Schenectady, N.Y. – The #8 Bombers (1-1) rallied from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to take the lead but the host Union Dutchmen (1-0) scored the winning touchdown with 19 seconds left to post a 24-21 victory.

Senior quarterback Brian Grastorf (Niskayuna/Rexford) threw three touchdown passes, including a two-yard completion to junior fullback Lance Baumgartner (Walkill Valley/Hamburg, N.J.) that gave Ithaca the lead with 6:19 to go in the game. Ithaca forced a three-and-out from the Union offense on the Dutchmen's ensuing possession, but the hosts took over after forcing a Bomber punt and drove 53 yards in 12 plays for the winning score.

Junior wide receiver Thomas Vossler (Saranac Lake/Loon Lake) caught Grastorf's other two touchdown passes – a 32-yard catch in the second quarter and a sliding 14-yard reception early in the fourth. Grastorf completed 16 of 30 passes for 217 yards and raised his career total to 1,457 yards, good for 15th all-time at Ithaca.

Junior Dan Ruggiero (Pen Argyl/Pen Argyl, Pa.) rushed for 122 yards, including a 59-yard run that set up Baumgartner's touchdown catch.

Sophomore linebacker Eric Toporoff (Montvale Township/Towaco, N.J.) collected career-best totals of 11 tackles and two tackles for loss (including his first career sack). Linebacker Matt Scalice (North Tonawanda/North Tonawanda), a graduate student, also made 11 tackles. Scalice raised his career total to 285 tackles to move into eighth on the program's all-time list. He's three tackles away from sixth.

Sophomore linebacker Joe Gilfedder (Governor Livingston/Berkley Heights, N.J.) recorded 10 tackles with two for loss (both were career-high figures). Senior defensive end Scott Auchenbach (Spring-Ford/Collegeville, Pa.) was in on a career-best eight stops and senior defensive tackle Joe Goetz (New Hyde Park Memorial/New Hyde Park) had a career-high seven tackles.

Gilfedder and junior strong safety David Ahonen (Victor/Farmington) both intercepted passes. Sophomore Andrew Rogowski (Canisius/East Amherst) kicked extra points after all three Bomber touchdowns.

The Bombers host Widener (1-0) Saturday at 1 p.m. in their home opener.

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