AU football team defeats Hartwick in shootout at Merrill Field 10/06/07

ALFRED, NY The Alfred University football team overcame four turnovers and a Merrill Field-record 553 passing yards by Hartwick Jason Boltus to defeat the Hawks, 46-36 Saturday afternoon at Merrill Field. With the win, Alfred improves to 5-0 on the season and gains sole possession of first place in the with a 3-0 conference mark. The five wins are the most to start a season for an AU team since the 1981 Saxons finished the regular season 10-0.AU senior quarterback Paul Keeley (Caledonia, NY/Caledonia-Mumford) overcame two first-half to throw for 276 yards and a school single-season record six passes. The record, held by Keeley and four others, had been four touchdown passes in a game.The two teams combined for 1,110 yards in total offense, with Hartwick (3-2, 2-1 Empire 8) piling up 634. Alfred had a more balanced attack, with 276 yards passing and 200 yards rushing. Sophomore tailback Vinson Hendrix (Rochester, NY/East) had 137 yards on the ground, marking the fifth time this year he's rushed for at least 100 yards.Alfred looked to take the lead early, driving to the Hartwick 33-yard line before Keeley was intercepted at the Hawk 2-yard line by free safety Justin Oelgeschlager. Three plays later, on third-and-8, Boltus connected with tailback Lindy Crea on a 96-yard scoring play to give the Hawks a 7-0 lead. It marked the first time all year Alfred had trailed in a game.AU answered on its ensuing drive, with Keeley capping a 10-play 69-yard drive with a five-yard TD pass to senior wide receiver Saucobie Riley (Rochester, NY/Marshall).Hartwick went on top again when Boltus hit wideout Jack Phelan with a 23-yard scoring strike to end a nine-play 80-yard drive at the 11:34 mark of the second quarter. The extra point attempt failed and Hartwick led, 13-7. AU scored on its next possession when Keeley connected again with Riley, this time from three yards out with 8:50 left before halftime. The extra point by senior placekicker Chris Reynolds (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford-Sutherland) gave the Saxons a 14-13 lead.Hartwick regained the lead at 16-14, when Ryan Boyea booted a 27-yard field goal with 5:29 left in the half. Alfred turned the ball over on its ensuing possession, with Oelgeschlager picking off Keeley at the AU 23- yard line with 4:29 left before intermission. Hartwick had a first-and-goal from the AU eight, but Boltus threw four incompletions to turn the ball back over to the Saxons. Junior cornerback Ron Smith (Lyons, NY/Lyons) had three pass breakups in the series. On Alfred's first play from scrimmage, Hendrix fumbled and Hartwick recovered at the AU 16-yard line. The Saxon defense held, forcing Hartwick to attempt a 33-yard Boyea field goal try, which missed wide right. Keeley proceeded to lead a six-play 80-yard drive that culminated with a 22-yard TD pass to sophomore wide receiver Jared Manzer (Johnson City, NY/Johnson City) to put Alfred up 21-16 going into the halftime break.The Saxons got the ball to start the third. Manzer returned the second-half kickoff 41 yards to the Hartwick 42 and two plays later Keeley connected with Riley for a third touchdown, this one from 33 yards out to give Alfred a 28-16 lead. After forcing Hartwick to punt, the Saxons again turned the ball over, with Manzer fumbling at the Alfred 13, three minutes into the third. Hartwick could not convert, however, turning the ball over on downs at the AU 1-yard line. Keeley then led an eight-play 99-yard drive than ended with his fifth TD pass of the day, a 37-yard strike to junior wide receiver Trevor Bork (Fishers, NY/Victor) with 6:10 left in the third to give AU a seemingly safe 35-16 lead.Hartwick would make things interesting, scoring two TDs in a span of two minutes early in the fourth. Boltus tossed a 29-yard scoring pass to Phelan and a six-yarder to Crea and Hartwick was within five points, at 35-30 with 12:20 left in the game. Alfred answered with a four-play 34-yard drive that started after Manzer's 46-yard kickoff return to the Hartwick 34. Keeley hit Bork with a seven-yard TD pass and after a two-point conversion pass from Keeley to senior tight end Matt Gibbins (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa), Alfred led 43-30 with 11:15 left in regulation.Reynolds kicked a 21-yard field goal midway through the fourth before Hartwick closed out the scoring with 4:03 left on a 10-yard scoring pass from Boltus to Crea. The ensuing on-side kick failed and, after AU punted back to Hartwick, any hope of a Hawk comeback ended when Boltus was intercepted at the Alfred 19-yard line by senior strong safety Dan Medlock (Garden City Park, NY/Mineola).Manzer finished with a team-high seven catches for 72 yards, while Bork had six for 84 and Riley four for 51 yards to go with his three . Boltus completed 38 passes in 69 attempts with one to go with five TD passes. Crea had a game-high 12 catches for 238 yards and three TDs while Phelan caught nine passes for 143 yards and two scores.Senior tackle Don Miller (LeRoy, NY/LeRoy) paced the Saxon defense with 11 tackles. Junior linebacker John Soule (Richfield Springs, NY/Richfield Springs) had 10 tackles; junior free safety Brian Nitsche (Portville, NY/Portville) had eight tackles and a fumble recovery; and Smith finished with six tackles and five pass breakups. Miller, junior end Jake Syracuse (LeRoy, NY/LeRoy) and senior tackle Mike Penkin (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena) each had a quarterback sack.Tackle Mike Platt led Hartwick with 10 tackles (five solo, one for loss) and two forced fumbles. Linebacker Joe Flaherty had seven tackles and a forced fumble and Oelgeschlager finished with four tackles to go with his two interceptions.Alfred is in action next on Saturday, Oct. 13, at 1 p.m. at home against Utica.