For the first time in the history of the program, Utica College has started the season 3-0. Utica defeated Becker College 78-19 in the season opener follwed by a 59-22 win over Castleton State College in week 2. This past Saturday, Utica put a whooping on RPI in the home opener, doubling them up, 42-21 at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium in front of the home crowd.
Starting the season 3-0 for the first time (all non-conference games) is a huge accomplishment for the program. Head Coach Blaise Faggiano has managed to completely turn the program around and build a solid, high scoring offense that has never been seen from Utica.
Pioneer's High Powered Offense
Second year starting quarterback, Andrew Benkwitt is the real deal. In their three contests, Andrew has thrown the ball for 968 yards and 10 touchdowns (long of 74) with a completion percentage of 68.5 (61 for 89) while only being intercepted twice. For the math majors out there, that's an average of 322 yards per game. By the way, his backup, Jared Keyte (Junior), is 10 of 11 for 138 yards and a touchdown in the time he's seen.
What makes Benkwitt's numbers stand out even more is the receiving corps and how much they spread the ball around. The Pioneers favorite target, freshman Anthony Acevedo has pulled in 19 balls for 415 yards and 4 touchdowns, averaging 138 yards per game. Acevedo leads the team in all receiving categories. Jeremy Meier (junior) and Matt Dunn (sophomore) both have 13 catches and 2 touchdowns a piece while averaging over 10 yards per catch each. Junior, Joshua Mason has 11 catches for 211 yards (19 yards per catch) for 2 touchdowns as well.
Last years running back, Zachary Jones (junior) has carried the ball 14 times for 132 yards and 1 touchdown. Although Jones is averaging 9.4 YPC with a long run of 57 yards, he is only averaging 66 YPG on limited carries with Sophomore Jake Scott taking the bulk of the load with 56 carried for 286 yards and 7 scores on the ground. Jake is averaging just under 100 yards per game and 5.1 YPC with a long run of 31 yards. Sophomore Chris Cobb also has 2 rushing touchdowns on 10 carries with a 6.4 YPC average. Utica Freshmen, Justin Becker and Barrington Wallace each have 1 touchdown on their 2 carries a piece.
Shutdown Defense
While the Pioneer offense has posted amazing numbers of 368 YPG passing and 177 YPG rushing, the defense has also done their job by holding opponents to 131 rushing yards and 182 passing yards per game. After the graduation of D-III All-Star linebacker, Eric Kahl, the defense is led by Senior linebackers, Travis Ladd (38 Total Tackels, 3.5 TFL, 1.5 Sack and 1 INT) and Kevin Hennion (30 TT, 1 TFL). Sophomore linebakcer Genaro Scampone (26 TT, 2.5 TFL, 1.5 Sacks and 1 Fum Rec) is third on the list for the Pioneer defense.
The buzz is swirling around between the alumni and others about the 2010 Utica College Pioneers. The new traditions are being set and winning is becoming something that they are driven to do. From all of us that were there at the beginning; Coach Faggiano and every member of the staff, trainers, players and supporters, thank you so much for giving us the ability to look at all of the recent success and know that everything we did in the past was worth it, that it really did lead to something with meaning and purpose. Thank You All! and Congratulations on the great start.
Next week, Saturday 9/25/10, (3-0) Utica College takes on (1-1) Wilkes University (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania) in the 2010 homecoming game at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium at 2 PM. Make sure you're there to cheer on your team.
Thanks to Utica College Head Coach Blaise Faggiano and Christopher Penree for the 2010 Utica College Pioneer photos. You can buy Utica College Pioneer Photo's from Christopher Penree at Green Couch Studios. If you're interested in attending Utica College and playing for a great program, fill out a Utica College Football Recruiting Form.
Actually the home opener was against RPI this past weekend. Castleton was away in PA.
-Chris Penree
Thanks Chris, I must have made the error when I was looking at the Utica schedule on the homepage. I will correct it. I appreciate the correction, that way everything is perfect, just like the 3-0 start.
-Josh Gans
Great Josh! A well written article! And thanks for the photo creds. FEAR THE MOOSE! Homecoming next week!
Hey Josh. I don’t know if you remember me, Coach Palmisano. Glad to see that you are doing well and I loved your article. You are right…we couldn’t be where we are now without having so many good young men pass through here (like yourself ). I know things didn’t always turn out the way we wanted and sometimes it wasn’t very easy to be a Pioneer, but as one of the original coaches who has laughed and cried through those first several years, let me tell you, the Pioneers today are as proud of all of you as you are of us. You were the REAL pioneers of the program and you will always have an important place in our success…..fear the moose!!
-Coach P
Of course I remember you Coach P. I remember every player, coach and staff that was a part of the program and that’s why it all still sticks with me today. Things may not have been ideal for the way it ended for me, but I will never forget all the hard work that every single player on that team put in from the top, down. That’s why it’s so important to me that the program has begun to go in the direction that it has.
Hopefully we will see each other sometime during the season. I may not be able to make it to homecoming, but I’m hoping to get a big following to be at the game at Springfield.
-Josh Gans