Empire 8 in-game updates

[boobyhasgameyo]

Ah, that must have been it then.  That sucks, you hate to see teams play critical games without key players. 

Thanks for updating. 

[AUPepBand]

I know Beckwith was playing when I was watching the game and it was well beyond the first quarter.  Was everybody else out the entire game or just spurts?

The reports on the AU football facebook page  from people who were at the game say Beckwith was out in the first quarter.  I heard the game anouncers misidentify Maroney(?) as Beckwith several times.  I'll have to look at the play by play breakdown.  As I say I'm quoting eyewitness reports from AU fans.

I just quickly scanned the game play by play.  Beckwith carried the ball 4 times, all in the 1st quarter.  His injury is listed  a couple of plays before the play on which both Sopak and Dwyer were injured.  I did not see his name mentioned again.  Apparently the #36 who filled in is named Zach Brinkley but was reoeatedly called Maroney(?) by the game anouncers.  I thought Beckwith was back in the game a couple of times until I realized that the anouncers were referring to the UC quarterback.

Pep was there. They all went down on the Saxons' initial drive. Phillips caught a pass for a 12-yard gain on the Saxons' first play from scrimmage, then later caught a second pass for a first down at the Utica 43 and apparently suffered a concussion on the play. Beckwith caught a pass for a 6-yard-gain to the Utica 38-yard-line and took a hard hit when tackled, apparently suffering a serious knee injury. (When Beckwith got hit, Utica fans cheered as it was a hard hit but Pep is trying to deny that he heard a second cheer when it was apparent Beckwith was hurt). Sopak then was victim of a late hit (that was flagged for roughing the passer) but did not appear to be hurt. Then on a 3rd-and-12 at the Utica 19-yard line, Sopak dropped off a screen pass to Dwyer, who gained 9 yards to the 10-yard line. Watching the ball, Pep didn't see Sopak go down, but after the play, he was on the ground in agony, while downfield, Dwyer was also not getting up. At halftime, it took some doing to get the ambulance out of the mud, but both Dwyer and Sopak were taken to a hospital, likely for x-rays.

Utica had something to prove today. The Pioneers came to play. The Saxons left everything on the field last week in Salisbury, MD and were outplayed today. Utica is a vastly improved team. While Pep saw a lot of holding out there (seemingly flagged only when AU made the stop), the Utica offensive line nevertheless gave Benkwitt all day to throw. He's an outstanding QB and had a great game, along with his corps of receivers. It had to be frustrating for AU's D-line; just as one of them would get to Benkwitt, he always had someone open to dump it off to.

Hats off to frosh Malcolm Downey who gained 34 yards on 9 carries, and to backup QB Joe Enslin, who was 11-for-18 for 128 yards and a TD pass to Jonathan Ruffin. Sopak looked sharp, completing his first 7 passes. His eighth pass, which came when he re-entered the game after the injury, was picked off.

Maleke Fuentes had sticky fingers for the day with 6 catches for 80 yards, including one that he snatched out of the hands of a defender while in the air, and coming down just in bounds. AU punter Matt Girolmo had a good day, averaging 38 yards on 6 punts. Saxons (4-3, 3-2 E8) will need a good week of practice to rebuild the offense in order to get back in the win column against a hungry Frostburg State team Saturday at....oh gosh....a home game?....at Merrill Field!!

Get the fight song ready!

[sjfcards]

Anyone else having trouble with the video stream for the Fisher/Buff State game? I can not seem to get it to load for some reason.

[sjfcards]

Fisher gets a couple of first downs, but Kramer fumbles on a pitch, and Buff State takes over. Bengals are moving the ball now.

[sjfcards]

Troy Sant with a pick on Buff State's first chance with the ball. Why do teams throw at that guy?

[sjfcards]

Alex Stacy runs it in for Fisher for the first score of the game. Fisher misses the extra point (need to get that figured out) so Fisher is up 6-0.

[sjfcards]

According to the Fisher broadcast, SU is up 14-3 on Utica. Not watching the game it sounds like Salisbury is controlling the game early.

[wesleydad]

game ugly real fast.  gulls look like offense of old, utica cant stop anything, 21 - 3 and utica just fumbled the kickoff.  game will be over shortly.

[sjfcards]

game ugly real fast.  gulls look like offense of old, utica cant stop anything, 21 - 3 and utica just fumbled the kickoff.  game will be over shortly.

Wow...I thought Utica would be able to stick around in that game. Sounds like Salisbury is taking it to them so far.

[wesleydad]

no need to keep watching this game and sure glad i didnt make the trip to see it.  28 - 3 early in second.

[sjfcards]

Buff State gets a big sack to force Fisher into a field goal attempt. Fisher uses the punter to kick the field goal after the missed PAT, and Sweet makes it. Fisher up 9-0 early in the second.

[sjfcards]

Buff State driving deep into Fisher territory. After the D holds for Buff State and forces a field goal, they could be right back in this if they score here.

[sjfcards]

Buff State goes for it on 4th and goal, and goes in for a touchdown. Fisher has been in control all game, but is only up 9-7.

[Upstate]

Way to show up today Utica...

[dlippiel]

Utica's downfall is their D. Salisbury exploiting that big time today! Utics just can't get over the hump.