ALFRED, N.Y. – The Ithaca College football team suffered a 20-6 loss to open its Empire 8 Conference schedule at Alfred University on Saturday afternoon. With the loss, Ithaca is now 1-2 on the season, while Alfred improves to 4-0.

Ithaca forced Alfred into a three-and-out to start the game. The Bombers took over at their own 11-yard line after a 50-yard punt and picked up one first down before throwing an interception with just under 12 minutes left in the quarter.

The Bombers' defense stalled the Saxons on the ensuing sudden change possession, and another punt was launched in the air. Ithaca would take over at its own 22, but another interception was thrown and returned 25 yards for a pick-6 to give Alfred an early 7-0 lead in the opening period.

Late in the second quarter, Alfred went ahead, 14-0, after a 16-play, 93-yard drive was capped off by a 9-yard pass from Tyler Johnson to Brendan Buisch in the back corner of the end zone.

The Saxons had a chance to add more points to their total with just over a minute remaining in the half, but a turnover on downs at IC's 23-yard line ended the threat.

In the first half, Ithaca was only able to generate 38 yards of offense, compared to 202 for Alfred.

The teams would trade punts over the first four possessions of the third quarter to burn nearly 11 minutes off the clock. Ithaca would attempt a fake punt with 4:26 remaining, but was unsuccessful, and set up a short field for Alfred. The Saxons would capitalize on the short field with a 30-yard drive to go up, 20-0. Alfred's point-after was blocked.

Ithaca would find the end zone with 4:57 left in the contest on a 28-yard pass from Wolfgang Shafer to JR Zazzara, but the extra point rang off the upright to make the eventual final score, 20-6.

The Bombers finished the game with 169 yards, while Alfred accumulated 322. Ithaca passed for 173 yards, but went for negative-four in rushing.

Shafer finished the game 15-of-27 passing for 152 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions. Jack Yule caught six passes for 57 yards, while Zazzara hauled in three for 43 yards.

Defensively, Kenny Bradley notched a game-high 12 tackles and one for a loss. Dan Loizos added 11 tackles.

Pat Minogue booted a career-long punt of 47 yards in the game and averaged 38.3 yards per punt on the day.

The Bombers are back at home next Saturday, October 1 at 1 p.m. against Utica College.