Football’s Late Comeback Falls Short to Utica

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (September 17, 2022) -  The Western New England football team was unable to mount a comeback on Saturday afternoon, falling behind by as many as 11 points in the game before getting a late touchdown, though failing to convert on a two-point attempt to fall 23-21 to the Pioneers of Utica University on Saturday afternoon.
Records:
• Western New England: 1-2
• Utica University: 3-0

How it Happened:


Western New England got on the board first in the game as the Golden Bears looked for revenge on Utica for last season's lost on the road. Matt Gilbert connected on a 23-yard field goal attempt to give the Golden Bears a 3-0 lead. Quickly responding were the Pioneers, who used their pass game to their advantage when QB Braeden Zenelovic needed four plays and 59-yards, on a connection with Nate Palmer on a 53-yard catch before Zenelovic was able to score on a one yard run to give Utica a 7-3 lead after the extra point would be converted. Utica would come away with the 7-3 lead after one quarter of play.
The Pioneers defense would hold Western New England off the scoreboard in the beginning of the second quarter before Utica kicked and converted on their first field goal attempt of the season, this time from 50-yards out to extend the Pioneers lead to 10-3. WNE would quickly make a comeback, scoring their first touchdown of the game, on the longest play of the season thus far when QB Tyler Millerick connected with Dillon Kohl for a 55-yard touchdown pass to get WNE six point on the scoreboard, trailing by just one point with the failed extra-point opportunity on a block by the Pioneers. Utica would come back storming scoring the game's final ten points of the quarter when a 11-yard touchdown pass from Zenelovic to Palmer gave the Pioneers seven points while a 42-yard field goal sailed through the uprights to give Utica University a 20-9 lead after 30 minutes of play.
While no points were had in the third quarter by either team, Western New England would see a 26-yard rushing touchdown from Dillon Kohl get six points on the board for the Golden Bears, who trailed by just five points with 14:52 to play in the fourth quarter. Utica would chew off nearly half the clock on their next possession, which ended in a 14-play, 62-yard, 26-yard field goal by Cory Litchtman to give Utica an eight-point lead. The Golden Bears would quickly respond on the very next drive when AJ Hall picked up a 1-yard pass from new WNE QB Bryce Karstetter to put Western New England behind by just two points with an extra point opportunity on the line. WNE would chose to go for two-points, though would fail to capitalize on their attempt to tie the game on their six-play, 75-yard touchdown conversion in 1:32. WNE would still have just over six minutes to make a stop and return their offense to the field. WNE would make a key stop and bring their offense back on the field, needing to go 77-yards in 3:03 to get to the endzone, or hope for a field goal chance to win the game. On fourth and nine from the WNE 37, the Golden Bears would fail to convert on a pass intended for Nate Rosa, as the Golden Bears would come up short on Saturday afternoon, falling to Utica University by a final score of 23-21.
Around the Posts:
• QB Bryce Karstetter attempted 25 passes, converting on 14 for 185 yards, throwing one touchdown and one interception.
• Ian Britt led all carriers for WNE with 15, going for 54 yards in the loss. Dillon Kohl picked up the lone touchdown on the ground for the Golden Bears, a 26-yard rush.
• De'Andre Harris caught five passes for 92 yaards for Western New England, leading all WNE recievers.
• Utica's Nate Palmer caught six passes for 124 yards, leading all recievers and caught one touchdown.
• The Pioneers Matt Brantley ran for 87 yards on ten attempts while James Salles rushed 15 times for Utica to lead the Pioneers.
• Jason Shumilla made 14 total tackles for WNE, the lone Golden Bear coming away with double digit tackles.
• Utica's Jimmie Warren and Anthony Fasano came away with double digit tackles each.
Up Next on the Schedule:
• WNE ends their three-game home stand on Saturday, September 24 at 12:00 pm when they host Salisbury University.
• Utica College travels to Union College on the same date.