Utica, NY – On Saturday the Brockport football team extended its win streak to six with a hard-fought, 20-10, win over Utica on the road. The Golden Eagles improved to 7-1 overall and remain undefeated in the Empire 8 at 5-0.
 
Isaiah Simmons had a career day as the workhorse for the Golden Eagles on offense. The sophomore ran for a career-high 259 yards, the fifth most in a game in program history. Simmons reached his total on 30 carries for an average of 8.6 yards per carry on the way to two touchdowns.
 
Brockport totaled 464 yards of offense and moved the ball through the air for 200 of those yards. Going 18-for-26 in the game, Ben Gocella threw for 200 yards and one interception. Daniel Manneh led the receivers with seven receptions for 55 yards. Nolan Slywka also had 55 yards, coming from four receptions.
 
Although the Green and Gold turned the ball over three times in this E8 clash, Brockport's nationally recognized defense was able to step up. The group held Utica to just 75 yards rushing, 214 yards passing, and 289 total yards of offense. The Pioneers snapped the Golden Eagles' shutout streak, but only managed 10 points on their home field.
 
Ben Robinson led the Green and Gold with nine total tackles (6 solo), including 1.0 sacks and 2.0 tackles for loss. Luca Friedman had seven tackles (six solo) to go with her 2.0 tackles for loss. Jahmere Clarke also had seven stops in the game. Brockport also saw 1.0 sacks from Dawin Fanor. Elijah Grooms had the team's one takeaway with an interception, giving him three in the last two games.
 
The kicking game turned out to be a difference maker in a close contest. Freshman Sal Montaperto came up clutch with makes in all four of his tries. The first-year kicker was 2-for-2 on extra points and 2-for-2 on field goals (32, 34).
 
As the game started, Utica took advantage of a fumble on the opening kickoff. The Pioneers got the ball on the seven, and scored a touchdown on their first play from scrimmage. Just 13 seconds into the game, Utica held a 7-0 lead.
 
Late in the first quarter, Isaiah Simmons busted loose for a 76-yard rush. This would set up Brockport's first touchdown of the game early in the second. Simmons punched it in from the 1-yard line to tie the game up at 7-7.
 
The rest of the second quarter it was quiet on the scoreboard. The two defenses traded stops back and forth until halftime got closer. Brockport got the ball with 56 seconds left until the break and began marching down the field.
 
Gocella led the group down the field to set Montaperto up for a 34-yard field goal as the clock ran out. Brockport took a 10-7 lead going into halftime.
 
The third quarter would be a 3-3 draw between the two E8 opponents. Montaperto hit a 32-yard kick early in the third to make it a 13-7 lead for the Golden Eagles. However, the Pioneers would answer right back with their own field goal. A make from 31 yards pushed the score to a 13-10 advantage for Brockport.
 
After a Dawin Fanor sack on third down, the Golden Eagle offense took the ball back early in the fourth. A healthy diet of Simmons would escort the team down the field to setup the game's final score. The second-year back scored on a 32-yard rush, pushing the lead to 20-10.
 
Brockport now turns its attention to next week's big matchup against No. 2 Cortland. It is Senior Day for the Golden Eagles, as they host the Red Dragons for a 12pm kickoff at Bob Boozer Field.