ITHACA, N.Y. -- Junior running back #
Thomas Bergerstock# (Webster Thomas/Webster) ran for five touchdowns as the #24 Bombers (6-1, 3-1 Empire 8) clinched the program's 38th consecutive winning season with a 42-7 win over the visiting Utica Pioneers (2-5, 1-2 Empire 8) Saturday. Ithaca owns the second-longest active streak of winning seasons at any level of college football.
Bergerstock's five touchdowns marked the second time this season he's tied the school's single-game record and raised his total to 16 this fall (second on the program's all-time list). He went over the 1,000-yard mark for both his career (he's the 29th Bomber to reach that total) and the season (posting the program's eighth 1,000-yard season).
The Bombers ran for 227 yards and outgained Utica 477-206 in beating the Pioneers (whose first-year coach,
Blaise Faggiano, won a Stagg Bowl as a Bomber nose guard and spent four seasons as an Ithaca assistant coach) for the eighth time in as many meetings.
Bergerstock gained 138 yards on 33 carries and capped five of Ithaca's first eight drives with touchdown runs (the Bombers were intercepted in the end zone on their second drive and took a knee to run out the clock at the end of the first half).
Senior quarterback #
Dan Juvan# (Dobbs Ferry/Yonkers) threw for 250 yards, competing 15 of 25 passes in the torrential rain. He threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver #
Kyle Crandall# (Herkimer/Herkimer) for Ithaca's third score.
Crandall caught five passes, matching a career high, for 76 yards. Sophomore wide receiver #
Thomas Vossler# (Loon Lake/Saranac Lake) caught four passes and led Ithaca with a career-best 84 yards. Junior fullback #
Dan Witbeck# (Vestal/Vestal) caught three passes for a career-high 50 yards.
Freshman kicker #
Andrew Rogowski# (Canisius/East Amherst) converted all six of his extra-point attempts.
The Bombers held Utica to 39 yards of total offense and three first downs in the first half. The Pioneers drove 66 plays on their first second-half possession, but a first-and-goal from the Ithaca three ended when their 21-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Ithaca sophomore #
David Ahonen# (Victor/Farmington).
Senior linebacker #
Matt Scalice# (North Tonawanda/North Tonawanda) made 10 tackles – including two for loss – to lead the Bombers. Sophomore defensive end #
Matt Dibble# (Columbia/East Schodack), senior linebacker #
Craig Liebler# (Eden/Eden) and freshman cornerback #
Spencer White# (Sleepy Hollow/Yonkers) each made six.
Dibble's total was a career high. Senior linebacker
John Scanlon (Amity/Choate Rosemary Hall/Bethany, Conn.) was also in on a pair of tackles for loss.
Ithaca plays its final home game next week, hosting Springfield in an Empire 8 game Saturday.
Box score
