ALFRED, NY - The Alfred University football team celebrated their Homecoming Weekend with a 45-24 win over Hartwick College on Saturday afternoon from Yunevich Stadium. 

Chris Kelly (Lake Ronkonkoma, NY/Sachem North) led the Saxons under center with 290 passing yards and four touchdowns. Tommy Nyquist (Warren, PA/Warren Area) finished the game with 136 rushing yards to go with a touchdown. Carmine Hoag (Salamanca, NY/Salamanca) enjoyed a successful afternoon with 82 receiving yards and three touchdowns. TJ Marsh (East Aurora, NY/East Aurora) registered a game-high 11 tackles, nine of which were solo. 

"I am definitely happy for our guys and we are pleased with the final outcome of today's game," Head Coach Bob Rankl said. "That being said, we do still think we have a lot of things to improve on with both sides of the football, as well as special teams. We are planning on using the bye week to improve basic alignment, assignments and techniques so that we can finish the second half of the season strong. It was so great to see so many of our alumni and great former Saxons back in the stands today."

The Saxons were the first to strike in the opening quarter, as Kelly found Hoag on a 24-yard touchdown pass for the initial lead. Just two plays later, Hartwick responded with a touchdown of their own to equalize the game, as both sides went into the second quarter with a 7-7 tie. Following a missed field goal by Hartwick, the Saxons relied on a 67-yard touchdown pass from Kelly to Jonye Rosebury Jr (Tampa, FL/Tampa Bay Tech) for the lead. Inside the final two minutes of the first half, Kelly tossed his second touchdown of the afternoon to Hoag, as Alfred University led 21-7 going into halftime. 

The Hawks cut into their deficit following a field goal to begin the second half. Later in the quarter, Nyquist broke away with a 50-yard rushing touchdown to extend their advantage. The defense for AU stepped up thanks to an interception by Malik Alexander (New York, NY/Automotive), which eventually led to Hoag's third receiving touchdown of the game for AU. The Hawks added two touchdowns in the final quarter of action, but points by Steven Bidwell (Owego, NY/Owego Free Academy) and Dominic Bronco (Rochester, NY/Aquinas) were enough to give Alfred University the victory. 

Alfred University will next enjoy the bye week before traveling to face SUNY Cortland on October 18 at 1:00 PM.