HIRAM, Ohio - October 16, 2021 – Back home for the first time in more than a month, Hiram Terriers football fell to the Allegheny College Gators, 38-18, on Saturday at Charles A. Henry Field in the two side's final matchup before Allegheny makes the move to the Presidents Athletic Conference.
 
After won the toss and deferred to the second half, the Gators put together a seven-play, 32-yard drive that had the makings of a scoring drive, but on third-and-seven, Hiram's defense held, and Allegheny was forced to punt.
 
The Terriers picked up one first down on their ensuing drive but had to put, and this time, Allegheny answered with a score. On the backs of Tre Worship and John Ian Duron, the Gators rushed for 55 yards over the 14-play drive to set up a 27-yard field goal attempt, which Garrett Paxton split through the uprights to give the Gators a 3-0 lead.
 
And after a pair of sacks stalled Hiram's offense on their next drive, the Gators went up 10-0 on Worship's two-yard score, capping off an eight-play, 54-yard drive.
 
Hiram's next drive started at their 35-yard line with Perkins' kickoff sailing out of bounds, and the Terriers' offense got going, with a 15-yard completion from Xavier Reyero to Raequan Davis-Hereford on third-and-11 to keep the chains moving, followed by a 10-yard pass from Reyero to Zion Paynther to set up first-and-goal at the Allegheny nine-yard line.
 
However, after three-straight Malcolm Rogers' rushes were stopped short of the end zone, Reyero's pass intended for Davis-Hereford sailed incomplete on fourth-and-goal, and the Terriers turned the ball over on downs.
 
Allegheny then answered with another scoring drive, taking advantage of a Hiram pass interference penalty on fourth down to set up Jack Johnson's 28-yard touchdown pass to Trey DeCicco, giving Allegheny a 17-0 lead heading into the locker room.
 
And after the Terriers went three-and-out on their first drive to start the second half, the Gators quickly added to their lead with a three-play, 60-yard drive, capped off by Johnson's 59-yard touchdown pass to Mark Torsello to extend the lead to 24-0.
 
This time though, Hiram had an answer. Three-straight completions from Reyero to Marcus Freeman, Rene Jimenez and Gabriel Hoskins set the Terriers up just past midfield, before Jacob Simmons' 28-yard touchdown pass to Davis-Hereford finished off the drive, cutting Allegheny's lead to 24-6 after a missed extra point.
 
But just one play later, Allegheny added right back to its lead, as Declan O'Brien took Johnson's pass 48-yard for a score, extending the Gators' lead to 31-6.
 
But again, Hiram responded, this time with an 11-play, 72-yard drive. On fourth-and-six, Hiram looked to punt, but Chris Miller executed the fake to perfection, rumbling 13 yards to extend the drive. And after a pass interference penalty moved the Terriers inside the Allegheny 30-yard line, the rushing attack came to life, with Rodgers scampering for carriers of 13, three and two yards before plunging in from two yards out to cut the Gators' lead to 31-13.
 
Once again though, the Gators quickly responded, this time on Kyrie Miller's 41-yard rushing touchdown to take a 38-13 lead.
 
And although Hiram's offense moved into Allegheny territory on the ensuing drive to start the fourth, Simmons was sacked on fourth-and-seven, turning the ball over on downs.
 
Neither side would find paydirt in the fourth, as Gregory Wilson Jr. intercepted Johnson's pass in the end zone to keep the score at 38-13, but the Terriers followed with a three-and-out, allowing Allegheny to run out the clock on their next drive to finish off the 38-13 victory.
 
With the loss, Hiram drops to 1-5 (0-5 NCAC), while the Gators move to 2-4 (1-4 NCAC).
 
Offensively, Rogers led the Terriers with 17 carries for 68 yards and a score, while Davis-Hereford added five catches for 69 yards and a touchdown. Under center, Simmons completed four of his nine passes for 47 yards and score, while Reyero completed 12-of-17 for 100 yards and an interception.
 
On the defensive side of the ball, Brock Mancini and Alfred Pedro each led the Terriers with nine tackles, while Sherman Cox and Jalen Glass each added eight. Glass also added a sack and a tackle for a loss, while Wilson Jr. recorded his first interception of the season.
 
The Terriers next host the Oberlin College Yeomen on Saturday, Oct. 23 at 1 p.m. at Charles A. Henry Field as part of Hiram College's Homecoming/Hall of Fame weekend festivities.