Story by: Marcello Koja Photos by: Josh Collesano The Red Hawks entered Friday night to build momentum after a strong win over Pontiac the week before. Instead, they ran into trouble and fell 44-17 in a tough road test. The loss dropped Athens to 1-2 and extended a recent skid against Oak Park. Athens leaned on the passing game, finishing with 259 yards through the air and two touchdowns. The Red Hawks hit early, scoring 10 points in the first quarter to start out. They added a third-quarter touchdown but were shut out in the fourth as the game slipped away. With only 12 rushing yards on 13 attempts, the ground game never found momentum, forcing the offense to rely entirely on the passing game. Senior quarterback Andrew Dunlap led the charge with 167 passing yards and a 32-yard touchdown strike. Junior Jack Bouren made a boost from the bench with 59 yards on 4-of-6 passes, while receiver Grayson Conrad even chipped in a 33-yard throw. Conrad took center stage offensively with six receptions for 75 yards and two scores. He earned Offensive Player of the Game with his consistent contributions. Junior Macklin Ciurla made the biggest spark with seven catches for 121 yards with also 55 yards from kickoff returns for a total of 176 all-purpose yards. A contributor to all three phases, Ciurla was an easy choice at Overall Player of the Game. The defense played with effort the whole game. Junior Alex Prisciandaro earned Defensive Player of the Game recognition for his presence in coverage and key stops. Senior Cainan Hanbury came up with a blocked kick, while Jeremiah Thomas and Prisciandaro each forced a pass break up to slow down Oak Park’s momentum. Special teams chipped in as well. Sophomore kicker Noah Boehms made his first field goal of the year, connecting on a 21-yard field goal while connecting on both extra points. His consistency gave Athens some much needed points in the first half and kept the Red Hawks in reach. Red Hawks now look forward to homecoming week. Athens is currently hosting Farmington on Friday at 7:00 p.m. with hopes of taking home a big win. There is a chance to turn the season around with a crowd from their home supporting them. With their offense having looked very strong so far through four weeks and their defense looking to make huge impact plays, Athens can turn it back around and make a statement.