ONEONTA, NY – After falling behind 10-0, the Maritime College football team rallied to tie its season opener just before halftime on Saturday afternoon.  However, Hartwick (1-0) scored 21 unanswered points in the second half to pull away for a 31-10 victory over the Privateers (0-1) at Wright Stadium.

Hartwick opened the scoring on Nick Andrade's 38-yard field goal in the first quarter, then the Hawks increased their advantage to 10-0 on a 10-yard touchdown run by Carlvin McDonald with 12:13 left in the second quarter.  However, Maritime responded with an 18-play, 75-yard drive that ate up more than eight minutes.  Tate Neiderer (Hanover, PA) capped the march with a 1-yard scamper that brought the Privateers within 10-7. 

On the ensuing Hartwick drive, Ryan Costales (Brewster, NY) forced a fumble and recovered it at the Hartwick 17.  Steven Stassi's (East Islip, NY) 12-yard completion to Pat Quinn (Rockville Centre, NY) set up a 1^st-and-goal for the Privateers, but Maritime had to settle for a 20-yard Michael Trupiano (Kings Park, NY) field goal that evened the game heading into halftime.

The Hawks regained the lead on Kyle Szokoli's 10-yard TD pass to Justin LoBasso midway through the third quarter, and McDonald added his second 10-yard touchdown rush later in the period to make it 24-10.  McDonald's third score of the game, a 2-yard rush, extended Hartwick's advantage to 31-10 with 8:41 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Stassi finished 21-for-33 passing for 172 yards.  Niederer carried 13 times for 48 yards and Maritime's only touchdown, while Quinn had a team-high eight catches.  Ian Derda (Guilford, CT) led the Privateers with 65 receiving yards. Defensively, Sean Hart (Brooklyn, NY) led the way with 10 tackles, including eight solo stops.

For the Hawks, Szokoli was 8-for-17 for 96 yards and a touchdown.  McDonald, meanwhile, rushed for 173 yards and three scores.  Nate Rath led Hartwick with four catches.  Jeremy Gerdvil recorded 11 tackles and two of Hartwick's six sacks.

Up next for Maritime is the annual Chowder Bowl against Mass. Maritime (0-0) at 7 p.m. on Friday.  The marks the first time the Privateers are hosting the rival Buccaneers since 2018.