Wick football to play at No. 1

Hartwick (6-1) is coming off a 62-47 loss to Rensselaer last weekend, when the Dutchmen (6-1) took a 38-14 victory over Coast Guard Academy. Rensselaer handed Union its lone loss of the season — a 32-29 defeat on Oct. 13.

Hartwick, the top-ranked passing team (316.6 yards per game) in Upstate N.Y., will likely rely on the passing duo of senior wide receiver Ryan Johnson and junior quarterback Daniel Pincelli. Both are ranked among the NCAA (Division III) and Upstate offensive leaders.

Fourth-year player Johnson, the Upstate Football Weekly Offensive Player of the Week, is the NCAA leader in receiving yards per game (141.7), scoring (16.3 ppg) and touchdown receptions (19). Johnson leads all players competing on the 14 Upstate teams in receptions per game (7.14), scoring (114 points), receiving yards per game and touchdown receptions.

Last weekend, Johnson passed All-American Kirk Aikens (1995-98) to become the school record-holder in varsity receiving yards (3,112) and scoring (312 total points). He is tied with Aikens in varsity touchdown receptions (43) and needs eight more to break Aikens' all-time record of 50 at Hartwick.

Pincelli, the top-rated Upstate quarterback in 2000, is ranked seventh (NCAA) in total offense with an average of 317.1 yards per game. Pincelli is the top-ranked Upstate player in total offense and passing average per game (310.4). He is ranked third in passing efficiency with a rating of 141.5.

Pincelli threw a varsity-high seven touchdown passes against Rensselaer. In three seasons at Hartwick, Pincelli has 66 TD passes and 5,630 passing yards. He needs 330 more passing yards to pass Brad Ruderman (1992-95, 5,959 yards) to become the all-time leader at Hartwick.

The Hawks will also look to junior split end/kick returner Ryan Soule and senior tailback/punt returner Ty Smith.

Soule is tied for 10th (NCAA) in kickoff return yardage. He has returned 10 kicks for 293 yards (29.3 ypr) this season. Soule has 1,526 all-time kickoff return yards and needs 70 more yards to pass A.J. Pittorino (1993-96) for the all-time lead in school history. He is the all-time leader in kickoff returns for a touchdown, with six, including a 98-yard touchdown return this season.

Smith is ranked 30th by the NCAA in punt return average (13.2 ypr) and is ranked fourth in Upstate New York. Additionally, Smith has 298 rushing yards and two rushing TDs on 58 carries. As a receiver, he has 26 catches for 262 yards and two touchdowns.

Smith is the all-time record-holder in punt return yardage at Hartwick with 522 yards.

Defensively, the Hawks are led by junior defensive end Tommy Knapp, sophomore cornerback Terrence Lollie and junior cornerback Kory Schramm.

Knapp is ranked 23rd by the NCAA and second in Upstate New York in tackles for a loss (17 for -90 yards). He is ranked second in sacks (Upstate) with seven and has 35 tackles (19 solo) in 2001.

Lollie is the team leader in tackles with 51 (25 solo). He has four pass deflections and two tackles for a loss this season.

Schramm, a preseason All-American, is tied for 11th (NCAA) in passes defended. He has 12 pass deflections and two interceptions for a total of 14. Schramm is the school record-holder with 14 interceptions for 175 yards.

Union was ranked 13th by the American Football Coaches Association before the loss to Rensselaer.

The Dutchmen are the top-ranked (Upstate) team in scoring offense (42.1 ppg) and ranked third in pass defense (135.7 ypg).

The offense is led by junior tailback George Beebe and senior quarterback Ben Gilbert. Beebe is ranked second (Upstate) in rushing with 751 yards and seven TDs on 113 carries. Gilbert is ranked second (Upstate) in passing efficiency (142.2 rating) and fourth in total offense (226.9 ypg) for the Dutchmen.

Defensively, Union is led by senior defensive end Josh Stinehour. He is ranked third by the NCAA in total sacks with 11. Stinehour has 36 tackles, three pass deflections, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.