ALFRED, N.Y. - The Gallaudet University football team is heading back to the NCAA Division III football championship tournament after the Bison defeated Alfred State College, 36-22, here to claim the 2022 Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) title for the first time since 2013.
Gallaudet (7-2, 5-1 ECFC) punches its ticket to the postseason as it will receive the conference's automatic bid. The Bison will find out who and where they play when the NCAA holds its selection show on Sunday, Nov. 13, at 5:30 p.m., to announce the 32-team bracket.
"I am so proud of this team for what they have been able to accomplish this season. It feels great to bring the ECFC championship back to Gallaudet University," said Gallaudet coach Chuck Goldstein. "Thank you to our administration, department and fans for supporting us throughout the season. We are excited to be back in the NCAA tournament and look forward to what's ahead."
Sophomore slot/quarterback Brandon Washington (Citronelle, Ala.) ran for a career-high 228 yards on 28 carries and scored three of GU's five touchdowns on a warm and windy day in Western New York. Washington is now 50 yards shy of 1,000 for the season and leads the Bison with eight rushing touchdowns.
The Bison rolled up 356 yards on the ground on 55 carries as GU did not attempt a pass in the game for the first time this season due to the windy conditions. Gallaudet held onto the ball for 33 minutes and 51 seconds as Washington and other Bison rushers ran behind the offensive line of Mitch Dolinar (Las Vegas, Nev.), John Scarboro (Austin, Texas), Kyle Albertson (Pierre, S.D.), Joseph Mendis (Brook Park, Ohio) and Iopu Vaimauga (Federal Way, Wash.).
Ironically, Gallaudet won today's game over Alfred State (3-5, 1-3 ECFC) on National Bison Day which is celebrated annually on the first Saturday in November.
GU did not get off on the right foot when it fumbled on its second play and the turnover led to a quick Pioneers touchdown. The Bison settled down and got back on track on the next drive. Washington scored the first of his three touchdowns with a 14-yard run to cap a seven-play drive that covered 52 yards in just over four minutes.
Late in the first quarter, junior kicker/punter Jonathon Waterman (Sebastian, Fla.) pinned Alfred State deep at the Pioneer 1-yard line on a 35-yard punt. On the next play, freshman Zack Parsons (Reading, Pa.) tackled Josh Graham in the end zone for the safety as GU led 9-7.
The Bison received the ensuing kickoff and were aided by an Alfred State penalty and started the drive at the Pioneer 45-yard line. Sophomore Mikka Harvey (Prince Frederick, Md.) took the next handoff 45 yards to the house for the score. Waterman missed his first extra-point attempt as GU led 15-7 after one quarter of play.
The two teams traded touchdowns on the next two possessions as Alfred State's Jake Palmer scored on a three-yard run (11:08) and Washington ran in from five yards out (6:22) as the Bison took a 22-13 lead into halftime.
After a scoreless third quarter, GU scored twice to add onto its lead in the fourth quarter. Washington broke free for 42 yards to get down to the Pioneer 3 and after a penalty scored from one yard out at the 6:40 mark.
Gallaudet's defense stepped up in the closing minutes as senior free safety Laron Thomas (Orlando, Fla.) picked off Horvath (15-for-29, 173, one touchdown, two interceptions) at the Pioneer 30 and returned it for the pick-six touchdown as the Bison led 36-13.
Horvath threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Ben Ba on the next possession to cut into the Bison lead. GU took a safety late in the game to not risk a Pioneer touchdown as the Bison clung to a 36-22 lead with 1:34 left. Things came to a close when Horvath was picked off by sophomore outside linebacker Antonio Mendoza (Waco, Texas) at the Gallaudet 20. The Bison lined up in victory formation and then celebrated as a team their conference championship on National Bison Day.
BISON TRACKS
- Sophomore linebacker Jacob Hartman (Petersburg, W.Va.) led the defense with eight tackles, two tackles for a loss of seven yards, one sack
- Senior linebacker Rodney Burford Jr. (Brooklyn, N.Y.) finished with seven tackles, one tackle for a loss of six yards
- Junior linebacker Stefan Anderson (Little Falls, Minn.) added six tackles
UP NEXT
Gallaudet has completed its regular-season schedule and will now wait for the NCAA selection show on Sunday, Nov. 13, to find out where they play in the first round on Saturday, Nov. 19.