Football | 9/5/2025 11:12:00 PM
ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University football team opened their 2025 season with a 28-23 win over Hobart College on Friday evening from Yunevich Stadium. The victory for the Saxons (1-0, 0-0 Empire 8) marked their first against the Statesmen (0-1, 0-0 Liberty League) dating back to the 1995 season.
Chris Kelly (Lake Ronkonkoma, NY/Sachem North) finished the game with 122 passing yards to go with a pair of touchdowns.
Tommy Nyquist (Warren, PA/Warren Area) led the backfield with 75 rushing yards across 20 attempts.
Thomas Welch (Avon, NY/Avon) transformed the game on the defensive end for Alfred University, recording an interception touchdown and a forced fumble to go with a pair of fumble recoveries.
"I am very proud of our team and how they performed in all three phases of the game tonight," Head Coach
Bob Rankl said. "I'm also really proud of the seniors that work so hard for this and all the leadership that they have provided in preparation for the season. We are definitely going to enjoy this victory, and we are ready to start preparing for Ithaca."
The Saxons were the first to strike in the opening quarter, as a six-yard touchdown pass from Kelly to
Carmine Hoag (Salamanca, NY/Salamanca) gave AU the intial lead. In the following drive for Hobart, a forced fumble by
Landon Spencer (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee) was recovered by Welch. Later in the quarter, the Statesmen equalized the score with a touchdown of their own. In the second quarter, Hobart relied on a 24-yard field goal to take the lead for the first time. Neither side managed to get on the scoreboard again to close out the opening half, as Alfred University trailed 10-7 going into the break.
The Saxons offense came out firing to begin the second half, as Nyquist scored from the 15-yard line to give the advantage back to AU. Hobart attempted to cut into their deficit, but a field goal attempt ended up going off the right up right. In the following possession for the Statesmen, Welch returned an interception 48 yards to extend the lead for Alfred University. Welch stepped up once again by recovering his own fumble following a strip sack. The offense for AU capitalized in the early stages of the fourth quarter, as a keeper by Kelly had the Saxons leading 28-10. Hobart relied on 13 straight points to trail by five points with less than three minutes remaining in the final quarter. However, an eight-play drive by Alfred University was enough to run out the clock and come away with the win.
Alfred University will next host Ithaca College next Saturday at 12:00 p.m. During halftime, Alfred University Athletics will recognize the 2024 Empire 8 Champion softball team with a ring ceremony following their postseason efforts during the past spring season.