ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College football team will host its second consecutive home game this Saturday, September 19 at 1 p.m. and open Liberty League play as Hilbert College visits Bertino Field at Butterfield Stadium.
GAME COVERAGE
ALL-TIME SERIES: Ithaca and Hilbert square off for the second all-time meeting between the two schools on Saturday. Ithaca won the first meeting last season, 65-3, after Hilbert was added as a member of the Liberty League.
A NIGHT UNDER THE LIGHTS: The Bombers shined bright last Saturday against Alfred in the first-ever night game played at Butterfield Stadium as IC took down the Saxons, 27-3.
Ithaca held Alfred to 22 yards rushing on 34 attempts and just 168 yards of total offense.
DOMINANT IN THE TRENCHES: A main reason for the lack of offensive production by Alfred on Saturday night was due to the pure dominance of the IC defensive line. The unit accounted for 32 total tackles with 9.0 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks in the victory.
The 7.0 sacks were the most for the Bombers since 2015 when IC racked up 9.0 sacks against Hartwick. Ithaca finished Saturday with 12.0 tackles for loss, which matched the most since 2018 against Rochester.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS FROM ALFRED: Michael Reed threw for 177 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 57 yards and another score.
Chris Scully eclipse 100 yards on the ground on 14 carries with a touchdown and he caught one pass for 17 yards, while
Nicholas Lang caught eight passes for 104 yards and a score, while also rushing for 23 yards on one touch.
Andrew Swierbut led the defense with 13 total tackles and a pass breakup, while
Joe Spirra added 10 tackles,
Jake Green finished with nine and
Nicholas Garzarella notched seven stops.
WELCOME TO THE CLUB: Brandon Maguire earned his first victory as head coach of the program on Saturday. Only five of the previous 10 coaches in program history earned their first win faster than Maguire.
OPENING LEAGUE PLAY: All eight Liberty League teams are in action this Saturday, but Ithaca vs. Hilbert is the only Liberty League matchup on the slate. The rest of the conference will begin Liberty League play during Week 4.
SCOUTING HILBERT: The Hawks are 0-2 this season after losses to Saint Vincent and Alfred State. Hilbert is averaging 9.0 points and 229.5 yards per game, while allowing 58.5 points and 479.0 yards.
Jeremy Ganska accounts for most of Hilbert's offensive production as he has rushed for 230 yards and three touchdowns and has six receptions for 47 yards. Noah Workman has thrown for 56 yards on 27 attempts, while Jeremiah Rey has 72 yards on the ground on 19 carries.
Defensively, Kaden Beckerink paces the unit with 10 tackles and one interception. Neven Dermady has nine tackles and a tackle for loss, while Amir Swanson has eight tackles.
UP NEXT: The Bombers are back at home for the third straight game next Saturday, September 19 at 1 p.m. against St. Lawrence.
