UTICA GAME NOTES

ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College football team will look to secure its fifth win of the season as the Bombers travel to Utica College for a non-conference kickoff at 1 p.m. at Utica's Charles A. Gaetano Stadium. This will mark just the second time that Ithaca and Utica have played as non-conference foes. The Bombers and Pioneers were Empire 8 Conference rivals from 2002-16.

GAME COVERAGE:

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SERIES HISTORY: Saturday's game marks the 17^th overall meeting between the two schools. Ithaca and Utica have played each other each year since 2001, when the Utica football program was established. Ithaca leads the all-time series 14-2 and has shutout the Pioneers four times, with the largest margin of victory being 66-0 in favor of the Bombers in 2001. Utica earned its two victories in the matchup in 2011 (20-15) and 2015 (30-27 in overtime). Over the past eight meetings, the score has been decided by less than a touchdown.
 
DaDaDa DaDaDa: The last time the two teams played at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium, the Bombers ended up on SportsCenter's Top 10 plays. Skyler Kauf '16 picked the ball up off a Utica receiver's' back after Malik Morris '15 forced the ball out on the way down from the would-be reception. The play was tabbed the No. 4 play of the day, with Kevin Connors '97 calling the highlight. Ithaca fought back from a 24-0 deficit to force overtime, but fell in the extended frame 30-27.
 
D'HAITI'S BIG DAY: Sophomore running back Isaiah D'Haiti rushed for a career-high three touchdowns last weekend against St. John Fisher. D'Haiti now has five touchdowns on the season, which ties him with fellow sophomore Will Gladney for the most on the team and third in the Liberty League. The sophomore from Naples, Fla. Is averaging 6.0 yards a carry, with a net total of 197 yards on 33 rushes. D'Haiti is the first IC running back to score three touchdowns in a game since 2009, when Thomas Bergerstock '10 accomplished the feat against Utica.
 
BAUER BALLIN' OUT: Senior wide receiver Jared Bauer also had a career day, reeling in two touchdown passes from freshman Wahid Nabi. Prior to the game, Bauer had one career touchdown reception, which came last season against Brockport. Bauer finished the day with three receptions for a total of 46 yards.
 
NABI BOUNCES BACK: Nabi had a completion percentage of 87.5-percent, connecting on 21-of-24 passes against St. John Fisher. It marks the second-highest completion percentage in Ithaca football history, trailing only Brian Young who completed 88.9% in a game in 1999. Nabi has a completion percentage of 64.3% (119-of-183) on the season, which ranks second in the Liberty League. For his efforts, Nabi was once again named Liberty League and ECAC Rookie of the Week.
 
DEFENSE STANDS TALL IN SECOND HALF: After Fisher went 5-for-10 on third down conversions in the first half, the Bombers' defense held the Cardinals to just 1-of-7 on third down in the second half. The defense held Fisher scoreless in the second half, limiting the Cardinals to 75 yards of total offense.
 
SCOUTING THE PIONEERS: Utica enters the matchup with an overall mark of 3-4, but the Pioneers are a perfect 3-0 at home. Utica has three rushers that have eclipsed the 300-yard mark on the season (Malcom Stowe – 385, Nicodemus Gambill – 378, and Vinny Aloi – 328). All three of them have broken off runs for more than 44 yards this season and have accounted for 12 of the team's 15 rushing touchdowns.
 
QUATERBACK DUO: The Pioneers rotate Peyton Miller and Vinny Aloi at the quarterback position. Miller, who had appeared in five games, has thrown for 472 yards, two touchdowns and six interceptions on 47-of-102 passing. Aloi, who has appeared in four games, has thrown for 510 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions on 47-of-80 passing, in addition to 328 on the ground and three rushing touchdowns. 

ART OF THE SACK: Through seven games this season, the Utica defense has tallied 20 sacks from 14 different players. Robbie Schempp leads the way with 3.5, and has also notched 9.0 tackles for loss.

UP NEXT: Ithaca will play its final Liberty League game of the season next Saturday at home against Union College at 1 p.m. A win for the Bombers will put them in position to clinch the Liberty League championship and earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament.  Union and RPI play the following Saturday, so Ithaca will find out its fate at the conclusion of that contest.

Next Saturday also mark the 125th anniversary celebration on South Hill, as well as Senior Day.

The following Saturday, November 11, Ithaca hosts Cortland for the 59th Cortaca Jug Game at 12 p.m.

STATISTICS:

ITHACA | UTICA