Football | 11/19/2022 6:04:00 PM
SELINSGROVE, PA - The Utica University football team is headed to the second round of the NCAA Division III Football Tournament after a 17-10 first round win over the Susquehanna University River Hawks.
The win comes in Utica's first-ever tournament game and secures the program's first-ever double-digit win season.
Susquehanna won the opening coin toss and elected to defer until the second half. The Pioneers came away empty on their first drive of the game while the River Hawks did the same following a Utica punt. On the Pioneers' second drive, Sam Florio lost a fumble near midfield to give the ball back to the River Hawks.
Susquehanna took the ball down to the Utica 23 yard line and converted on a field goal to take an early 3-0 lead. Utica responded on its next possession. The offense settled in for an 11 play, 66 yard drive that was fueled by a no-huddle approach and a Braeden Zenelovic-led passing attack. The Pioneers settled for a game-tying field goal to bring the game to a 3-3 score with 13:29 left until halftime.
Susquehanna's next drive resulted in a missed 30-yard field goal while the Pioneers punted on their next drive to hand the River Hawks the ball back with under seven minutes until the break. On the ninth play of the drive, Jamel Smith came through for his first interception of the afternoon, this one coming in the end zone, to give Utica the ball back at its own 20 with 3:30 left in the first half.
The Pioneers gained 20 yards on the ensuing drive but came away empty. The River Hawks took over again with 1:01 left before the break at their own 42. With three seconds left, Susquehanna went for a 4th & 10 from the Utica 23 but once again, Smith intercepted the pass attempt to close out the half with the teams tied at 3-3.
Susquehanna returned the second half kickoff 81 yards to the Utica 16 yard line. However, the Pioneers defense answered to the challenge. After the first three plays went for a total of one yard, the River Hawks opted to go for it rather than a field goal. On 4th & 9, Jimmie Warren made a huge tackle to give the Pioneers the ball back deep in its own territory.
Utica picked up a first down on the ensuing drive before being backed up, much thanks to an 11-yard sack, as Florio was called upon to punt the ball away and did so for 53 yards down to the Susquehanna 33. Seven plays into the drive, the River Hawks found themselves at the Utica 39 yard line for a 3rd & 10 opportunity which would be an incomplete pass. On the punt attempt, Eli Douglas broke through the line to block the kick and followed it with a big return to the Susquehanna 10.
Douglas' interception gave Utica its best field position of the day. After James Salles rushed for five yards on the team's first play, Zenelovic found Nate Palmer in the end zone for the duo's 20th touchdown connection of the season. Following a Corey Lichtman point after, the Pioneers were in control 10-3.
On the River Hawks' next possession, Anthony McDonald had his turn giving the Pioneers the ball back. The linebacker made an interception on the second play of the Susquehanna drive as Utica took over at the River Hawks' 35. However, Zenelovic turned the ball over on Utica's second play of their fresh drive as Susquehanna took over at midfield following the return.
Douglas came through for another big play and a turning point in the game. On 3rd & 9 from the Utica 30, Douglas picked off River Hawks quarterback Michael Ruisch and returned the turnover for eight yards to the team's own 38. The Pioneers milked the final 2:39 of the third quarter off the clock over eight plays to enter the fourth quarter with the ball on the Susquehanna 13 on 3rd & 5. On the opening play of the fourth, Zenelovic connected with an open Izzy Maldonado in the end zone for six more points while Lichtman's point after attempt was good, giving Utica a 17-3 lead with 14:47 to play.
The River Hawks responded with a 12 play, 66 yard touchdown drive to come back to within seven points at 17-10 with around 9:20 to play. Utica ate up 4:23 of game time over eight plays and 36 yards but failed to make it a two-score game as Susquehanna regained possession at its own 17 with 4:58 to go in the game.
The Pioneer defense forced a quick three-and-out and took over at their own 43 with 4:18 to play. The team took the ball down to the River Hawks' 41 before being forced to punt the ball away. Florio delivered a beautiful punt down to the six yard line with 1:35 to play while Susquehanna had a pair of timeouts to work with.
Susquehanna eventually drove the ball down to the Utica 40 yard line which set up a 1st & 10 with a tick under 50 seconds remaining. Looking to pick up chunk yardage, Ruisch lofted the ball 35 yards downfield but was met by Smith for his third interception of the game and the eventual game-sealing turnover to allow the Pioneers to move on to the second round.
On offense, Zenelovic went 26-for-47 on pass attempts for 263 yards and two touchdowns. Salles manned the rushing attack for 31 yards on 10 carries. Travis Decker led all Utica receivers with six catches for 97 yards while Joey Nare, Doug Elsesser, Maldonado and Palmer each had two or more catches for over 25 yards.
The defense was led by Smith with a trio of interceptions while he also made three tackles. Warren McDonald and Anothony Novello shared a team high nine combined tackles while Warren also had a sack and a forced fumble.
Utica (10-1, 5-1 Empire 8) will travel to Alliance, Ohio on Saturday, November 26 to take on No. 2 University of Mount Union (11-0, 9-0 OAC) in the second round of the NCAA Division III Football Tournament.