Football | 10/19/2019 11:38:13 PM

UTICA, NY – Visiting SUNY Morrisville football had all on the edge of their seats Saturday afternoon, outlasting host Utica College on their Homecoming to capture the thrilling 54-51 double overtime victory at Gaetano Stadium in Utica.

THE BASICS:

• Final Score: Morrisville 54, Utica 51 – 2OT
• Location: Gaetano Stadium, Utica, N.Y.
• Records: Morrisville 3-4, 1-2 Empire 8; Utica 3-3, 1-2 Empire 8

 
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Visiting Morrisville State football gave all a show Saturday afternoon, as they outlasted host Utica College for a double overtime 54-51 Empire 8 win in Utica on the Pioneers Homecoming.
• It was a game that saw nine lead changes and a combined total 1,045 offensive yards, while taking two overtime periods to decide a winner, but it was the combined attack from the Mustangs offensive unit that put the visitors on top for the league win.
• Morrisville State collected a total 490 yards offense on the day, including 381 through the air as junior quarterback Bill Flatow (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) completed 30-of-47 passes for a stellar 381 yards and five touchdown scores.
• Fourteen of those connected with Toure' Hall Jr. (Stratford, Conn.) for a total 188 yards and two scores, while Kinsey Williams (Rome, N.Y.) added another six receptions for 73 yards.
• Williams also led all Mustang ball carriers with 116-net yards and three touchdowns, including the one-yard game winner in the second overtime period.
• Four additional Mustangs served as targets for Flatow, including Jermaine Cooper (New York, N.Y.) and Kyle Tuohy (Amaranth, Ont.) who combined for five catches for 81 yards and two additional touchdowns.
• Utica collected 555 yards total offense in the contest, but not without the Mustangs interfering defensively as they caused three Pioneer turnovers, all interceptions.
• Logan Wilcox completed 18-of-33 attempts for 318 yards and three touchdowns, also throwing three picks.
• Keegan Wright pulled in four for 79-yards, while Nate Palmer added 75-yards and a touchdown on one catch.
• Peyton Miller had seven thrown his way for a total 74-yards and a touchdown.
• Jamarious Morgan led all ball carriers with 162-net yards in the running game, scoring twice, while teammate Brad Doughtery added 10 carries for 64 yards and one touchdown.
• Ernesto Mitchell (Wheatley Heights, N.Y.) had a huge game for Morrisville in the secondary, recording 12 total stops, nine solo, while registering a pass break-up.
• Jose Garcia (New York, N.Y.) added nine with a break-up as well, while teammates Mike Bodnar (Miller Place, N.Y.), Giovanni Viglotti (Syracuse, N.Y.) and Marc Eberley (Whitesboro, N.Y.) all recorded interceptions.
• Utica opened scoring on their first drive of the afternoon for the early 7-0 lead nearly two minutes into the contest, as Wilcox connected with Warmack on a 41-yard scoring pass play to complete the 71-yard drive.
• Morrisville responded, though, with their own 73-yard scoring drive that was capped off by a 19-yard pass from Flatow to Tuohy at the 10:20 mark.
• Williams gave the Mustangs their first lead of the contest with 3:07 to go in the quarter, pounding the ball forward on a seven-yard scoring carry, completing the 86-yard drive after a Utica punt pinned the Mustangs at their own 14-yard line to start.
• Utica would have the final scoring say of the first, however, as Maki Medici nailed the 30-yard field goal through the uprights to send the game into the second quarter with a 13-10 Mustang lead.
• Morrisville extended their lead on their opening drive of the second quarter, 20-10, with Flatow hitting Cooper on the 25-yard over center scoring play on third down.
• The 10-point lead was short lived as Utica, on their first play of the ensuing drive, used the power of Morgan to bring the game within a field goal score, scampering 62-yards for the touchdown score.
• Utica stopped Morrisville on two straight drives and pinned them deep within their own territory, before taking advantage on a short punt for a go ahead halftime score.
• Dougherty drove forward two-yards for the rushing score to send the game into the break with a 24-20 host lead.
• Morrisville opened the second half with the ball, after deferring the opening toss, and immediately regained the advantage as they competed the 12-play, 55-yard drive following the 37-yard kick-off return by Hall that brought the ball to mid-field.
• After gaining ground in the running game, Flatow used senior wide receiver Parrish Durham (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) in the back corner to shift the advantage in favor of Morrisville at the midpoint of the third.
• In much similar fashion as the opening half, Utica was out in front on their following possession, as Wilcox connected with Palmer for the 75-yard throwing score, making it a 31-27 ball game in favor of the Pioneers.
• The third would see one final score before the start of the fourth frame, as Flatow collected his fourth throwing score, a six-yard strike to Hall around the corner for the 34-31 lead.
• It was a back-and-forth battle in the fourth frame, with Morrisville holding the 41-38 edge, until a late drive by the Pioneers got as far as the Mustangs 17-yard line.
• Utica's Medici sent the ball through the uprights on a 34-yard field goal attempt with 13 seconds to go, forcing the overtime period and tying the contest at 41.
• Morrisville had the first possession of the overtime period, and without blinking broke the tie on a two-yard scoring run by Williams after Flatow hit Hall for the 15-yard gain.
• Utica, with the chance to even the score, did so, with Wilcox hitting Miller on the eight-yard slant, forcing a second overtime period.
• The Pioneers started the additional extra frame with the ball, and while the Mustangs prevented the hosts from reaching the end zone, Medici put Utica out in front with a 34-yard field goal, his third of the game, and forced the pressure back on the visitors to decide the game after making it a 51-48 game.
• Utica's defense opened the drive with a sack on Flatow for a loss of five, but two plays later the junior signal caller hit lead receiver Hall for a 22-yard gain down to the Utica eight.
• After the Pioneers defense knocked down two pass attempts, Utica was flagged for a pass interference call, giving the Mustangs a new set of downs down to the two.
• Williams pounded the ball forward behind the Mustangs offensive line, gaining a yard, and on the ensuing play, extended over the goal line for the game winning score and a 54-51 league win for Morrisville.