ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University football rode a stingy defense and the legs of sophomore quarterback Tyler Johnson to a 14-3 victory over visiting Frostburg State Saturday afternoon at Yunevich Stadium.
The AU defense allowed 171 yards of offense, including a mere 20 yards passing, and Johnson ran for 108 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Saxons snapped a three-game losing streak. With the Empire 8 Conference win, AU improves to 4-3 overall and 2-3 in conference play. Frostburg, which beat then 25th-ranked Ithaca in double overtime last weekend, falls to 3-5 overall (1-5 E8).
Neither team could move the ball early, with Frostburg punting on its first two possessions and Alfred's first two drives ending in a punt and an interception. After the AU turnover, Frostburg took over at the Alfred 20-yard line and drove to the Alfred 8-yard line before missing a 25-yard field goal.
The Saxons took over at the 20 and on their first play from scrimmage, Johnson broke off a 61-yard run to the Frostburg 19-yard line. Four plays later, Johnson scored on a five-yard run and the Saxons led 7-0 with 34 seconds left in the opening quarter.
Each team punted on its next two drives before Frostburg got on the board with a 33-yard Isaac Robinson field goal with 4:24 left before halftime. Frostburg got the ball back and drove to the AU 28-yard line before Robinson came up short on a 45-yard field goal attempt with nine seconds left in the half.
AU closed out the scoring just over six minutes into the third quarter, taking the second-half kickoff and driving 75 yards in 10 plays. Johnson capped the drive with an eight-yard run and the Saxons led 14-3 with 8:51 left in the third frame.
Frostburg's best chance to chip into the Saxons' lead came with 9:53 left in the game, when the Bobcats recovered a Saxon fumble at the AU 45-yard line. Two plays later, however, Frostburg quarterback Ken Emmons was intercepted at the AU 26-yard line by junior free safety Mike Berardi, who returned the ball the Saxon 45. The teams exchanged punts before AU held the ball the final 5:15 and ran out the clock.
Johnson completed 12 of 17 passes for 139 yards and an interception. Senior tight end Isiah Young caught three passes for 48 yards and sophomore wide receiver Brendan Buisch had four catches for 28 yards.
Ben Sasu ran for a game-high 118 yards on 25 carries and Emmons rushed for 22 yards on 10 attempts. Emmons completed just five passes in 21 attempts, for 20 yards and in interception. Frostburg's top receiver, Hayden Roberts, caught three passes for seven yards.
Junior middle linebacker Corry Wallace and senior outside linebacker Justin Liberta each had 10 tackles, while Berardi had three tackles and two pass breakups to go with his interception. Sophomore end Andy Miller had eight tackles and sophomore end Zack Bacon (Hornell, NY/Hornell) and freshman outside linebacker A.J. Licata each had six.
Rowan Pinkett had 10 tackles (one for loss) and Salaman Riddell had eight and a fumble recovery to lead the Frostburg defense. Kito Place had seven tackles and Marcus Moody had six (one for loss) and an interception.
AU is back in action next Saturday, Nov. 1, at 1 p.m. at Salisbury.