ITHACA, N.Y. — The Ithaca College football team has boasted a tenacious defense for much of head coach Mike Welch's 22 years on the sidelines, and the 2015 team has shown how stout it can be in opening the year with back-to-back victories.
 
The Bombers (2-0, 0-0 Empire 8), the 20th-ranked squad in the country, welcome Alfred University (3-0, 1-0 E8) to campus at 1 p.m. Saturday for a Homecoming and Alumni Weekend contest in Ithaca's conference opener.
 
Fresh off a dominating 24-6 home win over Hobart College (then ranked No. 16 in the country) last Saturday, Ithaca's defense ranks 14th in the country in yards allowed per game. The Bombers 3-4 defense, under the direction of defensive coordinator Mark McDonough, is allowing only 222.5 yards per game.
 
In the win over Hobart, which snapped the Statesmen's 32-game regular-season winning streak, Ithaca allowed 159 yards of total offense while blanking Hobart for the first 44:25 in sending the Statesmen to their 14th straight setback at Butterfield Stadium.
 
Ithaca forced six turnovers (three interceptions and three fumbles) while constantly applying pressure to the quarterback. When the Statesmen did have time to pass, the Ithaca secondary was up to the task, breaking up nine passes while never allowing Hobart to find a rhythm on offense.
 
"Our defense has just been coming together every day. We're practicing well, our communication has gotten better and better, and Coach Mac (McDonough) comes up with a great scheme every single week," said sophomore linebacker Kenny Bradley, who has 19 tackles and made a momentum-turning interception in the win over Hobart.

"A game like Hobart is always fun to go out there, get turnovers, make plays and get some big hits on the other guys. It's even better when you come out with a win like that. The defensive line does a great job for us. They don't always get the sacks, but a lot of our interceptions come from the line getting pressure on the quarterback."

Thanks to the six-turnover effort against Hobart, the Bombers climbed to fifth in the nation in average turnover margin (2.5). After surrendering 29 points in its first two games, Ithaca ranks 35^th in the nation in scoring defense.
 
Sophomore linebacker Dan Loizos was named Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Week after recording nine tackles (seven solo) while recovering two fumbles and forcing another against Hobart. Loizos leads the team with 19 total tackles (13 solo) in two games, including three tackles for a loss.
 
"We definitely had a great win, but we're putting that behind us and have just been trying to have a great week of practice and get ready for Alfred. They have a great offense and a lot of good skill guys," Loizos said of a Saxons squad that is scoring 33.3 points while allowing 23.7 points per game.

"Coach Mac puts a lot of pride in this defense and we have a lot of tradition here. We take a lot of pride in our defense, and all good defenses love to play with great physicality. We're just trying to come out, play hard and make our alums proud. We're playing as one and that's made us a great defense."

Seniors Tijah Henderson, Logan Murphy and Kyle Smith have excelled in stuffing the run and getting good pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

Led by seniors Malik Morris and Ryan Michaels, junior Anthony Skretny, and sophomore Jordan Schemm, the secondary has excelled in pass coverage, breaking up 15 passes.

Before the season started, several veterans on defense switched positions, including seniors Noah Poskanzer and Schnayder Termidor. Poskanzer was converted from a safety to a linebacker, while Termidor switched to linebacker from the defensive line.

While it has been an adjustment, Termidor said the personnel changes have paid off, and the on-field results back up that assessment. Through two games, Ithaca is allowing only 65 rushing yards and 157.5 passing yards per contest.

"It was definitely a difficult transition, but a lot of the other linebackers really helped me learn the schemes," Termidor said. "I'm used to reading a tackle in front of me as I rush the quarterback, but now I get to see the whole defense. Since I did a lot of pass rushing last year, it's great to be able to rush from the edge. I have a lot more space so it gives me a lot more time to make a play. Our defense is really good at swarming to the ball. When someone makes a tackle or misses a tackle someone else is there to clean it up so no one can gain extra yards."

A win over Alfred would give Ithaca a 3-0 record for the fourth straight season. This year's meeting is the 56th all-time, with Ithaca leading the series 37-16-2, including winning 13 of the previous 17 contests.
 
Welch sports a 14-5 record all-time vs. the Saxons. The game carries special significance for Welch, and for the Ithaca football program.
 
Friday night, before a sold-out Athletics and Events Center crowd, Welch will be inducted into the Ithaca College Athletics Hall of Fame for a decorated coaching career that has seen him compile a 162-67 record (.707 winning percentage).
 
Additionally, the 1965 football team, the only undefeated Ithaca squad in program history, will be inducted during the festivities Friday night. Welch, the 1965 team, and eight other individuals/teams will be honored with induction during the 46^th annual Hall of Fame ceremony.
 
"Coach Welch is very well known in Ithaca, and for him to get into the Hall of Fame and for the undefeated 1965 team to be inducted, we want to represent those guys well," Bradley said. "We're hyped up for every game, but especially for homecoming. We want to honor those guys for their commitment, and the time and sacrifice they made while they were here at IC. We don't want to let those people down."