Brockport drops regular season finale to Utica

By: Mateo Ortiz / Sports Writer

UTICA, NY - With an at-large bid in the NCAA Division III Football Tournament on the line, the Brockport Golden Eagles traveled to ABM Field at Charles E. Gaetano Stadium to take on the Utica Pioneers in the final Empire 8 contest of the season. Despite an outstanding second-half effort by the Golden Eagles defense, the offense struggled to get anything going for the majority of the game in a 14-9 loss.

The Golden Eagles went into the contest without their star wide receiver, Nolan Slwyka, who was out due to an injury he suffered in last week's game versus Cortland. Brockport also went into this game with a new starting quarterback, as Anthony Vino started in place of Zymier Jackson.

Brockport special teams got off to a quick start when KR Micah Harry returned the opening kickoff 71 yards to the Utica 26-yard line, giving the Golden Eagles prime starting field position. The Golden Eagles would go three-and-out on that drive; however, K Chris Bascetta would kick a 37-yard field goal to give Brockport an early 3-0 lead.

On the ensuing Pioneers drive, the Golden Eagles would hold Utica to a 4th-and-15 at the Brockport 33-yard line after a nine-play drive. A deep throw by Pioneers QB Tyler Szalkowski to his streaking WR Tyshawn Taylor would lead to a diving touchdown grab, giving the Pioneers the lead midway through the first quarter.

The Golden Eagles would go three-and-out on their next drive. On fourth down, P Connor Parker would have his punt blocked by TE Logan Hewitt to give Utica possession in the Brockport red zone. Utica would only need two plays to get into the end zone as TE Logan Frederick trucked his way past multiple Brockport defenders to give Utica a 14-3 lead with 5:43 left in the opening quarter.

Vino would be pulled from the game for Jackson at the end of the first quarter, ending his day going 1/4 for -2 yards passing.

There would be no more scoring until the beginning of the fourth quarter, but that didn't mean there was a lack of entertainment on the field, as there would be six combined turnovers by both teams until the next scoring drive.

With 8:20 left in the second quarter, an underthrown ball by Jackson to RB Allan Paul would be intercepted by Pioneers DB Andrew Lake, the first of many turnovers by both teams in the afternoon.

Utica would turn the ball over on their next drive as LB Austyn Gollnitz would force RB Drevariis Yeomas to fumble at the Brockport 20-yard line, their first on the afternoon.

Jackson would throw his second interception on the next drive after being pressured by LB Luke Sheldon, forcing a throw to WR Nathan Williams, which would be picked off by DB Tahjir Fernand, his sixth of the season.

RB Derrion Battle would come into the game to start the second half after Paul was taken out of the game briefly with an injury. On his first play from scrimmage, Battle would fumble the ball, leading to the Golden Eagles' third turnover of the game.

After Brockport forced a three-and-out with 7:34 to go in the third quarter, Battle would fumble the ball once again after a seven-yard gain, recovered by Utica DL Nicholas DeForrest, leading to Brockport's fourth and final turnover of the game. Battle would not return to the game following the fumble, ending his day with three carries for 11 yards and two fumbles.

Brockport special teams would come up big on the following possession, however, as LB Nazhier Wilson blocked a 30-yard field goal by Pioneers K Nico Duarte. Despite the next drive featuring a 33-yard run by Allan Paul, the Golden Eagles would turn the ball over on downs in the red zone.

The Golden Eagles would record their first interception of the game as DL Ari Gafell picked off Szalkowski, returning the ball to the Utica five-yard line, and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty by the Pioneers would lead to the ball being placed at the two-yard line. From there, it would take Paul two plays to get into the end zone as he would record a two-yard TD to cut the lead down to 14-9; Brockport would go for two after the TD, but an overthrown ball by Jackson to TE Xavier Smith kept the game at bae.

On the ensuing drive, after forcing a three-and-out, Brockport DB Alima Kamano would block a punt by Duarte, giving the Golden Eagles a prime opportunity to retake the lead for the first time since the first quarter.

That opportunity would not come to fruition, however, as after going for it on 4th and 1 at the Utica 10-yard line, Paul would be stuffed at the line of scrimmage, leading to a turnover on downs.

After two straight drives that would lead to punts, Utica would get the ball back with 2:48 to in regulation. On a 3rd and 6 at their own 17-yard line, Szalkowski would throw the ball deep down the middle to a diving Taylor, who would make the catch and seal the win for the Pioneers, clinching their second NCAA Division III Football Tournament appearance in program history.

The Golden Eagles only recorded 5 completions in the game; WR Dylan Caraballo led the team in receptions with two catches for 15 yards, and Smith led the team in yardage with 16, which came on his lone catch of the game. For the Pioneers, Frederick led the team in both yardage and catches, recording nine catches for 91 yards. The reigning Offensive Player of the Year in the Empire 8, Szalkowski went 22/35, throwing for 217 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

Utica ends its regular season with a 9-1 overall record, 6-1 in conference play; Brockport's regular season ends with a 7-3 overall record, going 5-2 in conference play. While Utica will be playing in the NCAA tournament, Brockport will likely be hosting a bowl game at Bob Boozer Field next Saturday against an opponent TBD.

The opponents for both Brockport and Utica next Saturday will be determined tomorrow at 5 p.m. during the selection show, which will be streamed live on NCAA.com