Moreau Makes His Mark, Propels Hawks to Win over Hilbert

Football | 10/26/2024 5:22:00 PM

ONEONTA, N.Y. – Braden Moreau (Ilion, N.Y.) made the most of his first collegiate start behind center, propelling the Hawks to a win over Hilbert on Saturday afternoon.
 
THE BASICS
 

• Final Score:  Hartwick 36, Hilbert 21
• Location:  Oneonta, N.Y.
• Records:  Hartwick (205 Overall, 1-3 Empire 8), Hilbert (0-8 Overall, 0-5 Empire 8)

 
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
 

• The Hawks received the ball to start the contest after Hilbert won the opening coin toss and deferred to the second half.
• However, after a quick three-and-out, the visiting Hilbert Hawks drove down the field for a lengthy 10:17 scoring drive, capped off by a successful two-point conversion to take an early 8-0 lead.
• Hartwick responded on their next drive, marching down the field on a 14-play 65-yard drive that ended with a two-yard receiving touchdown from Braden Moreau (Ilion, N.Y.) to Conor Cosgrove (Warwick, N.Y.).
• After a blocked extra point, the Hawks trailed Hilbert by two.
• Hilbert went right back to where they left off breaking out for a 34-yard touchdown run.
• After a successful extra point attempt, Hilbert expanded their lead to 15-6.
• Hartwick was not done making a push, as Moreau once again led the Hawks down the field and into scoring position.
• This time the first year QB connected with veteran running back, Carlvin McDonald (Central Islip, N.Y.) who slipped out from behind the backfield for a 19-yard receiving touchdown.
• Ransome Turner-Rush (Harrisburg, Pa.) converted the point after attempt to put Hartwick within two.
• On Hilbert's ensuing possession, the Hartwick defense stepped up forcing the visitors to punt with 50 seconds remaining in the first half.
• Jackson Dorf (Leland, N.C.) returned the punt to the Hilbert 36-yard line, setting up a critical final drive for the Hawks.
• Hartwick made the most of their final drive of the first half, getting to the Hilbert 10 with only seven seconds left on the clock.
• Turner-Rush drilled the 28-yard field goal to put Hartwick ahead 16-15.
• Hilbert received the opening second-half kickoff and made the most of that possession, going on another scoring drive to take the 21-16 lead.
• Dereck Cupernall (Clayton, N.Y.) held Hilber to just the six points, blocking their extra point attempt.
• From that point on, the Hartwick defense stifled the Hilbert offense for the remainder of the contest allowing Moreau and the rest of the offense to take over the game in the 4^th quarter.
• Moreau ripped off a 28-yard scoring run on the keeper with 8:04 left on the clock to take the 22-21 lead.
• Unfortunately, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty by Hartwick pushed them back for the point-after attempt forcing them to go for two.
• The two-point conversion was unsuccessful, keeping the Hawks up by one.
• After a Hilbert three-and-out, Hartwick went right back to work, driving down the field and ending with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Moreau to Cosgrove over the middle.
• Turner-Rush completed the PAT to give Hartwick an eight-point lead.
• The Hawks' defense was stifling on Hilbert's ensuing possession as pressure in the backfield forced a Hilbert fumble recovered by Hartwick's Robert Kennedy (Hudson, N.Y.) at the visitors 37 yard line.
• Moreau made the most of the short field, scoring again on a QB run down the left sideline for a 41-yard touchdown.
• Despite another missed PAT, the 15-point cushion was enough to secure the 36-21 win.
• Moreau finished his first collegiate start with 165 yards through the air and another 196 on the ground.
• Cosgrove finished with 115 receiving yards to go along with his two touchdowns.
• Defensively, the Hawks were led by Ben Kirkland (Buffalo, N.Y.) with two solo tackles and seven assisted tackles.
• Nathan Hartman (Winfield, N.Y.) also stepped up defensively for four solo tackles including a sack and two others for a loss. 

 
UP NEXT FOR THE HAWKS
 
The Hawks hit the road on Saturday, November 2 as they travel to the defending NCAA Champions and current #2 seed SUNY Cortland.  Kickoff is slated for 1 PM in Cortland, N.Y.
 
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit www.empire8.com.
 
EMPIRE 8 SOCIAL MEDIA
YouTube – Facebook – Twitter – Instagram