Box Score

ONEONTA, NY – Two touchdowns on its opening two possessions of the second half increased a three-point margin at halftime into a 17-0 advantage in an Empire 8 Conference victory for nationally 24^th ranked Salisbury over Hartwick on Saturday at Wright Stadium.

The two teams played through 29:51 of scoreless action in the first half before a Salisbury 22-yard field goal put the Gulls on the board heading into halftime. A Joey Jones 4-yard run for a touchdown increased the margin to 10 with 7:25 left in the third quarter and John Dunbar closed out the scoring 3:12 later with a 12-yard touchdown run.

Hartwick seniors R.J. Roth (Cornwall, NY/Cornwall) and Bryan Schweitzer (Babylon, NY/Babylon) combined for 20 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and three tackles for a loss on the day.

The Hawks fall to 4-3 overall and 1-3 in the Empire 8. Salisbury improves to 5-2 overall and 4-0 in the league.

The Gulls would outgain the Hawks by a margin of 295 to 191 on the day. In addition, the Salisbury defense forced six Hawk turnovers, including a pair in the red zone. The Gulls also limited 'Wick to 17 rushing yards on 27 carries.

In a penalty-plagued first quarter, the Hawks would get the first opportunity of the day as sophomore Nate Farley (Amsterdam, Amsterdam) forced a fumble on a run by Jones and junior Kyle Dalton (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) pounced on the loose ball, recovering at the Salisbury 17.

The scoring chance would be squandered however as 'Wick quarterback John Garcia (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) was picked off three plays later at the Gulls' seven by James Hall.

Neither team mustered much on their next possessions but Salisbury handed 'Wick good field position following a punt return as Roth forced a fumble by returner Isaiah Taylor and Chris Hoose (Leeds, NY/Cairo-Durham) recovered at the Hartwick 47.

The Hawks maintained possession into the second quarter and made it all the way to the Salisbury three yard-line. On a 3^rd and 3, Tyler Paradysz knocked the ball out of the hands of Hoose who had taken the direct snap and the Gulls recovered once again to thwart a Hawk opportunity in the red zone.

Each team had two scoreless possessions with the Hawks stopping the Gulls on one at the Hartwick 37 on a Roth stop of Jones for a two-yard loss on a 4^th and 1.

The biggest offensive play of the day came with under a minute left in the half. The Gulls had the ball on their own 28 on a 3^rd and 12 and Desmond Sivels broke free for a huge 50-yard gain, putting his team at the Hartwick 22.

After an 11-yard pass play, Zak Osbourne connected on the 22-yarder for a 3-0 lead with nine ticks left, a lead the Gulls would take into halftime.

The Hawks got the kickoff to start the second half but immediately had to start deep in their own territory following a penalty. Starting at his own 9, Garcia was able to drive the Hawks to the 32 but he was picked off by Nick Anzallo at the 'Wick 49.

Jones' four-yard run ended a nine-play, 56-yard drive and Osbourne's PAT gave the Gulls a 10-0 edge. Another pick on Hartwick's next possession would result in seven more Sea Gull points. After an Andre Carter interception and return to the Hartwick 12, three straight Dunbar rushes, including the 12-yarder for the score, increased the margin. Osbourne's point after would close out the scoring on the day at 17-0 with 4:04 left in the third.

Hartwick's last possession of the third saw it reach its own 41 yard-line but Jared Morrow (Ogdensburg, NY/OFA) would punt to the Gulls in the final minute.

The 'Wick defense held up in the fourth quarter as it did not allow a drive of more than 27 yards by Salisbury on four chances. The Hawks' offense drove 27 yards on its opening possession of the fourth, making it to the 50 yard-line, but a fumble resulted in another change of possession and SU took over. 'Wick drove to its own 43 on its final touch of the ball but its final turnover put the game away.

The game marks the first shutout for Hartwick since a 24-0 loss to Alfred in the 2004 season. The Gulls improve to 3-0 against the Hawks all-time.

Offensively, Garcia threw for 174 yards on 15 completions. Tanner Williams (Stillwater, NY/Stillwater) made five catches for 80 yards and Frankie Molina (Middletown, NY/Middletown) caught four balls for 52 yards.

Morrow had an average of 37.8 yards on six punts, including a 50-yarder. He added four tackles on defense. Roth notched a game-high 11 tackles, 2.5 for a loss, one sack, a forced fumble, and a pass defended. Schweitzer added nine hits, a half-sack, and one pass defended. Dante Crump (Kingston, NY/Kingston) and Farley each added seven tackles. Crump also had a tackle for a loss and Farley recorded a forced fumble. Richie DiVirgilio (Windsor, NY/Windsor) accumulated five hits for the Hawks.

Hartwick is back in action next Saturday at Wright Stadium. The Hawks entertain Buffalo State in another Empire 8 Conference game. The game will also serve as Hartwick Senior Day.