ALFRED, NY – The Hawks were mere inches away multiple times on their final possession (including on the game's final play) from a big-time Empire 8 road win on Saturday night at Alfred, but ultimately fell by a 24-21 score to the Saxons in their homecoming game. The loss, which is the Hawks third in a row—all by one possession—are now 1-3 on the year and 0-2 in the Empire 8. Alfred improves to 2-3 overall and 1-0 in conference.
The Hawks' day got off to a rocky start, as a fumble on the opening series led to Alfred starting their first drive at the Hartwick 26 yard line. They made no mistake, taking just three plays to score the game's first touchdown on a 21-yard Zuke Smith completion to Jacob Kelsey with 1:57 gone by.
After the teams traded punts, the Hawks set up shop at their own 23. They slowly started eating up yardage, with the biggest chunk coming on a Justice Mansfield-Beaulieu (Hartford, CT/Bloomfield) 31-yard reception from the arm of Kyle Szokoli (Greenlawn, NY/Elwood John H. Glenn) that brought that Hawks to the Alfred 31. 'Wick eventually found themselves with 1st and goal at the one, but it took all the way until fourth down for Szokoli to find Justin LoBasso (Honesdale, PA/Honesdale) on the one yard score with 27 seconds remaining in the quarter. After a Kevin Roberts (Montgomery, NY/Valley Central) PAT, the score was 7-7.
Alfred's Dustin McCaslin missed a 47-yard field goal on the ensuing Saxon drive, giving Hartwick a 1st and 10 from their own 26. After a one-yard loss on first down, they covered 47 yards on the next four plays to bring them to the Alfred 36. A temporary setback via an offensive pass interference penalty made it 3rd and 17 from the Alfred 43, but Szokoli was able to find Logan Mullane (Goshen, NY/Goshen Central) for exactly the 17 yards needed and a first down. The Hawks slowly made their way towards the goal line after that, eventually grabbing the lead on a six-yard Mullane touchdown reception. The score was the first of Mullane's collegiate career.
It seemed as if the Hawks might go into the locker room leading 14-7, but the teams combined for 10 points in the final 19 seconds of the first half. 'Wick began their final drive of the opening half-hour with 31 seconds to go on their own 45, and on 2nd and 6 Szokoli connected with Nate Rath (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley) for a 51-yard touchdown pass. Alfred started their drive with 13 seconds on the clock and at their own 37, and Smith promptly found Darviae Gray for 45 yards to the Hartwick 18. McCaslin's 35-yard field goal try on the next play was good as time expired. The Hawks led 21-10 at the break.
Hartwick kicked off to begin the second half, and Alfred consistently ate up five to 10 yard chunks to move their way down the field. They were eventually stopped at the Hawks' 7, and elected to kick the 24-yarder, making it a one-possession game at 21-13. 'Wick went three-and-out on their next drive, and the home side made them pay, moving their way down the field before Smith found Zach Leinenbach for a 10-yard reception and the score. The Saxons went for two and the tie, and Smith kept it himself to knot the score at 21-all with 3:22 remaining in the third.
The Hawks had a near disaster on their next possession, as when they were forced to punt from their own 26, the snap got by Nick Andrade (Shelton, CT/Shelton) and headed towards the end zone. Andrade was somehow able to scoop the ball up, turn, and punt it nearly 40 yards to the Hartwick 40 (even though it was officially only a 14-yard punt). The 'Wick defense made Andrade's play stand up, forcing a three-and-out from Alfred. The third quarter would end with the teams tied at 21.
Alfred's second drive of the fourth quarter brought what ended up as the game-winning points. They drove all the way to the Hartwick 12 before Tyler Norman (Hyde Park, NY/FDR) broke up a Smith pass and forced a 28-yard field goal attempt, which McCaslin converted with 6:30 to go. Earlier on the drive, the Saxons nearly had a 65-yard touchdown pass but Gray dropped Smith's long heave when he had nothing but open field ahead of him.
Hartwick started out what wound up as the game's final drive from their own 25. After an incomplete pass, Szokoli found Rath on second down for a 29-yard gain. Szokoli came up big again a few plays later on 4th and 8, going over the middle for a 13-yard gain to LoBasso. Davien Kuinlan (Bethpage, NY/Plainedge) followed that play up with a 13-yard rush of his own down to the Alfred 18. The Hawks eventually found themselves with 1st and goal at the six, and after a pair of Kuinlan rushes, that became 3rd and goal from the 1 with 37 seconds left. Kuinlan's attempt to stuff it in was snuffed out by Danny Quinones and Mike Chaparro, leaving 'Wick with 4th and goal from the 2, three seconds left, and a decision to make. They initially lined up for the field goal, but then called a timeout to think it over. The offense came back out on the field, Szokoli rolled out right and lofted one for LoBasso, but it was broken up by Tommy Vaughan as Alfred secured the dramatic victory.
Szokoli threw 38 times on the day, completing 22 passes for 244 yards and a career-best three touchdowns. Kuinlan rushed 23 times for 87 yards, and had six receptions for 31 yards. Rath led the Hawks receiving corps, with four catches for 95 yards and a touchdown. LoBasso had five catches, for 37 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, Jeremy Gerdvil (East Northport, NY/Northport) and Jake Thorry (Sayville, NY/Sayville) each had nine tackles (five solo and four assist). Bryan Grimes (Albany, NY/Colonie) was next up with seven takedowns, and Nelon Priest (Schenectady, NY/Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons) had four pass breakups on the night.
Alfred narrowly outgained the Hawks, 354 to 325, all of that coming via a 149-81 advantage on the ground. The Saxons also had the time of possession lead, at 32:49 to 27:11.
'Wick is back to it next Saturday with a tough test, as they welcome #18/19 Cortland to Oyaron Hill for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
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