ONEONTA, NY – Visiting Wilkes broke a 7-all tie early in the second quarter and never relinquished the lead as the Colonels defeated 'Wick 38-21 in the season opener for both teams Saturday at Wright Stadium.
Senior receiver Kishaun Bell (Beacon, NY/Beacon) hauled in all three touchdowns on the day for the Hawks in spectacular fashion. He would finish the day with eight catches and 147 reception yards. Senior quarterback Grant Harman (Liberty, NY/Liberty) went 22-for-39 on the day with 241 yards and two touchdown passes. Junior Davien Kuinlan (Bethpage, NY/Plainedge) went 3-for-5 for 63 yards and one TD pass.
The Colonels were led by quarterback Jose Tabora and wide receiver Nick Yanik. Tabora threw for 365 yards and two touchdowns. Yanik made 10 catches for 228 yards and one score.
Hartwick accumulated 356 yards of total offense in the contest with the Colonels earning 506.
The Hawks started strong, scoring on their first possession. Kuinlan would connect with Bell for a sprawling catch in the end zone for 33 yards to cap the nine-play 58-yard drive and Kevin Roberts' (Montgomery, NY/Valley Central) PAT gave the Hawks a 7-0 lead.
Wilkes evened the score on its first possession going 69 yards on eight plays and the quarter would end in a 7-7 deadlock.
Tabora connected with Derek Nelson for a 17-yard touchdown to put the Colonels ahead 1:40 into the second quarter. Alexander DeSpirito added a 30-yard field goal later in the period to add to the Colonels' total, and the half ended with the visitors up 17-7.
The Hawks' defense forced a turnover on downs and turned into a score to inch closer early in the second half. Harman found Bell for a 14-yard score to bring the count to 17-13 with 6:26 to play in the third quarter.
On the ensuing Wilkes' possession, the Colonels would convert on a pair of third downs, including a two-yard touchdown run from Kamaal Reed, to move in front 24-13. Early in the final period, Harman connected with Bell yet again, this time for a 16-yard score. The Hawks went for two and got it on a Harman to Jack Steinman (North Haven, CT/North Haven) pass to cut the deficit to three, 24-21.
Wilkes would score on its next possession on a Tabora seven-yard run with 12:01 remaining. After forcing a Hartwick punt, the Colonels got the ball back and converted again on a Tabora to Yanik 28-yard pass with 7:25 to go to provide the final points of the day and put the game out of reach for the Hawks.
Rusty Virkler (Apalachin, NY/Vestal) contributed offensively for 'Wick as he made five catches for 70 yards on the day.
Defensively for 'Wick, Kyle Kessler (Latham, NY/Shaker) and Cameron Conrad (Valley Cottage, NY/Clarkstown Nouth) led the way with seven tackles each. Conrad had 1.5 tackles for loss. Charles Virella (Staten Island, NY/Port Richmond) and Eli Greene (Poughkeepsie, NY/Arlington) each had six hits. Jack Colbath (Monroe, NY/Monroe Woodbury) had the Hawks' lone sack.
Bud Moyer led all players with 13 tackles for the Colonels. Gabe Allgyer contributed 10.
Hartwick returns to action next Saturday as the visit Alfred State. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.
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