HARTWICK, NY – After trailing 17-6 in the fourth quarter, Hartwick rallied to within five and nearly scored with less than 12 seconds left to take the lead in a 17-12 loss to Brockport Saturday at Wright Stadium. With the clock ticking down, Hartwick faced fourth and 1 on the Brockport seven. Quarterback John Garcia (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) rolled to his right and found receiver John Horner (Queens Village, NY/Fox Lane) in the back of the end zone. The senior went up to make a leaping catch in traffic but he couldn't get a foot in-bounds when he came down with the ball and the Golden Eagles would take over with 11.7 seconds left and secure the 17-12 win.
           
Hartwick slips to 2-5 overall and 1-4 in the Empire 8 Conference. Brockport is now 5-2, and 3-2 in the league.
           
The two teams played through over 22 minutes of scoreless football until Brockport scored on a 48-yard touchdown pass with 6:43 left in the second quarter. The Hawks answered two possessions later as John Garcia hit his brother Brad Garcia (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) for a big 49-yard passing play. Senior running back Greg Bell (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) capped the scoring drive off with a two-yard run into the end zone. Brockport maintained the lead, 7-6, after a missed Hartwick PAT.
           
After the kickoff, the Golden Eagles scored again two plays later as Dan Andrews broke free for a 65-yard touchdown run to make the score 14-6 in Brockport's favor with 55 seconds left before halftime.
           
In the third quarter, Brockport would drive deep into Hartwick territory. The Golden Eagles made it to the Hartwick two, but a personal foul penalty set them back and they had to settle for a Tyler Perna 35-yard field goal for a 17-6 advantage.
           
The Hawks started their next scoring drive with 10:25 left in the contest. John Garcia connected on six straight passes, including a 34-yarder to Brad Garcia, to put 'Wick in scoring position. Bell ran for another two and then quarterback Billy Pine (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Fall) threw in the end zone to tight end Marcus Mistersaro (Leroy, NY/Leroy) for a three-yard score to make it 17-12. The Hawks went for two but couldn't convert.
             
The Hartwick defense, which only allowed 377 yards of total offense on the day, forced a Golden Eagle three and out and the Hawks had the ball back with 4:31 remaining. John Garcia moved 'Wick down the field with passing plays of 16 and 24 yards to his brother. With under two minutes left, the Hawks faced a 4^th and 10 on the Brockport 42 and Carl Holmes (Cuba, NY/Cuba-Rushford) hauled in a big 26-yard pass from John Garcia to keep the drive alive.
           
After a Pine rush for two yards, an incomplete pass, and a Holmes' 7-yard catch, the Hawks faced the critical 4^th and 1 on the Golden Eagle 7 but couldn't punch it in.
           
The Hawks would total 452 yards of offense on the afternoon. John Garcia threw for 292 yards on 18 completions. Pine completed six passes for 114 yards and one touchdown. Brad Garcia racked up career-highs of nine catches and 258 receiving yards. Holmes made seven catches for 79 yards.
           
Andrews ran for 185 yards and a touchdown on 20 touches for Brockport. Chase Venuto threw for a171 yards and a score and Andrew Mrozek made six catches for a touchdown and 132 yards.
           
Defensively, Jake Brickler had a game-high 12 tackles, including four tackles for a loss and three sacks for the Golden Eagles. Lineman Mike Simone (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) had four tackles, two for a loss, and two passes defended for the Hawks. Matthew Ali (Sayville, NY/Sayville) also had four hits for 'Wick.
           
Hartwick remains home next Saturday when it hosts Frostburg State at Wright Stadium. Kickoff is 2 p.m.