Story Links


ALL-TIME SERIES: The Ithaca College football team will renew one of its oldest rivalries this Saturday, September 13 as the Bombers travel to Alfred University for a 12 p.m. kickoff at Yunevich Stadium. This year’s game will mark the 64th all-time meeting between the former Empire 8 Conference foes as the Bombers lead the series, 43-18-2.

IC and Alfred did not play each other in 2024, which snapped a streak of 23 consecutive seasons (except for COVID in 2020) that the two programs met on the gridiron. The Bombers won the 2023 matchup, 22-0, and have been victorious in the last five meetings by an average scoring margin of 26 points per game.

In the last five victories for Alfred (2010-12, 2016-17) the Saxons scored more than 20 points in each of those contests. In the eight losses between 2010 and 2023, Alfred has been held below 14 points seven times.

LAST TIME OUT: Ithaca is coming off a season-opening loss to No. 3 Johns Hopkins, 42-14, at Bertino Field at Butterfield Stadium last Saturday. IC allowed 417 yards to the Blue Jays and produced just 282 yards of offense. The Bombers also turned the ball over three times, and uncharacteristically, committed six penalties for 68 yards.

Hopkins capitalized in the red zone against the Bombers, scoring touchdowns on all five trips inside the 20-yard line. The Blue Jays were also 7-for-11 on third down.

COMING OFF A LOSS: Since 2017, Ithaca is 10-3 in games following a loss from the previous week. The Bombers averaged 26.5 points in those 10 victories.

BRIGHT SPOTS FROM WEEK 1: Despite the setback to Hopkins, there were still some solid performances to highlight for the Bombers after Week 1.

Offensively, Nicholas Lang caught seven passes for 90 yards and a touchdown, while Chris Scully rushed for 57 yards on 13 carries. Nicholas Matos had 51 yards on four catches and Michael Reed scored IC’s other touchdown and finished the game with 45 yards passing and 10 yards rushing on three touches.

Defensively, Sam Tourangeau led the unit with 12 total tackles and Joe Spirra was close behind with 11 stops. Ryan Burns forced a fumble, to go along with nine tackles, while Aidan Carrazana and Henry Takacs each had six tackles.

Caleb Wandell averaged 38.0 yards on four points, with a long of 51 yards, and Luke Savino averaged 63.3 yards on three kickoffs.

LIBERTY LEAGUE PLAY ON DECK: With the addition of Hilbert College in the Liberty League, Ithaca has one less non-conference game in its 10-game slate. After Alfred, the Bombers will play seven straight Liberty League contests before the 66th Cortaca Jug Game on November 15.

SCOUTING ALFRED: The Saxons are 1-0 this season and are coming off a huge win against Hobart last Saturday, 28-23. It was the first win for Alfred against Hobart in 30 years.

Alfred was opportunistic last week and cashed in on two Statesmen turnovers, including a pick-six. Hobart led, 10-7, at the half, but an opening drive touchdown from the Saxons, accompanied by the two takeaways flipped momentum to a 28-10 advantage for AU. Hobart would score two fourth quarter touchdowns, but the deficit was too much to overcome.

Chris Kelly threw for two touchdowns on 14-of-21 passing for 122 yards, while Tommy Nyquist had 75 yards on the ground. Kelly also scored a rushing touchdown.

Thomas Welch was a menace defensively with seven tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a pick-six. He would be named Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Week.

UP NEXT: Ithaca meets a new opponent in Hilbert College next Saturday, September 20 in Hamburg. The game will be played at 2 p.m. at Frontier High School.

Â