MORRISVILLE, NY –
Brian McGovern's (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley HS) 28-yard field goal as time expired capped a 16-point fourth-quarter rally for Hartwick in a 43-41 win at Morrisville State on Saturday. The Hawks earn their first Empire 8 victory of the season with the result.
The host Mustangs led 41-27 heading into the fourth quarter but rushing touchdowns from
Billy Pine (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls) and
Tito Pichardo (Washingtonville, NY/Washingtonville HS) got the Hawks within one point, 41-40, with 7:16 remaining. After the Hawks got the ball back, McGovern clinched the victory with his game-winner from 28.
Hartwick improves to 2-4 overall and 1-3 in conference with the win. Morrisville drops to 0-6 and 0-5.
Pichardo would rush for 134 yards and two scores on 23 carries for Hartwick. He added 28 yards through the air on five receptions. Pine threw for 270 yards and two touchdowns on 16-of-26 passing.
Koree Reed (Baldwinsville, NY/Central Conn. St. Univ.) made six catches for 151 yards and two TDs.
Brad Garcia (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley HS) had four receptions for 85 yards. Defensive back
David Van Alstine (Otego, NY/Unatego) also contributed to the offense with a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
The game featured five lead changes between the two sides. They also combined for 977 yards of offense.
Both teams would score on their opening two possessions of the contest. After Morrisville went up 6-0 on a touchdown and failed extra point, Pine would connect with Reed for a 25-yard touchdown reception with 6:49 remaining in the opening quarter.
The Mustangs scored again at 1:26 of the quarter, but a Pine-to-Garcia 48-yard pass followed by a Pine-to-Reed 28-yard touchdown pass would answer for the Hawks just 1:06 later.
Neither team scored for the opening 11 minutes of the second quarter with the Hawks leading 14-13. A Morrisville one-yard touchdown run would give the hosts the lead at 4:17 of the second. The Mustangs would hold that lead for over 34 minutes until McGovern's heroics.
After as three and out, the Mustangs scored again to make it a 27-14 game with 1:40 left in the half. But Van Alstine would run the kickoff back 95 yards to cut the deficit to seven 14 seconds later. The Mustangs drove 59 yards and punched the ball in with six ticks left for a 34-20 halftime advantage.
After drives resulting in no points for either team to start the third quarter, the two squads traded touchdowns. Pichardo had the Hawks' with a 27-yard run with 7:11 left. Morrisville answered 2:08 later for a 41-27 edge.
The Hartwick defense would force stops on Morrisville's final three possessions of the game to keep the Hawks alive.
Pine scored on a 10-yard run at 13:53 of the fourth quarter. After a stop, Pichardo registered his second touchdown on a nine-yard run. McGovern's PAT was blocked leaving the score at 41-40 Morrisville's advantage.
The Mustangs final possession resulted in a punt giving the Hawks the ball back with 4:26 left in the contest. 'Wick would pick up five first downs and work the clock. The Hawks would drive the ball 69 yards in 11 plays before calling timeout with a second left on the hosts' 28. After the Mustangs tried to ice McGovern with another timeout, he knocked the ball through the uprights for the Hartwick victory.
Defensively,
Mark Hackett (Mark Hackett (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls HS),
Malik Wynter (Auburn, NY/Auburn HS), and
Liam Kane (Saratoga Springs, NY/Stillwater) tied for the team-lead with nine tackles. Hackett also had 3.5 tackles for a loss of 13 yards and he broke up two passes.
Anthony Rotunno (Hawthorne, NY/Westlake HS) added seven hits and
Eugene Allen III (Laurel, NY/Mattituck),
Melijah Purvis (West Babylon, NY/North Babylon),
Chris Goudy (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury),
Marcus Mistersaro (Leroy, NY/Leroy HS), and
Nate Farley (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam) each registered six tackles. Mistersaro had the game's lone sack, which was for 13 yards.
Hartwick next plays unbeaten and nationally ranked Alfred (6-0) at Wright Stadium on Saturday October 22. Kickoff is 1 p.m.
