SPRINGFIELD, MA - Springfield College (3-6, 1-4 E8) rushed for 524 yards and had three players break the 100-yard rushing mark for the game in a 45-31 upset of Hartwick (6-2, 3-2 E8) on a rainy day at Stagg Field on Saturday. The victory is the first for the Pride in the Empire 8 this season, while the loss snaps the Hawks' five-game winning streak and eliminates their conference title hopes.
With the Hawks trailing 38-31 late in the fourth quarter, Hartwick quarterback Jason Boltus (Baldwinsville, NY) was picked off by linebacker Brenden Moore who ran it back for a 45-yard touchdown to seal the win for Springfield. Pride quarterback Josh Carter rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns to lead the team. In addition, freshman halfback Mark Safer ran for 117 yards and two touchdowns, including a 64-yarder for a TD, on just five carries. Junior fullback Baldwin Cunningham rushed for 112 yards on 10 carries, including a 78-yarder that set up a field goal.
Boltus completed 28 passes in 50 attempts for 415 yards and four touchdowns. His top receiver, senior Jack Phelan (Slingerlands, NY), caught seven passes for 177 yards and two TDs.
Springfield led after each juncture in the game, 7-0 after the first quarter, 17-10 at the half, and 38-17 at the end of three periods.
The Pride got on the board first with 5:29 left in the first quarter on a Carter one-yard keeper that capped an 11-play, 45-yard drive for a 7-0 lead. The Hawks came away empty in their four possessions in the first quarter losing two fumbles, punting on one possession, and ending another on downs. Early in the second quarter, however, the Hawks tied it as Boltus connected with Phelan for a 31-yard touchdown with 12:58 left in the second period.
After both teams traded punts, Springfield regained the lead when Carter completed a lateral pass to senior wide receiver Jason Hurlock, who then fired a 25-yard TD completion to sophomore Tim Brady, giving the Pride a 14-7 edge. That completed an 11-play, 81-yard drive.
The Hawks were forced to punt again on their next possession, and Cunningham would set up a Springfield field goal on a 78-yard run from the Pride's 10 yard-line to make it 17-7. Boltus would then drive the Hawks 48 yards, which included a 30-yard pass to Nate Rockefeller (Delhi, NY), to set up Ryan Boyea (Scotch Plains, NJ) for a 35-yard field goal to close the half down 17-10.
On the second play from scrimmage in the second half, Safer scampered 64 yards to put Springfield back up by two touchdowns, 24-10, and a Carter 9-yard run sealed an 8-play, 90-yard drive to make it 31-10.
The Hawks responded driving 76 yards in just over three minutes ending with a Boltus 1-yard touchdown pass to freshman Grady Edwards (Stillwater, NY). The Pride came right back on the next possession as Safer broke free for a 31-yard touchdown run on the team's third play for a 38-17 lead.
Down 21 points at the start of the fourth quarter, Boltus completed three straight passes to Dan Gill (Massapequa, NY) twice and Rockefeller in the end zone to cut the deficit to 14 points. Defensive back Justin Oelgeschlager (Highland, NY) then intercepted a Carter pass at the 'Wick 35 and brought it back 30 yards to set up a Boltus to Phelan touchdown for 35 yards to quickly make it a one-possession game, 38-31.
Springfield would then methodically drive down the field eating up close to six minutes off the clock. Giuliano Pizzo attempted a 32-yard field goal to put the game out of reach, but his kick smacked off the upright and stayed out giving the ball back to the Hawks with 4:09 left in the game. On a 3rd and 1 from the Hartwick 43, with just over two minutes left, Moore would seal the Hawks' fate with his big interception return for a touchdown. Hartwick would get the ball back but Boltus was intercepted again by Chris Bush and the Pride ran out the clock to secure the upset victory.
Oelgeschlager finished the game with a career-high 16 tackles, nine of which were solo efforts. He also had a tackle for a loss, the interception, and a pass broken up on the day. Junior Dan Martin (Fairport, NY) and sophomore Dan Contrastano (Hastings, NY) each had 11 tackles.
The Hawks will close out the regular season next Saturday at Wright Stadium against Utica. Last season's game with Pioneers produced a four-overtime, 72-70 game that stands as the highest scoring Division III football game in NCAA history.
