Box Score
ONEONTA, NY – Host Hartwick converted a key fourth down late in the fourth quarter before going on to score the winning touchdown in a 34-30 win over Alfred University Saturday afternoon.
 
With the loss, Alfred falls to 3-2 on the season, 1-2 in Empire 8 Conference play. Hartwick improves to 2-2 overall and 1-1 in league play.
 
After Hartwick took an early 3-0 lead on a 35-yard field goal 1:42 into the game, Alfred scored three straight touchdowns. The first, with 11:36 left in the first, came on a 19-yard TD run by freshman tailback Sammy Davis Jr. (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott). Sophomore tailback Casey Bright (Pulaski, NY/Pulaski) scored on an eight-yard run with 4:32 left in the opening frame to give Alfred a 14-3 advantage.
 
Alfred's third TD of the first quarter proved pivotal for the host team. After freshman tailback Willie McFadden (Amityville, NY/Copiague) scored on an 18-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Tyler Johnson (East Syracuse, NY/East Syracuse-Minoa), AU led 20-3. The ensuing PAT try resulted in a fumble, and Hartwick's Cantave Midnet returned the ball for a two-point defensive conversion, making the score 20-5.
 
Hartwick scored the next nine points of the second – on a 21-yard TD pass from John Garcia to Tanner Williams (the PAT failed) 1:16 into the period and a field goal with 10:04 left in the quarter – and Alfred led 20-14. The Saxons boosted their lead to 27-14 with 8:55 left on a 70-yard TD pass from Johnson to sophomore wideout Rodney Etienne (Spring Valley, NY/Ramapo).
 
Hartwick took a one-point lead in the third, courtesy of two straight TDs. The first, 3:15 into the third, came on a 12-yard Greg Bell run; the second, with 29 seconds left in the quarter, came on a 14-yard Garcia-to-Williams pass that put the Hawks up, 28-27.
 
Alfred freshman placekicker Trevor Monk (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) gave the Saxons a 30-28 lead with a 39-yard field goal with just under four minutes remaining in regulation. But Hartwick answered on the Hawks' ensuing drive, going 71 yards on six plays, with Garcia connecting with Williams on a 21-yard TD pass that provided the winning points. Garcia hit Williams with a four-yard completion on fourth-and-four from the AU 40-yard line that kept the drive alive.
 
On their ensuing possession, the Saxons turned the ball over on downs at their own 36 and the Hawks ran out the clock.
 
The game was evenly matched, with AU racking up 340 yards of offense and Hartwick 358. The Saxons had four turnovers and the Hawks had three.
 
Johnson threw for 133 yards and a pair of scores with one interception. Sophomore backup Dom Scavo (Hornell, NY/Hornell) entered the game in the third and threw for 53 yards and an INT.
 
Davis ran for 79 yards and a TD on 17 carries and Etienne finished with five catches for 90 yards and a score. Senior tight end Isiah Young caught three passes for 25 yards.
 
Garcia threw for 269 yards and three TDs with one interception and Williams had nine catches for 207 yards and three scores. Bell finished with 40 yards on 15 carries.
 
Sophomore end Zack Bacon (Hornell, NY/Hornell) led the Saxon defense with six tackles (three for loss, one sack), while junior middle linebacker Corry Wallace (Mastic Beach, NY/Longwood) had seven stops. Freshman cornerback Jared Watkins (Buffalo, NY/Cleveland Hill) had an interception.
 
Nick Sorrenti had nine tackles (1 ½ for loss) And Matthew Ali had eight (one for loss, one sack) and an interception for Hartwick.
 
Alfred is idle next weekend. The Saxons play next on Saturday, Oct. 18, at 1 p.m. at home against Brockport on Homecoming.