BOX SCORE

UTICA, New York - The Lewis & Clark football team opened the 2013 season on the road on Saturday, traveling to New York to face Utica College. The UC Pioneers pulled out a 42-22 victory over the visiting L&C Pioneers.

Senior quarterback Keith Welch ended the game 22-of-37 passing for 260 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Welch led the Pioneers in rushing with 64 yards on 19 carries. Senior Andrew Frisina ended the contest with 11 receptions for 119 yards and one touchdown in his first game back in a year.

Defensively the Pios were led by 13 tackles from junior Andrew Traver and 11 tackles each from Joaquin Murillo and Stein Retzlaff.

Lewis & Clark started strong, taking advantage of its first possession, capping off a 14-play, 80 yard drive with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Welch to Frisina. Unfortunately for L&C, the extra point attempt was blocked and returned 88 yards for a defensive point after touchdown, making it a 6-2 game halfway through the first quarter.

Utica carried the momentum of the point after return scoring 20 unanswered points heading into halftime. Utica continued to pile it on in the third quarter, taking a 42-6 advantage into the fourth quarter.

After the L&C defense recovered a fumble early in the fourth, the Pioneer offense found the end zone after just three plays, courtesy of a 45-yard touchdown pass from Welch to Jacob Costantino. A successful two-point conversion to Darrell Nelson made it a 42-14 game with 10:54 to go.

The Pioneers found the end zone once more before time expired, with Welch keeping the ball for a 10-yard carry. The Pioneers once again converted a two-point play, this time with Welch finding Zac Salois. 

Lewis & Clark returns to the field on Saturday, Sept. 14 with its home opener, facing off with Claremont-M-S at 1 p.m. at Griswold Stadium.