Box Score

UTICA, NY -- Senior quarterback Drew Connolly became the fifth quarterback in Union College football history to pass for 5,000 yards in a career, but the Dutchmen lost at Utica College, 28-27 Saturday night at Charles Gaetano Stadium in front of 4,075. The Pioneers improved to 2-0 while Union fell to 0-2.

Connolly joins Anthony Marotti '06, Ben Gilbert '01, Brett Russ '91 and Dan Stewart '84 with 5,000 or more career passing yards. Connolly hit Eric Zavadsky with an 18 yard pass on a fourth and two for his first completion of the game that put him at 5,016 yards. He finished this game completing 16 of 27 for 228 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Union's Justin Gallo had his 10th career 100 yard receiving game, finishing with 137 yards on seven catches, including a 15 yard TD from Connolly. Dylan Schuck had his first career 100 yard rushing game, with 107 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries.

Noah Joseph, last week's Liberty League Defensive Player of the Week, led the Dutchmen with eight tackles and a tackle for a loss. Adam Henry had field goals of 22 and 29 yards.

Utica rallied from a five point deficit in the fourth quarter, taking the lead after a 7-play, 60 yard touchdown drive with 3:20 left, to lift the Pioneers to a 28-27 victory in their home opener against Union College Saturday night in front of 4,075 fans. Andrew Benkwitt completed 27-of-35 passes for 337 yards and two touchdowns. Jamie Murphy had a career-day, catching a game-high eight balls for 153 yards and two touchdowns, including a key 54 yard touchdown grab in the fourth quarter.

On the first drive of the game, the Dutchmen marched 62 yards on 11 plays, capped by a 10 yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Drew Connolly to Tim Hersey to put Union on top, 7-0, early. Connolly finished the day with 16 completions for 228 yards and two touchdowns and became the fifth quarterback in Union College football history to pass for 5,000 yards in a career.

The Pioneers had trouble converting on third down in the first half as three drives resulted in field goals by junior kicker Seth Mitchell. Mitchell connected on field goals of 22 yards, 20 yards and he also added a 38 yarder to close out the first half of play. Union's Adam Henry also added a first quarter field goal and the Dutchmen held a one point lead, 10-9, as the first half clock expired. The two teams were equally matched in the first half with the Pioneers barely edging the visitors in total offense yards, 204-181.

The second half featured three lead changes, with the Pioneers coming out on top late in the fourth quarter. Murphy's 13 yard touchdown catch in the corner of the end zone capped a six play, 45 yard drive early in the third quarter to give Utica its first lead of the game, 16-10, less than two minutes into the third quarter.

Union answered right back with two consecutive touchdowns to take an eight point lead, 24-16, with 13:54 to go in the contest. Gallo caught a 15 yard touchdown pass from Connolly, and Schuck capped an incredible 98 yard drive with a nine yard touchdown run to give the Dutchman the advantage early in the fourth. Union's 98 yard touchdown drive was a result of a key interception on their own two yard line by junior linebacker Jeff DeVico. DeVico finished the day with ten tackles and he also broke up one pass.

Murphy was able to respond for UC with his 54 yard touchdown reception just 50 seconds later, but the Pioneers were unable to capitalize on the two-point conversion attempt and Union clung to a two point lead, 24-22, with 13:40 to go in regulation.

Union's ensuing drive ate up 6:45 of the clock and resulted in a 29 yard field goal from the foot of senior kicker Adam Henry to give the visitors a five point lead.

The Pioneers next drive proved to be the game-winner. Benkwitt led UC on a seven-play 60 yard march, set up by a 47 yard reception from Murphy, before junior tight end Matt Dunn caught his third touchdown of the season to put the Pioneers on top by one. UC failed to convert on the two-point try and held a 28-27 lead with 3:20 to go in the game.

Union was successful on 4-of-4 fourth down conversions until the final drive of the contest when the Pioneer defense came up huge when it had to, and stopped the Dutchmen on fourth down with 1:51 to go to seal the one point victory for UC.  Eric Rindo made a career-high 15 stops for UC, while Jerrod Clowes added a career-best 11 tackles. Dana Christofferson made a career-high ten tackles and junior safety Luke Manolescu added nine stops to pace the Pioneer defense.

Next Saturday will be the Union home opener at 1 p.m. against Ithaca College at Frank Bailey Field.