ALFRED, N.Y. – Host Alfred University used a three touchdown second half to top visiting Morrisville State College 34-19 Saturday afternoon in Empire 8 action in Alfred.

The loss drops Morrisville State to 2-2 overall, 1-2 in conference play, while the Saxons up their record to 4-1, 2-1 in Empire 8 action.

Alfred ran wild in the ground game, outperforming the Mustangs 291 to 222 yards despite a record breaking effort by senior running back Cristian Pena (Ridgewood, N.Y.). Pena registered 162 yards on 25 carries for two scores in the running game for Morrisville State, a game total that sent him to the top of the career leaderboard in overall rushing for the Mustangs (2,709 yards).

Morrisville State was able to collect another 138 yards in the passing game, with junior quarterback Cory Benedetto (Rochester, N.Y.) connecting on 10-of-22 passes for a touchdown score.

A majority of those went to Marcus Jackson-Conner (Sodus, N.Y.) who caught five passes for a team best 76 yards and the lone receiving touchdown score.

Caleb Wright (Cortland, N.Y.) led the Mustangs defensive efforts, posting a high 10 tackles, including six solo stops, while teammate Delroy Young (Binghamton, N.Y.) and Marvin Burgess (Bronx, N.Y.) each contributed nine. Young also registered a tackle for a loss of four yards, while Burgess recorded two pass break ups.

Alfred went up 10-0 after the opening quarter, but Morrisville State's Pena posted a one-yard run up center early on in the second to put the visitors on the board and make it a 10-6 ball game.

With 4:07 to go, Benedetto connected with Jackson-Conner on a 24-yard pass play to complete the 10 play, 88-yard drive, and give the Mustangs a 13-10 advantage.

Alfred would tie the game with just over a minute to go in the half, however, converting a 37-yard field goal attempt, to send the game in to the break tied at 13.

In the third, the Saxons came out on fire and marched downfield to take the 20-13 lead on a four yard run, but Morrisville State responded and made it a one point ball game as Pena registered the 12-yard rushing score with 4:47 to go.

That's as close as the Mustangs would get, however, as Alfred posted 115 yards rushing alone in the fourth quarter, adding two final scores to claim the 34-19 Empire 8 victory on their homecoming.

Morrisville State returns to the field Saturday, hosting St. John Fisher College at 1 p.m. on Drake Field in Morrisville. The Cardinals fell 30-7 to host Buffalo State College this afternoon.

Morrisville State'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.

In addition to being named to the 2014 President's Higher Community Education Service Honor Roll, the college was recognized by U.S. News and World Report as an institution in the top tier of the Best Regional Colleges list and ranked second among regional colleges nationwide for outperforming its anticipated graduation rate. For more information visit www.morrisville.edu.

#30#