Season Overview

The Statesmen will face the Dickinson Red Devils (6-4, 5-3) in their season opener for the 17th straight year. Last season the Statesmen squandered a 14-0 halftime lead before a 14 point comeback in the final four minutes to win the game 28-21.

This year Hobart will head down to Carlisle, PA with a big #15 target on their back. Although Dickinson lost four games last season after making the NCAA play-offs in 2007, all four losses were by less than seven points.

The Devils also return the powerful trio of SR QB Ian Mitchell (who rushed for 62 yards on 11 carries vs. Hobart in 2008), JR RB Greg Lord (19 carries for 106 yards and 2 TDs) and SR WR Pat O’Conner (six catches for 101 yards and one TD). These weapons, and a strong supporting cast, make Dickinson a pre-season favorite to win the Centennial Conference (which includes teams such as Johns Hopkins, Muhlenberg and Gettysburg, among others) in 2009.

The Statesmen’s home opener will be against the Tartans from Carnegie Mellon University. The Tartans (5-5, 1-2) were picked to finish third (out of four teams) in the University Athletic Association (UAA) this season. Last season Hobart defeated CMU 21-16 in Pittsburgh despite giving up 210 yards rushing. Fortunately, it appears that CMU RB Anthony Ruzga (23 carries for 100 yards and one TD) has graduated.

Hobart opens up their LL slate with a trip to Susquehanna University (4-6, 3-4) and a home game against St. Lawrence (1-9, 1-6). The Statesmen then heads to Schenectady to play what’s become their most anticipated annual LL match-up against Union College (5-4, 4-3). Last year, the Dutchmen (at the time 1-3) came to Boswell Field with their season hanging in the balance and flat out embarrassed a favored, yet generally flat, and previously unbeaten Statesmen squad 38-35.

The Statesmen didn’t do themselves any favors by missing all three of their FG attempts, but Union should be credited with a great effort, out-playing and out-coaching a generally better Statesmen team. SO RB Chris Coney blew up the Hobart defense for 243 yards on 33 carries including a long 57 and three TDs. FY QB Chris Connolly was effective, if not spectacular in throwing for 102 yards and two scores. Both guys are back again this fall and are expected to lead the LL in rushing and QB play, respectively.

Union is still a young team and, in spite losing 25-12 to rival RPI, finished 2008 strong (including an incredible 51-45 shoot out victory over Susquehanna). That said, the Dutchmen also have one of the toughest opening schedules in the LL facing #10 Ithaca (9-2, 5-1) and Muhlenberg (9-2, 7-1) prior to opening LL play against Rochester (3-7, 3-4) and last year’s surprise LL contender Worcester Polytechnic (aka WPI 7-3, 4-3).

However, Regardless of either team’s W/L record coming into this game, expect a battle. Union by the way is the only LL team to have a winning record (3-1) against Hobart over the past four (2005-08) seasons. To say October 10 is circled on my calendar is an understatement.

Hobart then welcomes the Merchant Marine Academy (MMA 3-7, 2-5) and then travels to Worcester on Halloween to face the “Bizarro-neers” (as dubbed by my RPI buddies). The Statesmen close out their home slate against rival RPI (8-2, 5-2) who bring back a stout defense (which held Hobart to only 47 rushing yards in the ’08 game) but need to fill the shoes of graduated All-LL QB Jimmy Robertson and several other key offensive stars.

Hobart wraps up the 2009 season in the annual Centennial Cup game against Rochester.