Football | 10/22/2022 6:53:00 PM
MORRISVILLE, NY – Host SUNY Morrisville football collected their second straight Empire 8 win Saturday afternoon, as they posted the 36-0 shutout victory over visiting Alfred University on Drake Field in Morrisville.
THE BASICS:
- Final Score: Morrisville 36, Alfred University 0 (halftime: Morrisville 19-0)
- Location: Drake Field, Morrisville, N.Y.
- Records: Morrisville 6-1, 2-1 Empire 8; Alfred University 2-5, 1-2 Empire 8
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- Host SUNY Morrisville football dominated visiting Alfred University Saturday afternoon from the opening kick off and sent the Saxons back home with a 36-0 Empire 8 loss, as they picked up their second shutout victory of the year on Drake Field in Morrisville.
- Morrisville's defense limited the visitors to just 213 yards total offense on the day, while steamrolling to 413 of their own, including 279 net yards rushing.
- Freshman Emmett Wood (Barton, N.Y.) led the Mustang pack with 87 net yards on seven carries, collecting a longest scramble of 43, while averaging 12.4 yards per carry on the day.
- Steven Frerichs (Wilson, N.Y.) went 12-for-20 under center, throwing for 134 total yards and two touchdown strikes, adding another 47 yards on the ground in the running game, for a touchdown.
- Jarrell Chaney (Albany, N.Y.) posted 52 net yards on the ground.
- Alex McBurne (Brooklyn, N.Y.) posted 40 yards on the ground on 10 attempts but served as Frerichs main target as he added to his offensive totals with 61 yards on three receptions.
- Joey Chirurgi (Yonkers, N.Y.) added another 44 on five catches and a touchdown, while Justin Adams (West Babylon, N.Y.) added another 16 yards and a score to the offensive totals.
- Philemon Benjamin (Queens, N.Y.) led the Mustang defensive unit with nine total stops 2.5 for a loss of four yards, while recovering a fumble.
- Ernesto Mitchell (Wheatley Heights, N.Y.) added another seven stops, while fellow linebacker and defensive back Joe Miller-LaBar (Groton, N.Y.) and Dante McGowan (Rochester, N.Y.) each caused a turnover with their interception.
- Morrisville was first to get on the board early on in the opening quarter with the Mustang defense setting the tone for the remainder of the contest with an interception by McGowan returned into Alfred territory.
- The turnover set up a seven-play, 45-yard scoring drive by the Mustangs that was capped off by a 17-yard throwing score from Frerichs to Chirurgi over center for the score.
- Morrisville limited Alfred to four yards on the ensuing Saxon drive attempt, and after punting the ball on their own series, regained possession following a muffed punt return that was recovered by Benjamin on the Alfred 24.
- Within minutes, Morrisville put another score on the board to claim a 13-0 lead, with Frerichs collecting the one-yard rushing score up the middle.
- After limiting Alfred again on their next possession, Morrisville took advantage of a 41-yard strike from Frerichs to McBurnie at the Alfred nine to set up a 29-yard field goal by Owel Cole (Maspeth, N.Y.) for the 16-0 lead early in the second.
- Morrisville extended their lead to 19 at the close of the half, as Cole sent his second through the uprights, this time from 28-yards out to compete the 86-yard drive.
- The Mustangs wasted little time putting another tally on the board in the third, opening the lead to 26-0 with a deep middle pass from Frerichs to Adams for the 12-yard throwing score.
- Alfred attempted to generate some offense on the ensuing possession, but again the Mustang defense limited the Saxons and forced a turnover after Miller-LaBar stepped in front of Zuke Smith's pass, returning it to near-midfield.
- Morrisville moved the ball deep in Alfred territory, and came away with three more points, a 36-yard field goal off the foot of Cole, his third of the day.
- Alek Britten (Schenectady, N.Y.) added a final tally for the Mustangs with 2:53 to go in the fourth, scrambling eight yards around left and over the pylon for the score and 36-0 decisive lead.
- Alfred had their longest drive attempt on the ensuing possession in an attempt to put some numbers on the scoreboard, but once again the Mustangs defense held strong as they forced the turnover on downs on their own 18 yard line.
- Smith finished with 119 yards for the Saxons as the signal caller, competing 16-of-36 attempts.
- Morrisville held Alfred's leading ball carrier Max Freeman to just 64 net yards on 18 attempts.
- Tim Dahl ad 12 tackles and Joe Copp 10 for Alfred to lead the defensive efforts, each recording a sack and two total tackles for a loss.
WHAT'S NEXT:
- Morrisville will return to Drake Field next Saturday, taking on cross town rival and Empire 8 foe Utica College in a noon kick-off. Both teams are currently sitting in second place in league standings with a 2-1 Empire 8 record, each with a 6-1 overall record to date on the season.
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
www.empire8.com.
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