MORRISVILLE, N.Y. – Host Morrisville State College hit the ground running and stunned visiting Empire 8 foe Ithaca College Saturday afternoon, posting the 24-14 conference victory on Drake Field in Morrisville.

With the win, Morrisville State improves to 4-3 overall and pull even in conference play at 3-3. The loss drops Ithaca to 2-3 in Empire 8 action, 4-3 overall.

Ithaca entered the contest ranked sixth overall in all of Division III in rushing defense, allowing opponents a mere 67.5 yards per game. The Mustangs, however, proved that they had the upper hand in today's game, posting a total 267 yards on the ground while adding another 215 through the air for 482 total yards offense in the contest.

Cristina Pena (Ridgewood, N.Y.) led all ball carriers with 116 yards and two scores on 23 carries for Morrisville State, adding a pass completion for 50 yards and a score.

Quarterback Cory Benedetto (Rochester, N.Y.) went 14-for-22 for the Mustangs under center for 165 yards, hitting Anthony Mella (Brooklyn, N.Y.) five times for 93 yards.

Marcus Jackson-Conner (Sodus, N.Y.) added 87 yards in the receiving game, including a 50-yard scoring pass play from Pena late in the third quarter.

Caleb Wright (Cortland, N.Y.) led the Mustang defensive unit that limited the Bombers to 261 total offensive yards on the day, notching 12 total stops, including eight solo tackles and two pass break ups.

Teammate Wallace Stephens (Kingston, N.Y.) added a 10 tackle effort, while fellow linebacker Colton Evans (West Winfield, N.Y.) registered eight stops, including two sacks for a loss of 20 yards, a total three tackles for a loss of 22 yards.

All of the Bombers offensive gain came in the passing game, as Morrisville State's defense held Ithaca to minus one-yard rushing throughout the day, while allowing just 262 through the air.

Starting quarterback Wolfgang Shafer went 10-for-22 for 90 yards before being replaced by John D'Onofrio who completed 18-of-38 pass attempts for 172 yards and two touchdown scores in the fourth quarter.

Josh Oliver was the go-to option for the visitors as he pulled in a total 16 catches for 134 yards and both tallies on the day. Jared Bauer added four receptions for 97 yards.

Defensively, three registered double figures for the Bombers in their efforts, including Malik Morris who had a team high 15 stops and a forced fumble. Standout Logan Murphy posted 10 tackles, including a sack for a loss of six yards, and another tackle for a loss of two yards, while blocking a Morrisville PAT. Dan Loizos added 10 stops.

After a scoreless first quarter, Morrisville State forced Ithaca to an early three-and-out series in the second and put together their longest drive of the day, capping off the 16-play, 80-yard drive with a one yard pound up center by Pena for a 6-0 Mustang lead with 5:26 go to before half. The Mustangs, known for their quick striking offense, maintained possession for nearly eight minutes of the quarter.

Pena's score was the lone tally of the first half by either team, and carried the Mustangs into the break with a 6-0 lead over the visitors.

Both teams played a midfield battle for a majority of the third quarter until the 4:25 mark when Pena, on the halfback option, hit a wide open Jackson-Conner on a 50-yard scoring pass play to extend the Mustang lead to 12-0.

Morrisville State went up 24-0 on the visitors early in the fourth, with Pena posting his second rushing score on a nine-yard run around the right corner just 1:14 into the final frame.

On the ensuing play, the Mustangs defensive unit forced Ithaca to their sixth three-and-out series on the day, regaining possession 26 seconds after their early quarter score.

Benedetto started the drive with a 61-yard completion to Mella along the Ithaca sideline before using the quick foot of Edwin Soto (Liberty, N.Y.) to get the ball down to the Bomber two-yard line. Benedetto capped off the five-play drive with a two-yard keeper up center for the 24-0 advantage.

Ithaca was able to get on the board with 6:26 to go in the final quarter, as D'Onifrio connected with Oliver on the 19-yard scoring pass play to make it a 24-6 game. The Bombers added the final score of the day with 40 seconds remaining on the clock, as D'Onifrio found Oliver on the slant in the end zone for the score.

Most of the visitors' offensive game came in the final quarter as they collected 158 yards through the air on 14-of-32 completions.

Morrisville State returns to the field Saturday, hosting SUNY Cortland at 1 p.m. on Drake Field for the home finale.

Morrisville State College's curricula are enriched with applied learning and pave the way for opportunity at both the Morrisville and Norwich campuses. An action-oriented, interactive learning lab, the college is a national leader in technology and has been lauded for its exemplary, innovative and effective community service programs.

The college was ranked among the Best Regional Colleges in the North by U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges 2016 issue and was also recognized in the Top Public Schools, Regional Colleges North in the 2016 Best Colleges rankings. For more information about Morrisville State College, visit www.morrisville.edu.

#30#