The No. 19 Ithaca College football team traveled to Springfield, Massachusetts on Nov. 18, for a first-round matchup with the Springfield College Pride. After coming out victorious over the Pride in the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2022, the Bombers once again proved their dominance with a 21–7 win to survive and advance.
Defensively, the Bombers held the Pride scoreless until the final quarter of the game. Junior defensive back Jake Connolly led the team with 12 total tackles while junior defensive lineman Joshua Miles and first-year defensive lineman Carson Ciancuielli each added seven tackles. Graduate student defensive back Derek Slywka earned six stops and two tackles for loss — the Bombers finished with five tackles for loss throughout the game.
Senior running back Jalen Leonard-Osbourne led the team with 165 yards through 20 carries, while first-year quarterback Colin Schumm boasted 63 yards on 16 attempts. Leonard-Osbourne also led in receiving yards with 26 as Schumm went 7-for-10 in passing.
The Bombers will next travel to Ashland, Virginia, where they will take on the No. 8 Randolph-Macon College Yellow Jackets in a second-round matchup at noon Nov. 25.
