ALFRED, N.Y. – Visiting SUNY Morrisville football battled back from a two-score deficit Saturday, but host Alfred State posted two scores in the final quarter to collect the 41-21 win over the Mustangs at Pioneer Stadium in Empire 8 action.

THE BASICS:

• Team Scores: Morrisville 21, Alfred State 41 (halftime: Alfred 28-14)
• Location: Pioneer Stadium, Alfred, N.Y.
• Records: Morrisville 0-5, 0-2 E8; Alfred State 3-2, 1-1 E8

 
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Visiting SUNY Morrisville football trailed by two touchdowns at the half and battled back to cut the lead to one score entering the final quarter, but host Alfred State tacked on two additional touchdowns in the fourth to secure the 41-21 Empire 8 win.
• Alfred State claimed an early 7-0 lead after the opening quarter, completing the 46-yard drive with a 24-yard scoring run from Josh Graham early in the frame.
• The Pioneers added another to their totals at the 10:59 mark of the second with a two-yard scoring run from Noah Currier, before taking the 21-0 lead four minutes later as Donnell Hall returned an interception for the score and 21-0 advantage.
• Fifteen seconds later, Logan Watson (Lowville, N.Y.) connected with Xavier Gaines (Pomona, N.Y.) 23-yards downfield before the senior scrambled into the endzone for the 74-yard scoring play for the Mustangs.
• Alfred State would add one final score before the half, a 85-yard rush through the middle, taking the 28-7 lead with just over five minutes to go.
• Morrisville kept their offensive momentum moving and posted a second touchdown of the quarter at the 2:47 mark as Watson again connected with Gaines on a 20-yard scoring pass play that completed the eight play, 65 yard drive and sent the game into the halftime period with the mustangs trailing 28-14.
• Morrisville put their third score on the board late in the third quarter with Jalyn Jacques (Wheatley Heights, N.Y.) sneaking up middle for the three-yard rushing score, cutting the deficit to one possession.
• Alfred went on to add two unanswered scores in the fourth to claim the league win.
• The Pioneers Currier registered his third score of the day, a 34-yard run early into the frame, before Elijah Georges completed all scoring with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Justin Horvath.
• Alfred held the significant 385-to-108-yard advantage in the running game, but it was Morrisville who dominated play in the air, outgaining the Pioneers 217 to 77 in the passing game.
• Watson completed 15-of-36 passes for 217 yards and two scores, seven completions to wide receiver Gaines, who accounted for 140 yards and both passing touchdowns.
• Marquis Reid (Schenectady, N.Y.) led the Mustangs ball carriers with 54 net yards rushing, with another 31 coming from Jacques.
• Dillon English (Webster, N.Y.) led the defensive efforts with 13 stops, eight solo, while Kahlil Terry (Binghamton, N.Y.) recorded nine, seven solo.
• Horvath completed 10-of-15 passes for 77 yards and a touchdown.
• Currier recorded 35 carries for 292 total yards rushing, with another 104 coming from teammate Josh Graham on 20 carries.
• Georges finished with 48 yards receiving to lead the Pioneers.
• Aaron Ellis led the defensive unit with seven tackles, with five coming from Hall who also posted two interceptions.

 
WHAT'S NEXT:
 

• Morrisville will be on the road Saturday at nearby Utica for a noon Empire 8 kickoff.

 
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