ITHACA, NY -- The Ithaca College football team (2-0) rallied to beat Union (0-3) 27-24 in overtime Saturday at Butterfield Stadium. Junior quarterback Phil Neumann threw two touchdown passes in the final three minutes and added a third for the game-winning score in overtime.
The Bombers trailed 21-7 with 2:49 left in regulation before Neumann threw a pair of touchdown passes 70 seconds apart as Ithaca forced overtime. In the extra session he connected on a four-yard pass to Joseph Ingrao to win the game after the Bomber defense held the Dutchmen to a field goal on their possession.
Union gained two first downs on its overtime possession (the Bombers won the toss and elected to play defense) to advance to the Ithaca five-yard line before Bomber defense took over. After Connor Eck got to the Ithaca one-yard line on first down (Jake Santora kept him out of the end zone), the Dutchmen fumbled the snap on second down and Brian Hardenberg brought the quarterback down for a two-yard loss. Hardenberg burst through the line on third down for a 10-yard sack to force Union to settle for a field goal. Tosin Kazeem booted the 30 yard field goal for the Dutchmen.
Ingrao's game-winning touchdown came two plays after the Dutchmen were called for pass interference on a third-down play from the 20-yard line. Ingrao caught the ball in the back corner of the end zone.
Ithaca's late rally started with 6:23 left in regulation after the Dutchmen drove 99 yards for a touchdown and extra point that gave them a 14-point lead. Darnell Thomas capped the 18-play, 9:01 possession with a two-yard touchdown run; the drive started when Union held the Bombers scoreless following a first-and-goal from the Union four (the Dutchmen also stopped Ithaca four times on a first-and-goal from the seven) and featured four third-down conversions and a 16-yard pass on fourth-and-15.
Neumann responded by driving the Bombers 71 yards in 3:34. He completed seven of eight passes on the nine-play drive, including a four-yard touchdown throw to senior fullback Michael Moon. The touchdown was the first of Moon's career.
The Bomber defense forced a three-and-out from Union with Josh Liemer recording tackles on first and second down and Joe Ricotta stopping T.J. Franzese a yard short of the marker on third and three. Union's punt attempt failed as the snap went over punter Daniel Estien's head and 20 yards behind him; he fell on the ball at his own four-yard line with 1:45 to go. On Ithaca's first play, Neumann found Steve DelMoro in the end zone for a touchdown and Garrett Nicholson kicked his third extra point of the day to tie the score.
Eck, who threw for 177 yards, opened the scoring with a 20-yard touchdown to Eric Zavadsky early in the second quarter. Late in the period, Franzese burst through the line on a fourth-and-one play for a 35-yard score. He led all rushers with 82 yards.
The Bomber defense contributed the team's first points; Tom Scanlon scooped up a fumble forced by Will Carter and returned it 56 yards for a touchdown.
Carter led Ithaca with a career-best 13 tackles. Liemer and Zach Matuszak added nine tackles apiece; Matuszak made five tackles for loss and Liemer was in on two. Santora and Dan Sheldon both had a pair of stops behind the line of scrimmage.
Neumann completed 20 of 35 passes for 190 yards. Ingrao caught seven passes (one short of his career high) for the second game in a row. DelMoro matched his career best with five receptions and JJ Crandall had four catches. Ardoin ran for 73 yards.
For Union, Noah Joseph had 10 solo tackles among his team-best 11 stops. Jafar Johnson recorded seven tackles and three pass break-ups. Jeff DeVico made six tackles and recovered a Bomber fumble to set up Eck's touchdown pass.
The Dutchmen travel to St. Lawrence for their Liberty League opener.
