There really is no place like home.
Hobart (1-1) won their eighth consecutive home opener, 24-16, at Boswell Field last Saturday against the Carnegie Mellon University Tartans (2-1). Although the Statesmen offense was inconsistent at times, Hobart racked up 327 yards and never trailed. The win is the Statesmen’s third consecutive victory against the Tartans (Hobart is 3-0 all-time against CMU), but once again Hobart needed a fourth quarter touchdown to beat them.
Up 17-16 after the Tartans failed to convert an extra point following RB Justin Pratt’s second touchdown of the day (Pratt lead CMU with 60 yards rushing on 16 carries), the Statesmen offense drove 51 yards to the CMU three yard line in six plays. The drive was capped by a Doug Vella to Paul Overdorf touchdown with 7:36 to play in the game. Hobart’s defense was able to stand firm and the offense ran out the clock - much like the 2008 game.
My “keys to the game” last week were:
1. Revive the offense with a dose of PASSING –
Doug Vella went 16 for 26 passing for 216 yards and two touchdowns – the first being a 51 yard flea flicker to WR Tyler Vincent to allow the Statesmen to take a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter.
2. Avoid turnovers and control the time of possession (TOP)
Although the Statesmen committed two turnovers and lost the overall TOP battle (32:20-27:40); the Hobart defense caused three Tartan turnovers and the Statesmen offense really controlled the clock in the second half (17:59 to 12:01).
The defense gets my “game ball” having risen to the occasion after giving up 298 yards rushing to Dickinson by holding the CMU offense to 129 yards rushing on 46 carries (well below the 218.5 yards/game average the Tartans brought into the game). The Statesmen’s success against the run took Tartan QB Phil Pantalone out of his comfort zone and forced him to pass 13 for 21 for 166 yards - a career high - and one interception. Team captain and LB Ryan Robinson lead the Statesmen with nine tackles including one for a loss. The Hobart “D” really attacked the ball and ended up having eight players with at least five tackles in the game.
3. Convert red zone visits into points
Hobart was two for two inside the red zone this week. That said the Statesmen really had their greatest successes, i.e., scoring the first and second touchdowns of the game, via the big play – the Vincent 51 yard TD reception as well as an exciting 85 yard kick-off return for a touchdown by RB Andy Marlier (who also lead the Statesmen with 10 carries for 31 yards) with 1:39 to play in the first quarter. WEOS play-by-play man Ted Baker (no relation) indicated it was Hobart’s first kick-off return for a touchdown since the 2000 season (confirmed after the fact by SID Ken DeBolt the last return occurred on Sept. 30, 2000, when Dyshaun Washington ’04 ran back the opening kickoff against St. Lawrence for a school record 97 yards).
In my opinion the kick-off return was the spark Hobart needed and I believe a real game changer having come immediately after CMU’s first scoring drive – a 13 play, 63 yard march that took 6:19 and ended with a Justin Pratt touchdown. Although CMU would almost come back to tie it in the fourth quarter, Hobart really dictated the tempo of the game after that 85 yard touchdown return.
The Statesmen will head back to Pennsylvania to begin their defense of the Liberty League crown this Saturday against Susquehanna University (2-1). Kick-off is slated for 2 PM ET. The Crusaders lost a 37-23 decision this past weekend against the defending Middle Atlantic Conference champion, Lycoming Warriors (1-1), in Selinsgrove.
Last season Hobart beat Lycoming 33-15 and Susquehanna 27-14, respectively, in Geneva. I’ll post a Crusader-Statesmen preview later this week.
As always, please tune into the LL’s weekly recap online at www.inthehuddle.com. Thanks and go ‘Bart!
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