Box Score

ONEONTA, N.Y. -- The Ithaca College football team was handed its first loss of the year on Saturday afternoon on the road as Hartwick used back-to-back touchdowns in the opening minutes of the third quarter to go on to a 21-9 victory over the Bombers at Wright Stadium. Ithaca wide receiver Joel Lynch had a career-best day with nine catches for 140 yards and a touchdown. The Bombers turned the ball over five times in the game. The Bombers are 3-1 overall and 1-1 in the Empire 8. Hartwick remained unbeaten on the season and the Hawks are 4-0, with a 1-0 record in the conference.

Hartwick led 7-0 at halftime. The only score of the opening 30 minutes came on a 28-yard touchdown pass. The Hawks added two touchdowns early in the third quarter. They opened the second half with a 90-yard scoring drive that was capped by a 5-yard touchdown pass. On Ithaca's first play from scrimmage of the second half, Hartwick got a quarterback sack that caused a fumble, recovered it and scored to lead 21-0 with 11:51 left in the third quarter.

On Hartwick's next possession, Ithaca cornerback Brian Garvey intercepted a pass to give possession back to the Bombers, the first turnover forced by Ithaca in the game. It was the seventh career interception for Garvey and his fourth against Hartwick over the last two seasons.

Following the interception, the Bombers drove 76 yards for a field goal including two key receptions by Lynch, who had a 21-yard reception on a third-down play to extend the drive, then got loose in the Hartwick secondary for a 43-yard catch to set up the Bombers at the Hartwick 10. That led to a 33-yard field goal by Garrett Nicholson to get Ithaca on the board with 3:53 left in the third quarter.

The Bombers added a touchdown with 5:13 remaining in the fourth quarter as quarterback Tom Dempsey found Lynch for an 18-yard score. It was the first touchdown reception of Lynch's career. The two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful and Ithaca trailed 21-9.

Ithaca got the ball back with 4:01 remaining, but gained just four yards and turned it over on downs.

Quarterback Phil Neumann was 9-for-25 passing for 116 yards and one interception. Dempsey entered the game in the fourth quarter and was 11-for-20 for 121 yards with two interceptions and the touchdown pass to Lynch. Tommy Padula led Ithaca's rushing attack with 68 yards on 14 carries.

The Bomber defense forced three turnovers, and Joe Armeli blocked a Hartwick punt that gave Ithaca excellent field position in the fourth quarter, but the ensuing drive ended with an interception. Skylar Griffenberg forced two fumbles. Dan Sheldon and Schnayder Termidor each had fumble recoveries. Will Carter had a sack among his eight tackles. Jake Santora led the Bombers with nine tackles overall, and eight of those were solo tackles.

Ithaca continues Empire 8 play next weekend at home against Alfred.

BOMBER NOTES

* Garvey's interception extended Ithaca's streak of intercepting at least one pass in all four games in the 2013 season. The Bombers have picked off at least one opponent pass in 10 of the last 14 games.

* Tight end Jared Prugar has at least one reception in 13 of his last 14 games, dating to the start of the 2012 season.

* It was Hartwick's first win over the Bombers since 2007. Ithaca holds a 16-6 advantage in the all-time series and holds a 10-2 advantage in the series since the formation of the Empire 8.

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