MILTON, MA – Despite threatening late, the Hartwick football team found itself on the wrong side of a low-scoring affair on Saturday, losing to Curry 14-7 on the road. The Hawks move to 1-1 on the year, while Curry is now 2-1.
After a few empty drives to start, the Hawks found themselves in business when Michael Lombardi (Wantagh, NY/Wantagh) picked off a Justin Mullaney pass to set 'Wick up with solid field position at their own 40. They made the most of it, motoring down the field in 11 plays, finished off with a three-yard Davien Kuinlan (Bethpage, NY/Plainedge) touchdown run. A Kevin Roberts (Montgomery, NY/Valley Central) extra point made it 7-0 'Wick midway through the first.
What seemed like a promising Colonel drive early on in the second was foiled by Jake Thorry (Sayville, NY/Sayville), as after a Mullaney completion to Miles Codgell, Theory forced and recovered a fumble to stop Curry in their tracks. The Hawks could not take advantage, however, and went three-and-out on the ensuing drive.
The hosts made no mistakes next time out, carving up the Hartwick defense to the tune of 78 yards on nine plays for a touchdown. Mullaney threw for 70 yards, finishing off with a 14-yard chuck to Gabe DeSouza for the score.
After another Hawks three-and-out, Curry again marched down the field and scored, this time on an eight-play, 69-yard drive. The big play came on a 3rd and 10 at the Colonel 43, as Mullaney found Codgell for a 54-yard gain down to the Hartwick three-yard line. Two plays later, Mullaney punched the ball in himself on a one-yard run for what wound up as the day's final score with 1:06 remaining in the half. The Hawks managed to set themselves up for a 40-yard field goal attempt as time expired, but Roberts missed wide left.
Each side had a promising drive push into their opponents territory in the third quarter, but both times sacks derailed any chance of a score and ultimately forced a punt. On the next Hawks' drive, though, it looked like they would score their second touchdown of the day and put themselves an extra point away from a tie. The first play of the drive was the biggest, as Kuinlan rushed for 31 yards to the Curry 38. On the initial play of the fourth quarter, 'Wick found themselves with a 3rd and goal at the four-yard line, but Kyle Szokoli's (Greenlawn, NY/Elwood John H. Glenn) pass was picked off in the endzone by Kevin Peete and downed for a touchback.
The Colonels went for the kill on their next drive, going for it on 4th and 5 from the Hartwick 17, but Mullaney's pass intended for DeSouza landed incomplete and gave Hartwick the ball. The Hawks' final legitimate chance to score came on the next drive, as they put up back-to-back plays of 31 and 17 yards to set themselves up with a first down at the Curry 31. 'Wick stalled out from there, though, eventually turning it over on downs.
Kuinlan carried the ball 20 times on the day, gaining 105 yards with a long of 31. Szokoli was 13-for-30 from the pocket, throwing for 158 yards with a long of 35. Justice Mansfield-Beaulieu (Hartford, CT/Bloomfield) led Hawks' receivers with four catches for 71 yards, while Kuinlan had three receptions for 31 yards.
Defensively, Bryan Grimes (Albany, NY/Colonie) tied for the game high with 10 tackles (seven solo). Jeremy Gerdvil (East Northport, NY/Northport) had six tackles and 1.5 sacks, while Jake Ely (Fulton, NY/G. Ray Bodley), had seven tackles, one for a loss.
Curry outgained Hartwick 340-285 as an offensive unit, including 301-158 through the air. Time of possession was nearly even, at 31:22 to 28:38.
After a bye week, the Hawks open Empire 8 play on Saturday, October 2 with a home meeting against Utica at 2:30 p.m.
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