HIRAM, Ohio -- The Allegheny College football team renewed its former North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) rivalry against the newest member of the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) by defeating Hiram College, 28-13, on the road Saturday afternoon.

The Gators (3-5, 3-3 PAC) put together an all-around strong performance in the win against the Terriers (3-4, 2-3 PAC). Allegheny posted season-highs in total offense (433) and passing yards (333), while the defense erupted for season-highs in tackles for a loss (13) and sacks (7). A week after dropping 42 points in a win at Bethany College, the Gators limited the Hiram offense to just 13 points, less than half its per-game average heading into its matchup with the Gators.

Starting quarterback Carson Colucci (Brewster, Ohio/Fairless) found Devin Larry (Loganville, Ga./Loganville Christian) for a one-yard touchdown in the second quarter for the game's only first-half points. Hiram had a chance to even the score on its first drive of the second half, but missed the extra point and trailed 7-6. After a mid-game switch at quarterback, Nick Barker (Cleveland, Ohio/Padua Franciscan) stepped in and led the Gators on their second touchdown drive, capped off by a tough two-yard catch by tight end Will Griffin (Hingham, Mass./Hingham).

An interception by Cory Holleran (Kill Buck, N.Y./Salamanca) stalled the next Terrier possession, setting up Barker to extend Allegheny's lead to 21-6. A well-executed out-and-up route allowed Larry to get behind the defense, and Barker found the speedy receiver for a 59-yard catch-and-run. 

Despite the big-play touchdown from the Gators, the Terriers responded to keep the game within comeback distance. Hiram quarterback Sean Tejeda guided his offense on a nine-play, 63-yard drive that bridged the third and fourth quarters and cut the deficit to 21-13. However, the next Hiram drive stalled midfield when E'Shaun Simons (Buffalo, N.Y./Cheektowaga) dislodged the ball from a Terrier receiver on a fourth-and-three near midfield. Expecting the Gators to run the ball and chew up the clock, Barker found Chris Gisewhite (Corpus Christi, Texas/Flour Bluff) wide open along the sideline for a 48-yard reception that set up Allegheny's final touchdown, a seven-yard rush by Dominic Berarducci (Erie, Pa./McDowell).

Inside the Box Score

• Allegheny and Hiram combined for 745 yards of total offense, as both passing attacks surpassed 300 yards.
• The Gators threw for 333 yards and finished with an even 100 rushing yards.
• Colucci completed 18-of-33 attempts (54.5%) for a team-high 200 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
• Barker spelled Colucci in the second half and amassed 133 yards and two touchdowns on only 7-of-9 (77.8%) passing.
• Hiram's Tejeda recorded 295 yards with one touchdown and one interception, and was sacked five times.
• Berarducci led all rushers with 67 yards, including a seven-yard touchdown to seal the win in the fourth quarter.
• Hiram was limited to four net rushing yards, as Allegheny's seven sacks resulted in a loss of 47 yards.
• Larry had eight catches for 116 yards and two touchdowns, while Hiram's Jordan Stapleton had game highs in catches (10) and receiving yards (135).
• Defensive end Aizik Campbell (Mobile, Ala./Mary G. Montgomery) collected eight total tackles with four for a loss and a game-high three sacks.
• Coltin Colucci (Brewster, Ohio/Fairless), Andrew Urda (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy), and Michael Schanck (Homestead, Pa./Serra Catholic) each logged a solo sack, while Ryan Croston (Jefferson, Ohio/Pymatuning Valley) and Drew Evans (Erie, Colo./Erie) combined for Allegheny's first sack.

News and Notes

• Allegheny improved to 3-5 overall and evened its PAC record at 3-3.
• The Gators have tripled their win total from 2024 with two games remaining this fall.
• The game was the first against Hiram as PAC members since 1983, before both teams eventually joined the NCAC.
• The Gators have won five in a row against Hiram dating back to 2017.
• Four rushing yards are the fewest allowed by the Allegheny defense in a game since Oberlin College was held to minus-23 on November 12, 2011.
• Griffin has a touchdown reception in four consecutive games.
• Campbell's three sacks are a single-game career-high, and the sophomore defensive end now has a team-high 4.5 sacks this season.

Up Next
Allegheny travels to Westminster College on Saturday, November 1, for a 1 p.m. road matchup against the Titans in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania.