ONEONTA, N.Y. – The Nichols football team suffered its first loss of the season in its final non-conference tune-up, dropping a 28-20 decision to Hartwick at Wright Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
 
Following a Bison turnover, Nichols responded with one of their own, as reigning Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Defensive Player of the Week picked up where he left off, snagging an interception and running it back 41 yards to the Hartwick 35 yard line.
 
The starting field position ultimately set freshman kicker Kyle Yannucci up for a 35-yard field goal try, which he split through the uprights to give Nichols a 3-0 lead with 4:46 to play in the half.
 
On the next drive, Revolus snagged his second interception of the opening frame to put the Bison in view of another score. Keckler connected with Jack Morvan four plays later for a five-yard receiving touchdown to bump the Nichols lead to 10-0.
 
Hartwick started the second quarter with the ball following the Bison score and responded with a touchdown of their own to cut the deficit to 10-7 behind a Carlvin McDonal two-yard rushing try.
 
Starting at their own 42, Nichols used an eight-play drive to get into the endzone once more in the half, with Keckler finding Kevin Pinheiro for a 12-yard score, giving the Bison a 17-7 advantage.
 
Both teams traded punts before Hartwick's quarterback, Kyle Szokoli, led a commanding eight-play drive with seven completions, including a 13-yard strike to Nate Rath for a score, bringing the game back within 3, 17-14, a score that would hold going into the halftime break.
 
Following an interception from Nelon Priest, the Hawks started their second drive of the third quarter at the eight yard line. McDonal then rumbled into the endzone for his second tally of the outing to give the home team its first lead of the contest, 21-17.
 
On the succeeding drive, Nichols cruised into the red zone, but would only get as close as the seven yard line, as the Hartwick defense would force the Bison to settle for a 22-yard field goal, cutting the Hawks' lead to one point.
 
Hartwick's offense chewed up close to seven minutes of clock on its next drive which resulted in McDonal's third touchdown of the game, giving the Hawks an eight-point edge, 28-20, with 9:53 to play.
 
The Bison offense failed to convert on their remaining three possessions, leading to their first defeat of the season.
 
Keckler completed 25 of his 42 pass attempts, racking up 251 passing yards, tossing two touchdowns and two interceptions. Vitti proved to be Keckler's main target, making nine catches for 110 yards. Morvan and Pinheiro scored both Bison touchdowns. Archie Killian led the Bison rushing attack with 58 yards, with a long of 20 on the outing. Yannucci, the reigning CCC Special Teams Player of the Week, knocked in two field goals, with a long of 35, while tacking on two extra points.
 
The Bison will begin conference play on Saturday, October 1 in a clash with Western New England beginning at 1 p.m. at Vendetti Field as part of the Nichols Homecoming festivities.