ITHACA, N.Y. – The nationally ranked No. 13 Ithaca College football team will play its second straight home game in as many weeks as Alfred University will come to Butterfield Stadium this Saturday, September 17 for a 1 p.m. kickoff. Ithaca is 2-0 on the year, while former Empire 8 rival, Alfred, is 0-2.

GAME COVERAGE

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ALL-TIME SERIES: Ithaca and Alfred will meet for the 62nd time dating back to 1933 – the second-longest rivalry in IC football history. The Bombers own an overall record of 41-18-2 against the Saxons and are currently on a three-game winning streak after a 34-0 win last season. IC is also 21-6-2 at home against Alfred.

The Bombers' longest winning streak against Alfred is eight games between 1996 and 2005 with an average margin of victory of 27 points during that time. Alfred dominated the series early in the rivalry, as the Saxons won five straight from 1951 to 1956 and allowed just 18 points in that five-game stretch.

RECAP AGAINST BROCKPORT: Ithaca returned to Butterfield Stadium for its home opener last Saturday and did not disappoint the Bombers faithful as IC posted a 24-0 shutout over Brockport. The home-opening shutout was the first for IC since 2004 against Buffalo State, a 45-0 win.

Ithaca built a 17-0 lead after a quarter of play and never looked back. After a Nicholas Bahamonde field goal, the IC defense forced a fumble and recovered at the Brockport 34-yard line. On the next play, A.J. Wingfield connected with Jalen Leonard-Osbourne for a touchdown. The lead grew to 17 late in the quarter as Wingfield found Julien Deumaga for a 2-yard score.

IC's final touchdown came on a 20-yard pass from Wingfield to Michael Anderson in the third quarter.

Brockport outgained Ithaca, 266-243, in the contest, but the Golden Eagles were just 5-for-18 on third down and 1-for-6 on fourth down.

DESIMPLICIIS HONORED BY LIBERTY LEAGUE: Matt DeSimpliciis played a major role in Ithaca's 24-0 shutout of Brockport as he logged 12 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one sack and a fumble recovery. His fumble recovery led to a touchdown for IC on the first play of the drive. DeSimpliciis would be named Liberty League Defensive Performer of the Week on September 12.

Wingfield and Michael Roumes found a place on the honor roll as well.

Wingfield threw for 166 yards and three touchdowns on 15-of-27 through the air. Wingfield's touchdown passes covered 34, 2 and 20 yards. He also ran for 16 yards in the game.

Roumes recorded eight punts for 297 yards, an average of 37.1 yards, in the win. Roumes placed two punts inside the 20-yard line, and one traveled 52 yards. He also made nine tackles on defense with a pass breakup and half sack.

CONTINUING TO CLIMB AND SHAKE-UP IN TOP 25: The Bombers continue to move up the D3football.com Top 25 Poll as IC now sits at No. 13, a three-spot jump from Week 1.

A new No. 1 team was selected this week as North Central vaulted to the top after Mary Hardin-Baylor lost to Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Three new teams entered the top 25 after previously ranked teams, Salisbury, RPI and Hobart all lost to fall out of the poll. The new additions are Carnegie Mellon, Wisconsin-Platteville and Washington & Jefferson.

NCAA STATISICAL LEADERS: Through two games this season, Ithaca ranks top 30 across Division III in the following team categories.

1st in fourth down conversion (3-3)
4th in kick return average (35 YPR)
16th in scoring defense (7.0 PPG)
26th in fewest penalties per game (4)

CORTACA JUG TICKETS: Campus ticket sales to the 63rd Cortaca Jug game at Yankee Stadium are currently on sale until 12 p.m. on September 18. All Ithaca College students, faculty and staff can use their valid IC email address to purchase tickets at a discounted rate.

SCOUTING ALFRED: The Saxons have begun the year 0-2 after a 36-6 loss to Hobart and a 43-37 setback to Mount St. Joseph. Alfred is averaging 21.5 points and 335.0 yards per game.

Darviae Gray was recently named the Co-Offensive Player of the Week by the Empire 8 after catching six passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns. Gray has 183 yards and 10 catches on the year.

Zuke Smith has thrown for 322 yards on 18 completions and three touchdowns. Max Freeman is the top running back for the Saxons with 178 yards and three scores on 52 carries.

Joe Copp paces the defense with 17 total tackles and 3.0 tackles for loss. Wyatt Kiff has 12 tackles and two for a loss this season, while Danny Quinones has 3.0 TFL and a sack, with 11 total tackles.

Zach Johnson has been a weapon on special teams with an average of 38.9 yards per punt. Johnson has placed five punts inside the 20-yard line and four punts have resulted in fair catches.

UP NEXT: Ithaca heads into a bye week and will return to action on October 1 at Hobart College at 1 p.m. for its Liberty League opener.