The Bombers matched a season high with four rushing touchdowns. Sophomore tailback Justin Kulp (Southern Lehigh/Coopersburg, Pa.) scored two; senior tailback Jamie Donovan (Sidwell Friends/Washington, D.C.) and sophomore quarterback Dan Juvan (Dobbs Ferry/Dobbs Ferry) each ran for one.

 

Juvan also threw for 204 yards, completing his first nine passes. Senior tight end Mike Oertel (Peru/Plattsburgh) led Ithaca with career-best totals of six catches and 92 yards.

 

The Bombers scored on five straight possessions after their initial drive ended with a fumble. Juvan ran for a two-yard touchdown, Donovan scored on a five-yard run, Kulp scored the first of his two five-yard touchdowns and senior Brett Kitenplon (Admiral Farragut/Seminole, Fla.) kicked a pair of field goals (40 and 37 yards). Kulp’s second five-yard touchdown run, on the first play of the fourth quarter, capped the scoring.

 

Utica, which has lost all six meetings to Ithaca by a combined score of 250-21, were held to three first downs and 35 yards (on 25 plays) in the first half.

Junior strong safety Ryan Terlecki (Pennsbury/Fairless Hills, Pa.) led Ithaca with nine tackles. Senior free safety Charlie Stephens (Staples/Westport, Conn.) added eight tackles and a pass break up. He also forced a fumble on a Pioneer kickoff return and recovered it himself. Senior linebacker Tom Blumenauer (Brentwood/Brentwood) finished with seven tackles, collecting two for loss including a sack. Ithaca held Utica to negative yardage or no gain on 11 of the Pioneers’ 57 offensive plays and recorded a season-best four sacks.

 

The Bombers host undefeated Springfield (8-0, 3-0 Empire 8) next Saturday at Butterfield Stadium.