UTICA, N.Y. – The SUNY Morrisville football team staged a second half comeback attempt Saturday afternoon, but the host Utica University Pioneers stopped the Mustangs short on their final drive to escape with a 27-21 victory in Utica.

THE BASICS:

• Team Scores: Morrisville 21, Utica 27 (halftime: Utica 21-0)
• Location: Charles A. Gaetano Stadium, Utica, N.Y.
• Records: Morrisville 0-6, 0-3 E8; Utica 4-2, 2-1 E8

 
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Visiting SUNY Morrisville football staged a second half comeback attempt Saturday afternoon in Empire 8 action on the road at Utica University but fell short as the Pioneers collected the 27-21 league win.
• Utica jumped out to a 21-0 lead at the half, before Morrisville put their first numbers on the scoreboard early in the third.
• On the first drive of the second half, Utica fumbled and the loose ball was recovered by Dillon English on the Utica 14, leading to a Mustang touchdown on the ensuing possession.
• After moving the ball inside the 10, Logan Watson (Lowville, N.Y.) completed the short right scoring pass to Mason Ondreyko (Wallkill, N.Y.) at 11:11, cutting into the Utica lead.
• Utica regained their three possession advantage on the following drive, and maintained the advantage until the fourth when they fumbled away the ball for a second time in the half.
• Morrisville recovered the ball at their own 45, and 10 plays later completed the 55 yard drive with a six-yard scoring run to the right from running back Isaac Sylvain (Schenectady, N.Y.) with 10:20 to go in the frame.
• Morrisville made it a one-possession game at 4:03 with a three-yard run from Watson to cut the lead to six, completing the 10-play, 49-yard drive after a Utica penalty gave the Mustangs possession at midfield on the prior drive.
• The Mustangs regained possession with 1:41 to go on their own 17 and was able to move the ball to midfield, before Utica forced the visitors into a fourth and 30-yard situation, resulting in a turnover on downs with 36 seconds left in the contest.
• Watson finished 17-for-27 on the day in passing, throwing for 94 yards and a touchdown score.
• Sylvain added 143 net yards in the running game on 33 carries, scoring once, as the Mustangs registered 186 yards rushing across the afternoon.
• Xavier Gaines (Pomona, N.Y.) led the receiving unit for the second time in as many games, pulling in nine for 61 yards, with Ondreyko finishing with 14 yards on two catches for a score.
• Scotty Howard (Binghamton, N.Y.) led the defensive efforts with nine tackles, while Eric Sparkman (Syracuse, N.Y.) added another eight in the team efforts.

 
WHAT'S NEXT:
 

• Morrisville enters their bye week for league play and will resume action Saturday, October 25 as they host Brockport at 12 p.m. on Drake Field in Morrisville.

 
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