Brockport visits Utica with an at-large playoff bid on the line
By Nicholas Abeln / Sports Writer
The SUNY Brockport Golden Eagles (7-2, 5-1 E8) travel to face the No. 22-ranked Utica Pioneers (8-1, 5-1 E8) in a battle for second place in the Empire 8 conference. The SUNY Cortland Red Dragons have already clinched the title, with the winner of this game finishing second in the conference and having a strong case for an at-large bid for the NCAA Div. III Football Championship.
Brockport enters this game after suffering a 42-24 defeat at the hands of the Red Dragons. Brockport started strong with a 10-7 lead early, until Cortland scored 28 unanswered to put the game out of hand. Running back Alan Paul had two touchdowns on the ground, while tight end Xavier Smith caught quarterback Zymier Jackson’s only touchdown pass.
The Pioneers are on a four-game win streak and have beaten all their opponents by more than 20 points each game. In their last game against Hartwick College, Utica had three touchdowns on the ground by three different running backs. Tahjir Fernand also returned one of Ty'Lyn Blackwell-Williams' three interceptions 52 yards for a touchdown.
The winner of this game will essentially be guaranteed an at-large bid in the NCAA Div. III playoffs. Kickoff for the game is at 12 pm at ABM Field at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium, with pregame on 89.1 The Point starting at 11:30 am.
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