Utica Comes Up Short in James Lynah Bowl
PHILADELPHIA, PA – The Utica College football team lost to Westminster College 33-6 in the James Lynah Bowl at the ECAC Division III Football Festival hosted at historic Franklin Field on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania Saturday. The Pioneers, who matched a program-best 7-4 overall record, were making their second ECAC Bowl game appearance in the last three years.
Utica wraps up its 16th season of NCAA Div. III varsity football and has now won at least five games in five of its last seven seasons. UC senior running back
Ryan Burnett (Mount Vernon, NY/Arch Bishop Stepinac) carried the ball 23 times for 75 yards on the day and became the College's all-time career (1,876) and single-season (995) rushing leader.
Utica jumped out to a quick 6-3 lead in the first quarter of action after senior quarterback
Teddy VanGalen (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) connected with
Jerred Beniquez (Port Ewen, NY/Kingston) for a 32 yard score with 6:07 left in the first quarter. Beniquez caught seven balls for 60 yards and recorded the Pioneers lone score of the day as he capped his final season at Utica with a program-best 87 catches. VanGalen completed 15 passes for 148 yards and one touchdown and will graduate ranked second on the College's all-time list in career passing yards (5465), completions (447) and TD passes (30). He capped the season with 233 completions and 2,737 yards passing, which are both career-highs and rank second on the College's single-season list.
Utica then had a golden opportunity in the opening moments of the second quarter when
Matt Stone (Rochester, NY/Brighton) picked off a Paul Columbo pass and returned it 30 yards to give the Pioneers' possession in the red zone, with a 6-3 lead. Unfortunately UC failed to capitalize, as
Dan Tette (Rochester, NY/West Irondequoit)'s 36 yard field goal attempt was blocked. Both teams then exchanged punts before Westminster essentially took over the game.
The Titans got two rushing touchdowns from Paul Columbo and a 25 yard field goal as the first half expired, posting 17 points in the final 5:55 of the first half, to take a 20-6 lead into the locker room at the half.
Westminster (8-3) added 13 second half points and held the Pioneers scoreless over the course of the final three quarters to earn their second straight James Lynah Bowl game victory.
Utica senior return man
Nicodemus Gambill (Rochester, NY/East High) finished the day with 24 kick return yards as he moved into first on the College's single-season list with 711 kick return yards this season.
Senior linebacker
Juwan Wilson (South Ozone Park, NY/Holy Cross) capped his illustrious career with eight tackles on the day and he will graduate ranked second on the College's career list with 339 total tackles. His 103 tackles this season rank ninth on the College's single-season list.
Isaiah Washington (Ozone Park, NY/Fort Hamilton) finished the day with a team-high 10 tackles, while
Anthony Bierria-Anderson (Freeport, NY/Freeport) added nine.
Nick Yelich (Lancaster, NY/Depew) had a nice day on the defensive line as he posted seven tackles, including two for a loss of five yards.
Matt Stone (Rochester, NY/Brighton) finished the day with one interception to give him three on the season.
The Titans racked up 235 yards rushing, including 121 yards and two scores from quarterback Paul Columbo, to help keep the Pioneer offense off the field as the Titans ran away with a 27 point victory.
The Westminster defense held Utica to just 12 first downs on the day and a season-low 213 yards of total offense. The Titans were also a perfect 4-for-4 in field goal attempts.
As a team the Pioneers totaled 4,168 yards of total offense this year, which ranks second on the College's all-time list.
Head Coach
Blaise Faggiano is 44-48 in nine full seasons at the helm and he is the program's all-time leader in career victories.