ONEONTA, NY – Hartwick used a lethal passing attack on Saturday in a 36-7 victory over visiting Morrisville (0-2) at Wright Stadium. The Hawks are now 2-0 on the season.
Mike Mathews (Pound Ridge, NY) threw for 299 yards and three scores on just nine completions in the game. The Hawks completed five passes for at least 30 yards, including an 84-yard touchdown play from Mathews to Tanner Williams (Eagle Bridge, NY) in the first quarter.
Hartwick led 30-0 just over two minutes into the second quarter and cruised the rest of the way. The 'Wick defense also had five takeaways in the contest.
Williams caught three balls for 139 yards and the one touchdown. Frankie Molina (Middletown, NY) also made three catches. He racked up 88 yards and two touchdown catches.
The game's start time was moved up 15 minutes as there was a looming afternoon threat of severe weather headed toward Oneonta.
Hartwick would score on its first possession on a Mathews to Molina 12-yard touchdown pass. Mathews would connect with Williams on a 40-yard reception earlier in the drive. Alex Tesoriero (Rensselaer, NY) kicked the extra point and the Hawks were up 7-0.
Both teams turned the ball over on their next possessions and Morrisville would pin Hartwick deep in its own territory with 8:08 remaining in the quarter. After the Hawks earned a first down on two plays to get to their own 16, Mathews hit Williams who went the distance for the touchdown, an 84-yard completion. Tesoriero tacked on the PAT and it was a 14-0 game.
Morrisville would then drive 49 yards on six plays to get to the Hartwick 9 yard-line. The Mustangs had three cracks at the end zone but couldn't convert and had to settle for a 26-yard field goal attempt. Junior lineman Jim DeRosa (Centereach, NY), however, had other ideas as he blocked Zach Drake's attempt to keep the visitors off the board with 3:44 left. DeRosa would finish the game with three tackles, a half-sack, and a fumble recovery.
'Wick would cash the turnover in as the aerial assault continued. Mathews hit Molina for 39 yards, then Shaun Eichner (Pine Bush, NY) for 24 yards. After a rushing play that produced two yards, the Hawks went back to the air as Mathews found Molina in the end zone for a 30-yard score. The PAT was blocked and the game stayed at a 20-0 at the end of the quarter.
Early in the second quarter, the Hawks converted two Morrisville turnovers into 10 more points. Freshman Dante Crump (Kingston, NY) picked off a Mychael Hardamo throw and ran it back 41 yards for the touchdown 58 seconds into the second session. It is his second pick-6 in his first two games with the Hawks.
'Wick forced a fumble on the second play from scrimmage on the Mustangs next possession. Jared Morrow (Ogdensburg, NY) recovered and Tesoriero would later nail a 26-yard field goal for a 30-0 Hartwick edge.
Later in the quarter, a Mathews to Hoose 41-yard passing play would set up a Joseph Rosiecki (Montgomery, NY) one-yard rumble for a touchdown to extend the lead to 36-0, which held up until halftime.
In the second half, Morrisville finally got on the scoreboard after a 15-play, 7:49-drive. Earl Snead finished the drive off with a 12-yard touchdown run.
Just at the start of the fourth quarter, a heavy downpour forced a 30-minute delay in the action. Play resumed but with under six minutes to play, lightning would force an end to the game and the Hawks would earn the victory.
Patrick Steves (Brockport, NY) led Hartwick's defense with six tackles. He also added a sack. Joe Seney (Gloversville, NY) and Bryan Schweitzer (Babylon, NY) had five tackles each. Seney had one tackle for a loss and Schweitzer registered an interception. Crump added a fumble recovery to go along with his interception for a touchdown.
The Hawks accumulated 406 yards of offense in the game to Morrrisville's 260. The Mustangs gained 118 rushing yards and 142 through the air.
The unbeaten Hawks are back at home next weekend against visiting Becker College. Game time is 2 p.m. at Wright Stadium.