SCHENECTADY - The Union College football team made too many mistakes to beat first-place Ithaca, a strong program that treats Frank Bailey Field like a second home.
The Garnet Chargers committed a season-high 11 penalties for 122 yards, which helped the Bombers sustain touchdown drives in Union's 35-14 loss before a Homecoming crowd of 1,543.
Ithaca won at Union for the seventh straight time and hasn't lost a game in Schenectady since 2009.
The Garnet Chargers suffered their second straight loss to fall to 3-4 overall, 2-2 in the Liberty League.
"I think we made a lot of mistakes and did not do the things we had to do to win a football game," Union coach Jon Drach said.
Union also committed three turnovers and managed just a pair of touchdowns despite a 400-317 edge over Ithaca in total yardage.
"Turn the ball over, don't finish in the red zone and then just give them extra possessions," Drach said. "Those things come back to bite you."
He pointed out that Union starts 17 sophomores and freshmen.
"That's the way we're built right now, so guys are learning a lot of lessons as they continue to get reps and play," Drach said.
Ithaca's first touchdown drive stayed alive when Union jumped offside on 4th-and-4 to give the Bombers a first down at their 34. Michael Reed later threw a 14-yard pass to Colin Schumm for a 7-0 lead with 6:38 left in the first quarter.
Union answered on Luke Sheehan's 20-yard touchdown pass to Evan Anderson, followed by Mack McManus' 2-yard conversion rush for an 8-7 lead with 1:11 remaining in the opening quarter.
The Garnet Chargers appeared to stop Ithaca (6-1, 5-0) on its following possession. However, a roughing-the-punter penalty gave the Bombers a first down at the 38. Ithaca turned that second chance into Chris Scully's 3-yard touchdown run for a 14-8 lead with 10:56 before halftime.
Union tied the game at 14-14 on Frankie Strachan's 2-yard rush with 1:38 to play in the first half. The Garnet Chargers, who have an injured kicker, tried another 2-point conversion, but that failed.
The Bombers drove for another touchdown before halftime, aided by pass interference, unsportsmanlike conduct and roughing-the-passer penalties against Union. Reed's 12-yard touchdown run with 20 seconds left in the half put Ithaca ahead for good at 21-14.
"They scored 21 points off penalties, so got to sharpen that up," Union senior defensive lineman Jordan Black said. "Maybe just an emotional game. That's kind of what led to some more aggressive penalties and some stuff we didn't need."
Union had chances in the second half. But the Garnet Chargers turned the ball over on downs at the Ithaca 16 on their opening drive and Sheehan lost a fumble at the Bombers' 25 on the next possession.
Still trailing 21-14, the Garnet Chargers went for it on fourth-and-1 at their own 46 in the fourth quarter. However, Sheehan had to pick up a low snap off one hop and got caught for a 3-yard loss with 8:59 remaining.
The Bombers scored two more touchdowns to put the game away.
Sheehan finished 30-for-46 passing for 332 yards and a touchdown. Anderson caught nine passes for 128 yards.
Black finished with three sacks on Saturday. He had a pair of sacks in last year's win at Ithaca, but the Bombers won in Schenectady again in the rematch.
"It's just two teams that really get after each other, so I guess the field doesn't really matter," Black said.
Union returns to action next Saturday at Hilbert, which fell to 0-42 in program history with Saturday's 39-27 loss to Buffalo State.
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There’s more to Albany with the Times Union. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at Union football pays for mistakes in another home loss to Ithaca.