ONEONTA, NY – A monstrous performance from Davien Kuinlan (Bethpage, NY/Plainedge) and a fourth quarter rushing touchdown by Devon Brown (Vestal, NY/Vestal) from 36 yards out gave the Hartwick football team a well-earned victory in Saturday's Senior Day matchup, as the Hawks downed visiting Morrisville 14-7 in the rain (and a bit of snow). With the win, 'Wick finishes their season at 2-7 overall and 1-5 in conference, while the Mustangs drop to 2-8 on the year and 1-5 in the Empire 8.
Before the game, the Hawks honored the following 14 seniors for their dedication and contributions to the program over the last four seasons:
- #6 Justice Mansfield-Beaulieu (Hartford, CT/Bloomfield)
- #8 Devon Brown
- #10 Jason Fucci (West Babylon, NY/West Babylon)
- #10 John Janos (Beacon, NY/Beacon)
- #14 Davien Kuinlan
- #18 Matt Beam (Red Hook, NY/Stissing Mountain)
- #36 Kevin Roberts (Montgomery, NY/Valley Central)
- #39 Connor Eisele (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley)
- #44 Charles Virella (Staten Island, NY/Port Richmond)
- #63 Ben Chase (Williston Park, NY/Herricks)
- #71 Tyler White (Sherburne, NY/Sherburne Earlville)
- #73 Nick Toscano (West Edmeston, NY/Unadilla Valley)
- #88 Rob DelGuidice (Washingtonville, NY/Washingtonville)
- #93 Jack Colbath (Monroe, NY/Monroe Woodbury)
Morrisville struck on their first drive of the day, making it seem like it might be a long day for the Hawks. Quarterback Steven Frerichs hgad completions of 14 and 24 yards on the drive, and capped it off with a 15-yard keeper for the touchdown. Owen Cole's extra point made it 7-0 with 3:31 gone by.
The Hawks came right back down the field on the ensuing drive, as a multitude of Kuinlan keepers and Brown rushes gave them first down at the Morrisville 11. They eventually found themselves with 4th and 2 at the three yard line, when Kuinlan was stopped impressively by Ernest Mitchell for no gain and the turnover on downs.
After a Morrisville three-and-out, 'Wick started with good field position from their own 48 at the end of the first, with the majority of the drive occurring to start the second quarter. Brown would rush for 20 yards from the Morrisville 30 to the 10, and a few players later on third and goal from the eight, Kuinlan found Mansfield-Beaulieu in the back left corner of the end zone for the Hawks' icebreaker. Roberts' extra point knotted the game at seven-all with 11:42 to go in the half.
Nelon Priest (Schenectady, NY/Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons) made a big open field tackle on the Mustangs' 3rd and 5 completion to Justin Donnelly on the next drive, preventing what surely would have been a first down. 'Wick would start their next turn from their own four yard line, and despite a 38-yard Kuinlan run to the Morrisville 21 on the drive, they could not score. The game remained tied at seven at the half.
The third quarter saw a whole lot of nothing offensively, with neither team able to gain traction until the Mustangs near the end of the quarter. Starting from their own 16, Morrisville used rush after rush (with one Toure Hall, Jr. reception in between) to make their way to the Hartwick 7 at the beginning of the fourth quarter. After a two-yard rush on the next play brought up 3rd and 3, a big Morrisville unsportsmanlike conduct penalty pushed them back to the 20. Owen Cole's 37-yard field goal attempt was blocked by an edge-rushing Priest, and it landed in the end zone for a touchback.
'Wick could not do anything on the ensuing drive, and on their next try after that it looked like disaster had struck. Kuinlan was picked off by Nash Nelson at the Hartwick 49, and Nelson returned it all the way to the one yard line. The Hawks could breathe a sigh of relief, however, as the Mustangs were called for pass interference on the play, pushing the Hawks to their own 37. After a pair of three-yard Brown and Kuinlan rushes, Kuinlan found Justin LoBasso (Honesdale, PA/Honesdale) for 21 yards down to the Morrisville 36. Brown took care of business from there, running it in from 36 yards out for the lead with 6:55 remaining. Roberts' extra point put the scoreboard at 14-7.
The Hawks' defense would stand tall for the rest of the game as the offense bled the clock, and a desperate lateral-filled attempt on the game's final play fell well short of the end zone for the Mustangs.
Kuinlan was heroic in his final collegiate contest, rushing 43 times for a career-high 208 yards, as well as throwing a touchdown pass. Brown was also impressive, with 15 carries for 96 yards. Lobasso led the Hawks' receiving corps, at three catches for 33 yards. Mansfield-Beaulieu had two receptions for 25 yards, including his touchdown.
Defensively, Priest stood out with a team-high seven tackles, one pass breakup, and a blocked field goal. Virella also had seven stops, including half a sack (with Ryan Carmody (Susquehanna, PA/Susquehanna Community) and a QB hurry. Jeremy Gerdvil (East Northport, NY/Northport) had six tackles.
The Hawks' massively outgained the Mustangs on the day, at 364-191. Those totals were ground-heavy for both teams on the soggy day, with 304 rushing yards for Hartwick and 126 for Morrisville.
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