UTICA, N.Y. - The Utica College football team tallied a school-record seven rushing touchdowns and also connected on two through the air as the Pioneers defeated visiting Castleton State 62-10 on homecoming weekend at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium Saturday. The Pioneers tallied 545 yards of total offense, good for second all-time, and senior kicker Casey McNulty (Red Hook, NY) knocked down eight extra points making him the College's all-time leading scorer with 98 career points (53 PAT, 15 FG).

The 2-0 start marks the second time in program-history the Pioneers have opened the season with two straight victories. The last time UC won its first two games was in 2005 and they went on to set a school record with six wins in a single season. With the loss Castleton State, a first-year program, evened its record to 1-1 overall after defeating Anna Maria College in the Spartans home opener last Saturday.

The Pioneers totaled 358 yards on the ground, good for second all-time, and they were led by sophomores Zach Jones (Camden, NY) and Billy Northey (Sherburne, NY). Jones totaled 111 yards, marking his second straight 100 yard rushing performance, and he added one touchdown, while Northey carried the ball 16 times for 103 yards and two touchdowns. UC freshman quarterback Andrew Benkwitt (Mamaroneck, NY) completed 15 passes for 156 yards including an 11 yard touchdown throw to sophomore Jeremy Meier (Rome, NY).  Meier caught three balls, two of those catches resulting in touchdowns, while junior Tim Millerick (Whitman, NY) carried the ball five times for 59 yards and also added three catches for 37 yards.

UC jumped out to an early 13-0 lead at the 7:54 mark of the opening quarter behind rushing touchdowns from Jones and Millerick. The Spartans answered with a school-record 42 yard field goal by junior kicker Luis Robitaille (Poughkeepsie, NY) on the ensuing possession to cut the UC lead to 10 points, 13-3, with 4:54 to go in the first quarter of play.

Utica took a 20-3 lead into the second quarter after Andrew Benkwitt capped a five-play 60 yard drive with a six yard touchdown run.  Just 1:29 into the second quarter the Pioneers took a 27-3 lead when Northey scored his first rushing touchdown of the day on a one yard run.

Castleton State’s lone touchdown of the contest came on defense when freshman defensive back Brandon Bergeron (Hartford, VT) returned an interception 21 yards for a touchdown at the 10:47 mark of the third quarter.

The Pioneers responded with two consecutive touchdowns, one by Meier and the other by freshman running back Dan McNamara (Amsterdam, NY), to give UC a 41-10 lead at the half.

Utica did not slow down in the second half, scoring three touchdowns to close out the scoring on the day. Sophomore quarterback Jared Keyte (Holland Patent, NY) connected with Meier for his second touchdown catch of the day, while third string quarterback Michael Clark (Fulton, NY) added a two yard touchdown run in the third quarter and Northey closed out the scoring with an eight yard run in the fourth quarter.

The Pioneer defense held the Spartans to 134 yards of total offense (36 rushing, 98 passing). Senior All-American Eric Kahl (Lockwood, NY) led the way for the UC defense with ten tackles and one sack, while Sean Dixon (Sherrill, NY) and Dennis Timmons (Central Square, NY) each added four tackles a piece. Ten other Pioneers posted three tackles on the day, including junior linebacker Travis Ladd (Mexico, NY), who also added one sack. Mike Dixon (Syracuse, NY), Joe Gisonda (Brooklyn, NY) and Gilberto Vargas (Rochester, NY) each added one sack to pace the Pioneer defense.

Three Spartans posted nine tackles on defense including Brandon Bergeron, sophomore Dustin Young (Dunnellon, FL) and junior Vincent Barber (Stillwater, NY). Freshman Cameron Laundry (Hartford, VT) added three tackles and one sack, while freshman Cody Tancreti (Hartland, VT) and sophomore Bryon Ayers (East Nassau, NY) each posted six tackles.

The Pioneers hit the road next Saturday to take on non conference rival RPI at 1 p.m. Castleton State takes a week off before hosting Gallaudet at Spartan Field on September 26^th. The contest is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m.