ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College football team returns to Butterfield Stadium this Saturday, October 12 after nearly a month away as the Bombers host undefeated University of Rochester for a 1 p.m. kickoff in Liberty League action.

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ALL-TIME SERIES: Ithaca and Rochester have played six times since the Bombers joined the Liberty League in 2017. IC has won all six of those matchups by an average score of 31 points per game (41.7 to 7.2). At home, the Bombers have only allowed the Yellowjackets to score a total of 13 points in two previous meetings (28-3 and 56-10).

CFCU DAY: The Ithaca College Department of Intercollegiate Athletics would like to welcome all members of CFCU to Butterfield Stadium on Saturday as part of CFCU Community Day on South Hill. All CFCU members who attend the game and show their membership card will receive free admission. CFCU is a proud community partner and generous supporter of Ithaca College Athletics.

BATH VETS AND ELKS LODGE: Also, in attendance this weekend will be the members of the Bath Veterans Association and members of the Ithaca Elks Lodge. This will be the 73rd year that the Elks Club #636 has brought the Bath Vets to Butterfield Stadium.

LAST TIME OUT: Ithaca fell to 1-3 on the season (the first time since 1995) after a 16-7 loss at Hobart last Saturday. The Bombers outgained Hobart, 313-256, and produced 23 first downs to just nine from the Statesmen, but IC turned the ball over on downs twice inside the 5-yard line to come away with no points on both drives.

Jalen Leonard-Osbourne rushed for 144 yards on 25 carries to pace the offense, while Matthew Parker scored the lone touchdown for IC on a 10-yard run. Parker also threw for 76 yards.

Defensively, Jake Connolly notched 12 tackles with a sack and interception. Andrew Swierbut also recorded an interception, to go along with five tackles, while Ryan Burns added eight stops.

JLO CLOSING IN: Leonard-Osbourne is approaching numerous career milestones, so let the countdown begin. Over 35 career games, he has amassed 1946 rushing yards on 321 carries and 17 touchdowns. He has also caught 79 passes for 835 yards with eight more scores and has 356 kick return yards on 14 tries.

Leonard-Osbourne enters Saturday's game No. 2 all-time in yards per carry (6.1), sixth in total touchdowns (25) and seventh in all-purpose yards (3137). He is also just seven points shy from cracking the top 10 in career points, and 150 yards, 64 carries and four touchdowns away from the top 10 in rushing categories.

VERY FEW YELLOW FLAGS: Ithaca and Rochester enter Saturday as two of the least penalized teams in Division III. The Bombers are fifth in fewest penalty yards per game (25.8), sixth in fewest penalty yards (103), ninth in fewest penalties (14) and 11th in fewest penalties per game (3.5). Rochester, on the other hand, is second in fewest penalties per game (2.2), third in fewest penalty yards per game (17.8), and fifth in fewest penalties (11) and penalty yardage (89).

LIBERTY LEAGUE ACTION: After the first weekend of Liberty League football, Rochester, Hobart and St. Lawrence are 1-0. RPI, Ithaca and Union lost those contests, while Buffalo State sits at 0-0. This weekend, St. Lawrence and RPI play each other, while Hobart and Buffalo State square off. Union is on a bye.

SCOUTING ROCHESTER: The Yellowjackets have emerged as one of the surprise teams in all of Division III football this season with a 5-0 start and have matched the 2023 wins total. Since 2016, UR has a combined overall record of 15-53, with 11 of those victories coming over the past three seasons.

Outside of the discipline previously stated in penalties, Rochester also ranks No.1 in Division III in red zone defense (.333) and turnovers gained (14). UR is also second in interceptions (11), fifth in passing efficiency defense (80.2), sixth in turnover margin (2) and eighth in kickoff returns (29.6).

The offense runs through Daniel Papantonis, who has 493 yards and five touchdowns on 98 carries this season. In three games against IC, he has averaged 83.7 yards per contest. Ryan Rose has thrown for 566 yards and six touchdowns, while Trey Johnson is the leading receiver with 251 yards on 28 catches and three scores. Johnson was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week for a 95-yard kick return touchdown against New England on September 28.

Jordy Tawa is the player to watch on defense as he has already intercepted five passes and was just named to the D3football.com Team of the Week for the second time this season.

Simon Weeren is the leading tackler with 41 total stops, while Daniel Santos is a menace in the backfield with 5.0 tackles for a loss of 20 yards, to go along with two interceptions. Luke Herter ranks second with 34 tackles, while Judah Thomas has three picks on the year and 21 tackles.

UP NEXT: Ithaca remains at home next Saturday, October 19 for a 1 p.m. kickoff against RPI.