Box Score UTICA, N.Y. — The nationally-ranked Ithaca College football team overcame four turnovers and eight sacks in Saturday's road clash at Utica College, rallying from a 24-0 third-quarter deficit to force overtime at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium.

The No. 17/19 Bombers used a 30-yard field goal from senior Max Rottenecker on their first possession to take a 27-24 lead, but the Pioneers earned a 30-27 win on Teddy VanGalen's 25-yard touchdown pass to Jerred Beniquez on Utica's first play of overtime.

Ithaca (3-1, 1-1 Empire 8) suffered its first loss of the year, and just its second loss in in 15 career meetings with Utica (3-2, 2-1 E8).

Junior Wolfgang Shafer completed 29 of 46 passes for 298 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions. Senior Josh Oliver hauled in nine passes for 88 yards with two receiving touchdowns.

Classmate Kyle Hastings caught six passes for 51 yards, while sophomore Tristan Brown rushed 16 times for 73 yards in the loss.

Defensively, sophomore Kenny Bradley had nine tackles, including two for a loss, junior Skyler Kauf added seven tackles with an interception, and sophomore Dan Loizos made seven tackles (two for a loss).

Senior Malik Morris also had an interception, while classmate Logan Murphy added six tackles with a sack and a pass breakup for the Bombers.

Trailing 24-0 with 2:45 remaining in the third quarter, the Ithaca offense, which was held to 84 yards in the first half, found its rhythm.

Shafer marched the Bombers downfield 56 yards in 2:37, capped by a five-yard touchdown toss  to Oliver to trim the lead to 24-7. 

It was the third straight game Oliver has caught a touchdown pass, and his fourth straight game scoring a touchdown as he threw a touchdown pass during a season-opening, 38-23 win over Union.

The Bombers then forced a punt and took over at their own 37. A penalty on Utica gave Ithaca the ball in Utica territory, then Shafer found Oliver for a 13-yard completion.

On the next play, Shafer dropped back and hit Hastings on a 33-yard touchdown pass with 10:13 remaining. Hastings caught the ball at the 21 and rumbled into the end zone for his third receiving touchdown in four games to cap a three-play, 63-yard drive.

The Bombers defense forced a punt, and after another Utica penalty, the offense took over at the Utica 41 with 8:35 remaining in regulation.

Shafer proceeded to toss his third straight touchdown pass, finding Oliver wide open over the middle. Oliver caught the ball and ran the final 10 yards untouched to trim the Utica lead to 24-21 with 7:23 remaining as a quick-strike offense needed four plays to march 41 yards.

Utica got the ball back, and on third down, Murphy broke through the line and sacked VanGalen to give Ithaca the ball back. Oliver fielded the punt and returned it to the Utica 31, where Ithaca took over with 5:51 remaining.

Shafer hit Brown on a screen pass to the 14, but the Bombers couldn't score the go-ahead touchdown and knotted the score at 24 on a 35-yard field goal with 4:03 left to play.

Receiving the ball first in the extra session, Shafer found Hastings for a 14-yard pass, then kept the ball himself on a two-yard quarterback keeper for an Ithaca first down.

Rottenecker kicked a 30-yard field goal for a 27-24 lead before Utica struck for the game-winning touchdown on its opening possession.

The Bombers travel to Hartwick College for a 2 p.m. Empire 8 clash on Oct. 10, while Utica travels to Brockport for a 7 p.m. contest.

Game Notes:
*This was Ithaca's first overtime game since a 38-37 setback at Frostburg State Oct. 18, 2014. The Bombers' last overtime win came Sept. 15, 2012, when Ithaca knocked off Union 27-24.

*Ithaca, which entered play ranked 17^th in the American Football Coaches' Association Top 25 poll, and 19^th in the D3football.com poll, was seeking its second straight 4-0 start to the season.

*Utica entered play averaging 477 yards per game, while the Bombers defense was allowing 241.3 yards per game. Ithaca held Utica to 343 total yards, with the Pioneers rushing for 89 yards and passing for 254. It was the fewest passing yards for the Pioneers in a game this year.

*In the second quarter, Kauf came down with a highlight reel interception. In a scoreless contest, Utica took over at its 23. VanGalen's pass was caught by Alex DeRusso. As DeRusso was coming to the ground, the ball popped out, rolled on his back, and was collected by Kauf, who returned the interception 17 yards. It was Kauf's first career interception.