SCHENECTADY, NY – Senior wide receiver Justin Gallo moved into second all-time in career receiving yards but the Union College football team lost the home opener, 37-18 to Ithaca at Frank Bailey Field Saturday afternoon. The Bombers improved to 2-1 overall while the Dutchmen fell to 0-3 overall. 
  

Union quarterback Drew Connolly had 198 yards on 17 completions with 28 attempts and two touchdowns. Gallo caught five passes for 76 yards and two touchdowns, and moved into second all-time in career receiving yards at Union with 2,419 yards. He passed Ryan Twitchell '06, who had 2,353, and trails only Steve Angiletta '06 (3,253). Steve Modliszewski led the Dutchmen and all players with 11 tackles, and Noah Joseph and Chris Paine recorded 10 tackles each.

 

Ithaca had 290 total yards in offense to Union's 288, and had 136 on the ground while holding Union to 90 yards rushing.

 

Hendel opened the scoring with 8:31 remaining in the first quarter, as he scampered in from seven yards out to cap a 13 play, 64 yard drive in 6:29. On the first play after the kickoff, the Bombers recovered a fumble at the Union 31 and four plays later, Andrew Rogowsky booted a 41 yard field goal for a 10-0 lead with 6:42 remaining in the quarter. Union got on the board with 2:27 left in the period. Connolly found Gallo for a 22 yard score to cap a nine play, 62 yard drive that consumed 4:09.

 

Ithaca made it a 10 point lead again with Naiden rushed in from six yards out just 2:11 into the second period. The nine play, 43 yard took 4:44. After the kick, the Bombers' Eric Toporoff intercepted a pass on the first play at the Union 41 and returned it to the 16. That set up the four play, 11 yard drive (that included a penalty) that took 2:04. Rogowski booted a 21 yard field goal for a 20-7 lead.

 

The Dutchmen had a strong drive going, which had started with 10:26 left in the first half. On the seventh play, that started on the Ithaca 19, Union had a 15 yard carry but fumbled at the Ithaca 4 and it was recovered by Josh Liemer to stifle the threat. Ithaca led 27-7 heading into the half after Hendel hit Ingrao for 36 yards with 37 seconds left, converting a 5:10 drive that had 66 yards on 10 plays. Ithaca had the ball for 21:47 of the first half.

 

Rogowski's third field goal of the day was a 31 yarder with 6:11 left in the third quarter. That scoring drive took seven plays and 2:55 and went 14 yards, after Union had to punt away from its own three yard line. But the Dutchmen got a 33 yard catch from Gallo with 5:05 left, and Connolly found Tim Hersey for the two point conversion for a 30-15 score.

 

Henry opened the fourth quarter scoring with a 20 yarder 13 seconds into the period, after a nine play, 64 yard drive that took 4:14. But the Bombers wrapped up the scoring on a one yard run from Hendel with 4:53 left in the fourth quarter, and a seven play, 19 yard drive in 3:37. That drive started with a Liemer interception at the Union 19 with 8:27 left.

 

The Dutchmen open Liberty League play Saturday, September 24 at the University of Rochester for a 12:05 p.m. kickoff. The Bombers are back on the road for the third straight week on September 24 with a 2 p.m. Empire 8 game at Hartwick.