CORTLAND, NY – Steven Ferreira's 11-yard pass in the end zone to Jake Smith lifted 22^nd ranked Cortland to a 48-45 overtime victory over Hartwick in Empire 8 football Saturday. The Hawks, who fought through a pair of 14-point deficits, took the lead in overtime on their first possession with a Korey Jubie (Kingston, NY/Kingston) 33-yard field goal. On the Red Dragons' overtime possession, they faced a third and goal at the 'Wick 11 but converted on the Ferreira to Smith passing play to win it.
           
Little separated the two teams on the day. The game was either a one-possession game or the score was tied for all but eight and a half minutes.
           
The two squads accumulated 975 yards of offense on the day. The Hawks racked up 496, which was a season-high. Cortland registered 479 yards of offense.
           
Hartwick had two leads in the first quarter following John Garcia (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) touchdown passes. He hit Tanner Williams (Eagle Bridge, NY/Hoosick Falls) for 36 yards to open the day's scoring, and later Nicky Celestino (Poughkeepsie, NY/Spackenkill) for five yards for a 14-7 lead.
           
Cortland scored 21 unanswered points to grab a 28-14 lead before the Hawks cut the deficit in half with a touchdown just before halftime. Brad Garcia (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) then scored two straight touchdowns, one rushing, one receiving, to tie the game at 35-35 late in the third quarter. The Red Dragons earned another lead, 42-35, early in the fourth before the Hawks forced overtime with a nine-play, 80-yard drive capped by Williams' second touchdown catch with 4:02 remaining to force overtime.
           
John Garcia threw for 440 yards and five touchdowns on 29 completions for the Hawks. Williams made 12 catches for 240 receiving yards to go along with his two scores. Brad Garcia finished with nine receptions for 147 yards and three touchdowns. Tito Pichardo (Washingtonville, NY/Washingtonville) rushed for 61 yards on the ground.
           
Nick Sorrenti (Endwell, NY/Maine-Endwell) led all players with 14 tackles for 'Wick. The total included 3.5 tackles for a loss and two sacks. Mark Hackett (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls) and Matthew Ali (Sayville, NY/Sayville) were also in double figures in tackles for the Hawks. They both had 12 for the game. Michael Servider (Carmel, NY/Carmel) provided nine hits for the Blue and White.
           
Today's game marked the first meeting between the two schools since Hartwick reinstated football in 1992. The Hawks were looking for their first win over the Red Dragons in school history with Cortland taking the previous 10 meetings, all of which coming prior to 1951.
           
Hartwick hosts Ithaca College during True Blue Weekend next Saturday. The Hawks and Bombers kickoff at Wright Stadium at 2 p.m.