ALFRED, NY – The Alfred Saxons, the top-ranked rushing team in the conference, racked up 445 yards on the ground in a 61-12 victory over Hartwick's football team on Saturday at Wright Stadium. The loss drops Hartwick to 2-5 overall and 1-4 in the Empire 8 Conference. The Saxons, ranked #17 in the latest D3football.com poll and #21 in the NFCA poll, improve to 7-0 and 5-0. They finished the day with 534 yards of offense.
           
Alfred held the Hawks' high-powered air attack to a season-low 230 yards on the day. Billy Pine (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls) threw for 239 yards and two touchdowns on 19-of-30 passing. Koree Reed (Baldwinsville, NY/Central Conn. St. Univ.) made four receptions for 103 yards and two TDs and Chase Weichman (Rochester, NY/SUNY Cortland) caught four balls for 49 yards. Brad Garcia (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley HS) had a game-high five receptions for 41 yards.
           
Alfred's Maleke Fuentes gained 217 yards rushing on 21 carries. He also recorded a pair of touchdown runs. Casey Bright added 78 yards on 13 attempts and quarterback Tyler Johnson contributed 64 yards and three scores on the ground. He also threw for 89 yards on seven completions.
           
The game got off to a rough start for the Hawks as a high snap on the first play from scrimmage led to a Saxon safety. Less than three minutes later, AU added to its total with a touchdown, and after just 3:04, the visitors were in front 9-0.
           
A Pine to Reed 40-yard touchdown pass cut the deficit to three, 9-6, at the 8:45 mark, but Alfred would outscore the Hawks 45-0 over the next 45 minutes of action. Reed hauled in another touchdown catch after a 30-yard throw from Pine with 5:28 left in the fourth quarter for 'Wick's final points.
           
On defense, Mark Hackett (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls) paced the Hawks with nine tackles. Nate Farley (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam) contributed eight hits. Eugene Allen III (Laurel, NY/Mattituck) and Mike Simone (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) each registered six tackles.
           
Hartwick travels to Buffalo State next Saturday, October 29. Kickoff will be 11:15 a.m. from Coyer Field.