ONEONTA, NY – Visiting St. John Fisher, which trailed Hartwick at halftime, scored back-to-back touchdowns 4:42 apart in the third quarter to take the lead for good on Saturday in a 41-34 victory over the Hawks. 'Wick was on the Fisher 19 yard-line with 35 seconds left, but the Hawks were intercepted in the end zone with just under 29 seconds left to seal the Fisher victory.
The Hawks slip to 3-6 overall and 1-6 in the Empire 8 with the loss. The Cardinals improve to 6-3 and 5-2. Hartwick earned 438 yards of offense in the game. Fisher accumulated 379. The lead would change hands a total of six times in the contest.
John Garcia (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) threw for 377 yards and three touchdowns on 26 completions for 'Wick. His brother,
Brad Garcia (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley), made eight receptions for a game-high 163 yards and two touchdowns.
Carl Holmes (Cuba, NY/Cuba-Rushford) caught six balls for 71 yards and a score, and
Tanner Williams (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls) made five catches for 93 yards.
Tito Pichardo (Washingtonville, NY/Washingtonville) gained 100 yards on the ground on 20 carries. He ran for a touchdown and gained another 30 yards on four catches for the Hawks.
The Cardinals would score touchdowns on their first two possessions for a 14-7 lead. A Garcia to Garcia 30-yard touchdown pass and
Korey Jubie (Kingston, NY/Kingston) kick tied the score at 7-7, but James Chambers scored on the first play from scrimmage after the kickoff on a 55-yard touchdown run to put Fisher back on top.
Later, the Hawks would get a pass interference call following a fake punt and they were set up on the Fisher 25 yard-line. Three plays later, Pichardo ran it in from five yards out and Jubie's PAT made the score 14-14 with 1:20 on the first-quarter clock.
Jubie gave the Hawks' their first lead on a 32-yard field goal to cap an 11-play, 65-yard drive with 9:57 left in the half. St. John Fisher retook the advantage with a 10-yard Chambers' run 2:10 later, but the Garcia brothers connected once more, this time for a 36-yard score with 21 seconds left in the half.
The Cardinals got the kickoff in the second half and scored 2:59 in to lead 28-24. They would start their next drive pinned on their own three yard-line. A
Travis Samuels' (New City, NY/Clarkstown North) pick put the Hawks in prime field position on the SJFC 27. Holmes would haul in a 27-yard score four plays later and Jubie's PAT made it 31-28 Hawks.
Fisher earned the upper hand once again after scoring on their next possession. The Hawks were intercepted on their first play from scrimmage and nine plays and 83 yards later, a 53-yard Matt Naton to Taylor Byrne touchdown put the visitors in front 41-31 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Hawks scored on their second possession of the fourth quarter with a Jubie 29-yard field goal to trim the gap to seven with 6:55 left in the game.
Fisher drove to the Hartwick 40 and on a 3
rd and 3,
Connor Vlasaty (Yorktown Heights, NY/Somers) picked off Naton and 'Wick got the ball back with 3:22 left.
John Garcia went 7-for-9 on the drive with passes to four different players to get 'Wick to the 19, but Brandon Fuentes' second interception of the game would ice it for Fisher.
Ricky Giraldo (Monroe, NY/Monroe-Woodbury) and
Mike Simone (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) each had eight tackles for the Hartwick defense. Simone had a pair for a loss of seven yards.
Matthew Ali (Sayville, NY/Sayville) had seven hits and a forced a fumble.
Chris Mercieca (Centereach, NY/Centereach) also had seven tackles.
Mark Hackett (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls) had five hits, a tackle for a loss, and a fumble recovery.
Frank Sorrenti (Endwell, NY/Maine-Endwell) added four tackles, and two tackles for loss, including the Hawks' only sack.
The game served as the final home game for seniors
John Garcia, Jubie, Samuels, Williams, Mercieca, Ali,
C.J. Stone (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen),
Michael Servider (Carmel, NY/Carmel),
Joe Boccia (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley),
Ryan O'Malley (Lagrangeville, NY/Arlington),
Zachary Pitcher (Rhinebeck, NY/Rhinebeck),
Rahpheal Duncan (Albany, NY/Colonie),
Andrew Bruning (Centereach, NY/Centereach),
Sal Levanti (North Babylon, NY/North Babylon),
Chad Pickerd (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley),
Jesse Navarette (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville),
Brendan Raftis (Auburn, NY/Auburn),
Jacob Slick (Pottstown, PA/Pottstown), and
Sam Clark (Jersey City, NJ/Hudson Catholic). They were recognized in a ceremony prior to the game.
Hartwick will wrap up the 2015 regular season next Saturday at Utica College. The Hawks and Pioneers kickoff at Charles Gaetano Stadium at 1 p.m.
"It has come to our attention that behavior potentially unbecoming of the College occurred during Saturday's football game against St. John Fisher. We are actively investigating these reports, and will not hesitate to implement strict disciplinary measures should they be deemed necessary.
As proud members of the Empire 8 Conference, Hartwick College is a staunch proponent of the highest forms of fair play and sportsmanship. Further, we look forward to cooperating fully with the Empire 8 Conference as they conduct their own due diligence.
Hartwick College is committed to ensuring its athletics programs are held to the highest standards possible as ambassadors of the College and the community."
- Dr.
Kim Fierke, Hartwick College Director of Athletics
