BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Union College football team rounded out the final road game of the regular season with a 43-17 win over Buffalo State University Saturday afternoon at Coyer Field.
The Union offense racked up 462 yards of total offense including 270 through the air. Senior
Michael Fiore registered three touchdowns and 110 rushing yards on 22 carriers on the afternoon. Senior
Donovan Pacatte went 18-28 for 270 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore
Dan Quinn registered his first collegiate touchdown in the victory. Junior
Robbie Tolbert made his lone catch count for a 28-yard touchdown reception.
Junior kicker
Max Gluck turned in another strong game this season going 3-for-3 on field goals and 4-for-5 on PATs.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Garnet Chargers held the Bengals' ground attack to only 79 yards. The defense registered three interceptions. Junior
James Gillespie had two interceptions and 35 total return yards. Gillespie is the first Union player to register two interceptions in a game since Evan Gilland '20 on October 5, 2019 against Hobart. Senior
Spencer Goldstien recorded 10 tackles, four solo, and a pair of pass breakups.
The Garnet Chargers wasted no time getting on the board and scored on the opening drive of the game. After three straight runs by Fiore and an incomplete pass, Fiore struck paydirt on a two-yard run to put Union up early. The Bengals went three-and-out to give Union the ball back. Pacatte connected with sophomore
Isaiah Russell on a 30-yard pass before finding Tolbert on a 28-yard reception for the score. The Bengals connected on a 27-yard field goal on the ensuing drive to cut the lead 14-3.
The visitors started the second quarter on the Buffalo 15-yard line. Fiore cut right for an 11-yard gain before going the final four yards in the next snap to push Union's lead to 18 points. Gillespie made the first of his two interceptions during the Bengals' following drive, picking off Noah Kimble's pass at the Union 25-yard line and running in back to the Union 42-yard line. The Garnet Chargers turned the interception into points with a 34-yard field goal by Gluck. Senior
Andrew Lau had a 60-yard kickoff to pin the ball at the Buffalo State five-yard line, but Darion Jones ran it back 95 yards for the touchdown to make it a 24-10 game. Union added a second field goal in the first half with a 40-yard kick through the uprights with 1:34 to go, matching Gluck's previous career-long set on September 15 against Springfield. Senior
Nathan Sullivan intercepted Kimble at midfield and ran it back 20 yards, setting Union up for another scoring opportunity with less than 10 seconds to go. Senior
Kevin Rabacs made a 14-yard reception to get the ball to the Bengals' 21-yard line. Gluck added his third field goal in the opening half, a 38-yard kick, to give Union a 30-10 lead at halftime.
The second half started with back-and-forth drives by both teams before Gillespie struck again for his second interception of the afternoon. The junior made an 18-yard return to set Union up at the Buffalo State 27-yard line with 4:03 to play in the third. Pacatte connected with first-year
Dan Quinn on a seven-yard reception before Fiore rushed for three straight snaps and a touchdown. The Bengals responded immediately in their next drive. Kimble found Nicholas Bruce on a 55-yard touchdown pass to make it 37-17.
The Union defense held the Bengals scoreless in the final frame, but the offense was not finished. Deep in Buffalo State territory, Pacatte made a short pass up the middle to Quinn, who ran it in for a seven-yard touchdown reception and the final score of the game.
Union closes out the regular season with the 73rd annual Dutchman Shoes game and senior day. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. at Frank Bailey Field at Bertagna-Class of 1985 Stadium.
