HAMBURG, N.Y. – Hilbert Football hosted the defending Division III National Champions and #2 ranked (according to football.com) Cortland Red Dragons for their first Empire 8 action this afternoon. The winners of last year's Stagg Bowl showed why they are the class of Division III football with a 76-0 victory over the Hawks.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Red Dragons had the offense clicking early and often in this one, finding the endzone on their opening eight possessions of the first half for a 56-0 advantage heading into the break.

Quarterback Zac Boyes tossed a trio of touchdown passes to Jaden Alfano St. John, Jayson Zeva, and Andrew Tarpey, while Ethan Gallo completed a hat trick of td rushes early in the second quarter. A Tyson Taylor rushing touchdown, and a punt return score from Ravi Dass Jr. completed the scoring for the visitors.

In this time, Hilbert struggled to get much going as they punted the ball away six times and lost three fumbles leading to a scoreless first half.

Hilbert started to slow down the offense of the Red Dragons to begin the second half, forcing a punt on two of their first three drives. Emmanuel Land IV's third down tackle, and Takhi West's pass break up on third down forced Cortland to punt the ball back to the Hawks.

Tarpey's second touchdown catch of the afternoon would be the lone points of the third quarter as Cortland would take a 63-0 lead into the fourth quarter.

Each team got the ball twice in the fourth, with Cortland finding the endzone on both their attempts, while Hilbert punted away the ball after the first drive, before ending the game with the ball.

Neven Dermady blocked the point after attempt of the Red Dragons on their first score of the half to keep a point off the board. The final touchdown of the game for Cortland would wrap up the scoring with the visitors enjoying a 76-0 victory.

GAME NOTES

• Freshman Mike Hanlon gained 27 yards on 25 rushing attempts in his first action for the Hawks.
• Scotty Winchell and Taivaughn Roach led the way on defense for Hilbert recording twelve tackles each.
• Takhi West made seven tackles to go along with the team's lone pass breakup.

 
UP NEXT
Hilbert hits the road for a stretch of four-consecutive road contests. First up for the Hawks is a second ever matchup with the Bengals from Buffalo State. Hilbert will look to avenge last year's 44-12 defeat next Saturday, September 14th at 12 PM.