Utica, N.Y. – The Utica Pioneers (5-2, 2-2 Empire 8) scored the game-winning touchdown with 1:08 remaining in the fourth quarter in a 20-15 win over the Ithaca football team (3-4, 1-3 Empire 8) Saturday afternoon at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium in Utica.
Senior placekicker
Andrew Rogowski (Canisius/East Amherst) made a 43-yard field goal with 2:47 remaining to put Ithaca ahead 15-14 prior to Utica's go-ahead touchdown.
Rogowski's kick came on a drive immediately following a safety by the Ithaca defense, that made the score 14-12 in favor of Utica. Junior defensive end
Skyler Schlenker (Hanover/Norwich, Vt.) tackled a Utica running back in the endzone.
The Bombers scored a touchdown on the game's opening drive. A long kickoff return by senior
Eric Breton (Shaker/Latham) set the Bombers up near midfield and Ithaca's drive covered 61 yards over 12 plays, capped by the first-career touchdown reception for tight end
Steve DelMoro (Hackley/Peekskill), a one-yard catch.
Ithaca added a second-quarter field goal by
Rogowski from 37 yards out and led 10-0 at halftime.
Sophomore quarterback
Phil Neumann (Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake/Burnt Hills) started and played the entire game. He was 17-for-29 for 228 yards and a touchdown, and was sacked six times. Sophomore running back
Sal Sulla (North Rockland/Stony Point) carried 20 times for 77 yards. Junior wide receiver
Joseph Ingrao (St. Anthony's/Nesconset) had six catches for 98 yards.
Senior linebacker
Joe Gilfedder (Governor Livingston/Berkeley Heights, N.J.) made a game-high 12 tackles and junior safety
Josh Liemer (Horace Greeley/Chappaqua) had eight tackles. Sophomore defensive lineman
Dan Sheldon (Ridgefield/Ridgefield, Conn.) had his first career sack.
Ithaca closes its season with three consecutive home games, beginning Saturday at 1 p.m. against Frostburg State.
BOMBER NOTES
•
Ruffrage moved into second place all-time at Ithaca in career receptions with five catches today. He now has 134 catches in his career. He passed
Abe Ceesay (131 receptions) and is 10 behind all-time leader
Thomas Vossler (144 receptions).
• Ithaca recorded a safety for the first time since last year's game against Utica.
• It was Ithaca's first loss to Utica in 11 all-time meetings.
Box Score and Play-by-Play
