DANBURY, CT – Hartwick had the lead with 1:04 remaining in the game but an 81-yard touchdown pass from Western Connecticut State with 54 ticks left handed the Hawks a 35-31 loss in their season opener Saturday in Danbury, CT. The two teams scored a total of 21 points and the lead changed hands three times in the final 2:20 of action in a wild fourth quarter.
           
The Hawks got the ball back after the go-ahead touchdown from the Colonials and they quickly moved down the field on a 44-yard pass from quarterback Billy Pine (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls) to receiver Koree Reed (Baldwinsville, NY/Central Conn. St. Univ.). The Hawks benefitted from a pass interference penalty which put the ball on the Colonial 18 and gave them a first down. After three unsuccessful looks at Reed, 'Wick called timeout on fourth down with 16 ticks left. Their final play was a pass to Brad Garcia (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley HS) but it was broken up in the end zone.
           
The two teams combined 961 yards of offense on the night. The Hawks threw for 330 yards and gained another 143 on the ground.
           
Pine would throw for 330 yards and two touchdowns on 15 completions. He added a pair of rushing touchdowns and 84 yards rushing. Garcia made nine receptions for 217 yards and two scores. Reed made two grabs for 87 yards. Tito Pichardo (Washingtonville, NY/Washingtonville HS) rushed for 84 yards on 17 attempts.
           
Defensively, the Hawks registered 13 tackles for a loss of 29 yards, including five sacks. Eleven players had at least four tackles, led by Malik Wynter's (Auburn, NY/Auburn HS) seven hits. Matthew Ali (Sayville, NY/Sayville HS) made six tackles with Connor Vlasaty (Yorktown Heights, NY/Somers HS), Frank Sorrenti (Endwell, NY/Maine-Endwell HS), Liam Kane (Saratoga Springs, NY/Stillwater HS), and Mike Simone (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) adding four apiece.
           
Hartwick scored touchdowns on two of their first four possessions of the day. Pine capped a 7-play, 70-yard drive with an 8-yard touchdown run 2:41 into the game and Garcia scored on a 14-yard pass from Pine five seconds into the second quarter for a 14-0 lead.
           
Western Connecticut scored twice in the last eight and a half minutes of the period to take the lead at halftime. The Colonials trimmed the gap to six and then scored again with 49 seconds left before the break for a 15-14 advantage.
           
The Hawks got a defensive stop as the Colonials opened the second half with the ball. A 54-yard hookup from Pine to Garcia put the Hawks deep in Colonial territory. Pine ran it into the end zone from 12 yards out and Brian McGovern's (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley HS) extra point made the score 21-15 Hawks.
           
After a David Van Alstine (Otego, NY/Unatego Central) interception, a Pine 36-yard scamper would set up a McGovern 34-yard field goal to increase the margin to nine, 24-15, with 14:52 remaining in the game.
           
The Colonials pulled within three after a 72-yard touchdown drive on their next possession and they jumped in front with 2:20 left in the game, 28-24, with another score.
           
The Hawks needed just 36 seconds and two plays to retake the advantage. Pine connected with Reed for 43 yards and then hit Garcia in the corner of the end zone for the quick touchdown. After McGovern's PAT, the Hawks led 31-28 with 1:44 showing on the clock.
           
Mark Hackett (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls HS) intercepted Colonial quarterback Quinn Fleeting on the first play of the Western Connecticut drive and the Hawks looked to kill the clock. The Colonials, however, had all three of their timeouts and they got the ball back after only 27 seconds to set the stage for the Fleeting to Jaward Chisholm 81-yard go-ahead score.
           
Hartwick next plays one week from today on September 10 at UMass Dartmouth.