WASHINGTON - A few inches was the difference Saturday afternoon as Gallaudet University just missed a game-tying field goal at the end of regulation against Alfred State College in an Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) contest. The Pioneers handed the Bison their first loss of the 2021 season as the visitors celebrated a 24-21 victory to spoil GU's homecoming and senior day before a festive crowd of 633.

Gallaudet sophomore kicker Jonathon Waterman (Fruita, Colo.) lined up on the right hash and attempted a 37-yard field goal with two seconds left in regulation down by three. Waterman's kick was high and long enough but it just missed going through the uprights, as the ball was just wide right by a few inches, as time expired. 

The loss snaps Gallaudet's five-game win streak. 

Gallaudet (5-1, 3-1 ECFC) controlled the first half as it scored the game's first two touchdowns and led 14-0 with 4:25 left before intermission. Alfred State (3-4, 2-1 ECFC) responded with a score and Waterman's 47-yard field goal attempt came up short as the Bison headed into halftime with a 14-7 lead.

In the second half, Alfred State tied the game up at 14-14 on its first possession before Gallaudet responded with a strong 84-yard drive that took 11 plays and over six minutes of clock. Freshman Mikka Harvey (Prince Frederick, Md.) ran in his second touchdown of the game from 11 yards out as Gallaudet regained the lead, 21-14. Harvey finished the game with 69 yards on the ground and two touchdowns.

The two teams traded several possessions as the Pioneers fumbled one chance away and another drive was stopped on downs. GU had both of its drives stopped on downs including one at the Alfred State 19 with 7:14 left in the fourth quarter. 

Alfred State quarterback Aaron Jenkins (14-for-25, 223 yards, two touchdowns) ran for six yards and completed two passes of 26 and 49 yards, the latter of which found wide receiver Roman Napoleon for the touchdown at the 5:55 mark to tie the game up at 21.

The Bison fumbled on its next possession and gave the Pioneers the ball back deep in Gallaudet territory. GU's defense stepped up and kept Alfred State out of the end zone but the Pioneers came away with three points when Dawson Fontaine kicked a 18-yarder with 1:25 left. It was the first lead for the Pioneers all game.

Gallaudet needed a spark to get back into the game.

The Bison received just that spark when freshman wide receiver Brandon Washington (Citronelle, Ala.) ran back the kickoff 54 yards down to the Alfred State 25 with 1:13 left on the clock. Senior quarterback Timel Benton (Columbia, S.C.) ran the ball twice to get down to the Alfred State 16 before he got injured. GU got dropped for a four-yard loss on the next play to set-up Waterman's 37-yard field goal attempt.

Benton finished the game with 97 yards on the ground and completed 7 of 14 for 67 yards and one touchdown. Washington was Gallaudet's leading receiver with five receptions for 52 yards and one score. 

GU's defense was led by junior cornerback Laron Thomas (Orlando, Fla.) with nine tackles (seven solo) and one interception with a return of 16 yards. Freshman linebacker Jacob Hartman (Petersburg, W.Va.) finished the game with seven tackles and one sack for a loss of six yards. 

The game marked senior day for Gallaudet's senior class which includes Benton, defensive back Dalton Taylor (Austin, Texas), defensive back Ikaika Clay (Killeen, Texas), offensive lineman Daniel Tanielu (Federal Way, Wash.), offensive lineman Austin Bates (Olympia, Wash.), offensive lineman Cress Fisher (Boyertown, Pa.) and long snapper Rollo Chester Jr. (Macon, Ga.).

BISON TRACKS

• Gallaudet held the ball for 37 minutes and 37 seconds
• The Bison ran for 293 yards and had 360 yards of total offense
• GU completes its home schedule with a 3-1 record
• The Bison went 3-1 during the month of October
• This is Gallaudet's first loss since Nov. 9, 2019

UP NEXT
Gallaudet is off next week before it closes out the regular-season on the road with two conference games in November. The Bison will next face Anna Maria College (5-1, 3-0 ECFC) on Saturday, Nov. 6, at noon.