a fourth-down play in their possession and eventually scored on a 4-yard touchdown run, but the extra-point kick attempt was missed wide to the left.
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St. John Fisher 24, Buffalo State 6 Box Score
In a game that featured the top-two ranked offenses in the Empire 8, strong defensive play would be the difference as the St. John Fisher College football team snapped Buffalo State College's three-game win streak after outscoring the Bengals 24-6, Saturday at Hoyer Field.
The Cardinals, now 7-2 overall (4-2 Empire 8) held Buffalo State (5-5, 3-4), the conference's top scoring offense to only 215 yards, while allowing only one touchdown that came in the game's final minute of play.
Neither offense was able to generate much momentum in the first quarter as Fisher punted the ball away on its first two possessions, while the Bengals turned the ball over on downs in back-to-back series including a botched snap on what would have been a 27-yard field goal attempt.
The Cardinals looked poised to take the lead in the early going of the second frame when Buffalo State forced a fumble, eventually recovering the ball on its own nine-yard line. The Bengals would not possess the ball for long though, as
Ryan Ballard picked off Casey Kacz's pass to give the Cardinal offense another opportunity inside the Buffalo State zone.
The Cardinals looked to break the scoreless tie, but were unable to come away with any points as
Brendan Carey's 31-yard field goal attempt sailed just wide allowing the Bengals to take-over at their own 21-yard line.
After a quick three-and-out, Fisher took over on its own 41-yard line. Quarterback
Matt Naton breathed new life into the offense, connecting with
Ryan Sweet on a 44-yard pass for the touchdown, capping a short two-play drive that took only thirteen seconds to give the visiting Cardinals the 7-0 lead.
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Alfred 48, Utica 31 Box Score
The Alfred University football team piled up 526 yards of offense and the defense forced three turnovers in a 48-31 victory over visiting Utica College Saturday afternoon at Yunevich Stadium.
With the win, the Saxons improved to 7-2 overall and 5-1 in Empire 8 Conference play. AU came into the game hoping for a Salisbury win over Ithaca, which coupled with Alfred victories in its final two game – against Utica and next weekend at St. John Fisher – would have given the Saxons the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA championship tournament. Ithaca defeated Salisbury, 28-27 in overtime, meaning the Saxons will look to beat Fisher and hope they receive an at-large bid to the NCAAs.
The Saxons were solid on offense against Utica. After punting on their opening possession and spotting the Pioneers a 7-0 lead with just under nine minutes left in the opening frame, the Saxons responded, driving 66 yards in four plays, with freshman quarterback
Tyler Johnson tossing a 43-yard TD pass to senior wide receiver
Jonathan Ruffin.
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Hartwick 41, Frostburg 14 Box Score
Despite trailing 14-13 in the third quarter, the Hartwick football team rallied to score 28 straight points, including 21 in the fourth quarter alone, to come away with a 41-14 victory over host Frostburg on Saturday afternoon at Bobcat Stadium. The win, which halts the Hawks' four game winless streak, improves their record to 5-4 overall and 2-4 in the Empire 8. The Bobcats, who have now dropped their last six games, fall to 1-8 overall and 0-6 in the Empire 8.
'Wick had a 13-7 lead at halftime but the Bobcats went ahead 14-13 with 6:42 showing on the clock in the third quarter. The Hawks took their next possession and marched 65 yards and nine plays that culminated in a
John Garcia to
Tanner Williams seven yard touchdown that put Hartwick ahead for good 20-14 with 1:46 left in the third. The Hawks blew the game open with three touchdowns in the final quarter to run away with the game.
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