Paxton, PA- Alfred State football took down Anna Maria in a tight game to clinch the ECFC title for the second straight year. Pios move to 5-5 on the season and receive the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
Justin Horvath went 13-27 for 235 yards and three touchdowns. On the ground, Nicholas Cuomo tallied two touchdowns and 41 yards on nine carries. Josh Graham rushed for 77 yards on 13 carries. Elijah Georges had two receptions for 72 yards and two touchdowns.
On the defensive end, Silas Egenlauf notched 12 tackles. While Nick Johnson tallied eight tackles and an interception. Chris Bergman added four tackles and an interception as well
Pioneers kicked off the first quarter by notching the first score coming into the game. Horvath found Georges for 39 yards that ended in a touchdown with 8 minutes remaining. The Pios maintained the 6-0 lead for the remainder of the quarter.
The momentum continued for the Pios into the second quarter as they found the endzone again. Treshawn Blair made the successful drive possible after recovering an Anna Maria fumble. Nicholas Cuomo followed up the fumble with a seven-yard run for a touchdown, immediately after rushing eight yards. Richard Brice followed behind with a successful field goal to put the Pioneers up 13-0.
Pios pushed up the score further after another Cuomo touchdown that was made off a two-yard rush. Horvath chipped into the successful score with a 31-yard pass to Evan Bowen earlier in the drive.
The second half began with the Pioneers answering the Amcats back with a score of their own. Horvath completed a pass to Georges for 33-yards followed by Brice's field goal kick. Pios led 26-16 in the 11th minute.
The back-and-forth continued throughout the quarter as the Amcats scored again. However, Pioneers would continue fighting after Horvath threw a 23-yard pass that landed in the hands of Mathew Mancuso. Along with another successful Brice field goal, Alfred took the lead back 33-22.
The fourth quarter ended up being a nail-biter after the Amcats attempted to shorten the deficit. Chris Bergman made a key defensive play and caught an interception for the Pioneers for a 31-yard return. The return left Alfred on the Anna Maria seven-yard line which led to Josh Graham rushing 3 yards into the endzone for a touchdown. Pios held off the Amcats until the end of the game, winning it 39-37.
Stay tuned as the Pioneers will find out Sunday, November 17 at 5:30 pm who they will play in the NCAA tournament.
