Football Falls to Ithaca in 2021 Opener, 52-20

ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College football team opened the 2021 season with a 52-20 victory over visiting Bridgewater State University on Saturday afternoon at Butterfield Stadium.

Junior quarterback A.J. Wingfield (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) completed 22 of 29 passes for 348 yards and three touchdowns with a pair of interceptions to pace the Bombers, while senior wide receiver Michael Anderson (Syracuse, N.Y.) hauled in four receptions for 154 yards and two scores.

Senior wide receiver Wyatt Shisler (Hanover, Mass.) set career highs with five receptions and 104 yards for the Bears, while senior wide receiver Kyle Torres (Waltham, Mass.) grabbed four passes for a career-best 86 yards and his first collegiate touchdown. Junior running back Adam Couch (Winchendon, Mass.) added 68 yards on the ground and a touchdown on just ten carries in his first appearance in a BSU uniform.

Bridewater junior quarterback James Cahoon (Buzzards Bay, Mass.) connected on 17 of 37 pass attempts for 248 with two touchdowns and three interceptions in his first collegiate start.

Junior quarterback Jaren Alves (East Providence, R.I.) led the Bears' defensive effort with a pair of interceptions to go along with a pass breakup and five tackles (three solo). Junior linebacker Steven Silvia (Dighton, Mass.) recorded a career-high 18 tackles including six solo stops and forced a fumble, while junior linebacker Brendan Albert (Canton, Mass.) notched a career-best 17 tackles (eight solo) and also forced a fumble.  

Ithaca racked up 614 yards of total offense (266 rushing, 348 passing) with 29 first downs, while Bridgewater State amassed 298 yards of offense with 248 coming through the air and 13 first downs. Each team turned the ball over four times, while the Bombers (34:41)held more than a nine minute advantage in time of possession.

The Bombers, who received votes in the D3football.com Top 25 Preseason Poll,  led 21-7 after a turnover filled first half. The two teams combined for five turnovers over the first 30 minutes including a pair of red zone miscues.

Wingfield connected with Anderson on a 47-yard touchdown on the opening possession of the game and added an 86-yard scoring strike to Anderson late in the second quarter.  Sophomore running back Jalen Hines (St. Johns, Fla.) added a six-yard TD run for the Bombers.

Ithaca racked up 340 yards of offense in the first half including 227 through the air and 113 on the ground.

The Bombers held the Bears to 129 yards over the first two quarters with more than half coming on one play, a 68-yard pass from Cahoon to Shisler.  The long strike came following an Ithaca red zone fumble in the first quarter. The Bears, however were unable to capitalize as the visitors turned the ball over with an end zone interception.

Bridgewater's lone first half score cane on a fourth-and-one play as senior wide receiver Ryan Verria (Bridgewater, Mass.) hauled in a three-yard touchdown pass from Cahoon early in the second quarter. The Bears moved the ball 50 yards on eight plays to capitalize on an Ithaca fumble. The touchdown marked the first of Verria's career.

The Bears marched right down the field on the opening possession of the second half as a 21-yard touchdown run by Couch on fourth-and-one capped off a nine-play, 65-yard drive.

Following an exchange of possessions, junior kicker Nicholas Bahomonde (Berryville, Va.) converted a 26-yard field goal to reclaim the double-digit lead for the Bombers, 24-14.

After forcing a punt, Ithaca marched 58 yards on ten plays capped off by a two-yard TD run by Hines as the Bombers extended the lead to 31-14.

The Bears answered quickly as a 48-yard TD pass from Cahoon to Torres cut the deficit to 31-20. The PAT, however, was pushed wide right.

An interception by Alves at the Ithaca 22 got the ball back for Bridgewater State with 12:31 left to play. The Bears, however, went three-and-out and had to punt it away.

Starting at their own 44, Ithaca ripped off runs of nine, 17, eight and six yards before Wingfield connected with graduate wide receiver Andrew Vito (Towaco, N.J.) on a 16-yard TD pass to push the lead up to 38-20.

On the Bears' ensuing possession, a 25-yard wide receiver screen pass from Cahoon to Shisler and a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty help moved the ball inside the 20. An interception by senior defensive back Michael Roumes (Succasunna, N.J.) in the end zone, however, thwarted any hopes of a BSU comeback.

A 68-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back Jalen Leonard-Osbourne (Ardsley, N.Y.) put the game well out of reach. The Bombers then capitalized on another BSU turnover, a fumble on a bad snap, as sophomore running back Jake Williams (River Vale, N.J.) punched it in from two yards out to put the finishing touches on the 52-20 victory.

Senior defensive back Anthony Robinson (Naples, Fla.) paced Ithaca defense with a pair of interceptions, two pass breakups and four tackles (two solo).

Both teams are back in action next Saturday afternoon at one. The Bears (0-1) welcome the University of New England Nor'easters to Swenson Field, while the Bombers (1-0) travel to #22 SUNY Brockport to take on the Golden Eagles.

Notes: Prior to today's game, Bridgewater State and Ithaca had never met before on the gridiron....The 52 points allowed are the most the Bears have given up in a game since 1998 (64 against Springfield College).