MORRISVILLE, N.Y. – The SUNY Morrisville football team dropped a heated 20-17 decision to crosstown and Empire 8 rival Utica University Saturday afternoon, on Drake Field in Morrisville.

THE BASICS:

• Final Score: Morrisville 17, Utica College 20 (halftime: Morrisville 7-0)
• Location: Drake Field, Morrisville, N.Y.
• Records: Morrisville 6-2, 2-2 Empire 8; Utica 7-1, 3-1 Empire 8

 
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Host SUNY Morrisville dropped a heated Empire 8 20-17 decision to crosstown rival Utica University Saturday afternoon, falling to 6-2 overall and 2-2 in league play.
• The contest had several momentum shifts, with the Mustangs carrying a 7-0 lead into the halftime break after a second quarter 24-yard rushing score to cap off a three-play, 51-yard drive in 51 seconds in the middle of the frame.
• Morrisville's defense came up huge on a Utica drive attempt, forcing the Pioneers into a second and 32 situation before Josh Williams (Yonkers, N.Y.) came up with the pick at midfield to return the ball to the Mustangs offensive unit.
• Steven Frerichs (Wilson, N.Y.) handed off to Alex McBurnie (Brooklyn, N.Y.) who found a gap around the left corner and scampered for 27 yards to the Utica 24, setting up a 24-yard rushing score by Frerichs for the first tally of the afternoon.
• Frerichs finished the contest with 103 yards net rushing, with McBurnie collecting 60. The junior quarterback also posted 129 through the air.
• Utica had a final attempt at the close of the half to put numbers on the board, but their 50-yard field goal attempt fell way short of the target mark and Morrisville headed into the locker room with a 7-0 lead.
• The hosts doubled their lead early in the third with a deep middle bomb from Frerichs to Justin Adams (West Babylon, N.Y.) for the 94-yard scoring pass play, before a 27-yard scoring strike countered the Mustangs tally to make it a 14-7 Morrisville lead midway through the frame.
• Morrisville extended the lead to 17-7 with a 37-yard field goal from Owen Cole (Maspeth, N.Y.) at 9:41 of the fourth and after forcing Utica to a quick three-and-out, the Mustangs took back to the offensive side of the ball.
• A forced throw landed in the hands of a Utica defensive back deep in their own territory and returned possession to the visitors, setting up a short drop over center for a touchdown with 3:46 to go.
• Morrisville, leading 17-14, took possession with 3:46 to go in the game, and after a series of plays, was forced to punt the ball away, pinning the visitors on their own 14 to start the drive.
• Utica put together a series of quick strikes to move the ball downfield, and the Mustangs defensive unit held strong despite some heated disputes, and with 15 seconds to go, the Pioneers found their way down to the Mustangs eight-yard line with a running clock.
• In the chaos that ensued, Utica collected the win with a pass to the left side of the endzone to post the league win.
• Ernesto Mitchell (Wheatley Heights, N.Y.) had a stellar game for the Mustangs defensive unit, posting 16 total stops, including 1.5 for a loss of a yard.
• Anai Brake (Cateret, N.J.) added nine alongside seven from Joe Miller-LaBar (Groton, N.Y.).
• Justin Anderson (Jamaica, N.Y.) applied pressure to the Utica quarterback all contest long, collecting two quarterback hurries and forcing several missed connections to the wide receiving unit.

 
WHAT'S NEXT:
 

• Morrisville returns to the field next Saturday for the final road game of the regular season, heading down the thruway to SUNY Brockport for a 2 p.m. contest.

 
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