SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Ithaca College football team maintained its hold atop the Liberty League as the Bombers earned a crucial road victory at Union College on Saturday, 35-14. Ithaca is now 6-1 on the season and 5-0 in the Liberty League after the Bombers shutout Union in the second half.
Ithaca punted on its opening drive and Union quickly moved into IC territory on a long pass completion, but the drive stalled and the Garnet Chargers turned the ball over on downs.
The Bombers were once again stopped, but an offsides penalty on a punt continued the drive and Ithaca capitalized on the chance. Ithaca would go on to march 77 yards on 11 plays to take a 7-0 lead after
Colin Schumm caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from
Michael Reed with 6:38 remaining in the first quarter.
Schumm also caught a 24-yard reception on the drive to move Ithaca inside the red zone.
Union took the lead, 8-7, with just over a minute left in the quarter on a 20-yard pitch-and-catch from Luke Sheehan to Evan Anderson and then punched in a 2-point conversion.
The Bombers were forced to punt following the Union score, but a roughing the kicker penalty prolonged the drive. IC then faced a 3rd-and-21 and Reed connected with
Nicholas Lang for a 59-yard strike down to the Union 3-yard line, which set up a touchdown run by
Chris Scully two plays later to put the Bombers back ahead, 14-8, with 10:56 to play in the half.
IC had an opportunity to tack on another score midway through the quarter, but a 36-yard field goal attempt from
Andrew Rice sailed just wide right to keep the game at 14-8.
The Garnet Chargers answered with a 91-yard scoring drive to tie the game at 14-14 with 1:38 to go after a failed 2-point conversion. Union used a pair of 30-plus-yard completions on the drive to move into IC territory and down into the red zone.
On IC's next drive, the Bombers were flagged for holding on the initial snap, but Union was then handed 30 yards of penalties for pass interference and unsportsmanlike contact to spot that ball at midfield. Following that, Reed found Scully on a pass over the middle down to the Union 24, accompanied by a roughing the passer on Union to spot IC at the 12.
Two plays later, Reed scampered into the end zone for a 12-yard score to give IC a 21-14 advantage with just a few seconds left before halftime. Union had one final chance to put some points on the board, but
Jake Green forced a fumble and
RJ Boynton recovered to end the half.
Union chewed up five minutes of clock to start the third quarter, but the drive came to an end on a turnover on downs inside Ithaca's 20-yard line.
IC opened its drive with an 8-yard run on Scully and another unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Union moved Ithaca up to the 40. Scully followed with a 10-yard jaunt to midfield, but a penalty and sack ended the possession and IC had to punt.
The Garnet Chargers ate up most of the quarter from there, but a forced fumble and recovery by
Carson Ciancuielli gave the ball back to IC with 1:04 remaining in the quarter at its own 25-yard line.
Ithaca was unable to capitalize on the takeaway and punted down to the Union 10-yard line to begin the fourth quarter. Union managed to get up to midfield before turning the ball over on downs after a tackle for loss by
Joe Spirra with 8:59 to go in the game.
At the 7:10 mark, Reed connected with
Antwan Harvey for a 33-yard touchdown strike to extend Ithaca's lead to 28-14. IC put the game out of reach following the 2-minute timeout as Scully rushed in from eight yards to make it 35-14.
Henry Takacs ended the contest with an interception.
Reed finished the day with 178 yards passing on 11-of-20 attempts and two touchdowns. He also ran for 50 yards on 19 attempts and another score.
Scully rushed for 93 yards on 20 carries and two scores to move into the top nine all-time on the single season rushing touchdown list. Lang led the receivers with 63 yards on three receptions.
Spirra and
Chase Smith paced the defense with nine tackles each as the defensive unit forced three turnovers, notched 9.0 tackles for loss and held Union to 68 yards rushing. Boynton,
Marcus Boyle and
Davin Foote all notched six tackles.
Ithaca was outgained in the contest, 400-317, but was the beneficiary of 11 Union penalties for 122 yards.
Ithaca remains on the road next week to play at Buffalo State at 3 p.m. on October 31.
