I am going to keep this post short and sweet this week given we covered this game and the Hobart’s general ups and downs so far in 2009 on last night's edition of “In the HuddLLe” (www.inthehuddlle.com).
A big thanks to St Lawrence RB Connor Hackett, WEOS’ (www.weos.org) Ted Baker and Statesmen SR LT Angelo Catalano for their participation during the show. I hope if you missed the broadcast you’ll download it and take a listen this week. We had some technical difficulties to start off, but bear with us - once Connor Hackett dials in (and gives his thoughts on the upcoming game against Hobart), things pick up considerably.
More importantly, I hope you will go online and support the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org). WWP and Hobart Football related merchandise can be purchased at www.shopgraph-tex.com (all proceeds go to the WWP which assists severely wounded service men and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan).
I’ve picked up my Statesmen “camo jersey” (available until October 7th). Have you?
That said here are a few things I took away from the Susquehanna game:
• Susquehanna (3-1, 1-0) was more consistent and successful at rushing and defending the run (188 to 102 net yards) than Hobart (1-2, 0-1). Dave Paveletz dragged Statesmen defenders for multiple yards after contact. Paveletz is arguably the best RB in the LL this season (leads the LL in rushing and has averaged 134.9 rushing yards per game). Paveletz is looking at 1300+ rushing yards if his OL continues to block as well as they did Saturday (it also doesn’t hurt Paveletz’s chances that he got the ball on 37 of the 50 running plays the Crusaders called Saturday).
• Hobart lost starting JR RT Sean Kluber with 6:20 remaining in the first quarter following Vella’s four yard touchdown run which capped a nine play 63 yard drive. Kluber’s status is unknown as of this point, but he was carted off the field and did return to the game.
• Hobart committed too many penalties (eight for 57 yards) and dropped too many passes (at least 5-7 by my count) to keep any consistency on offense.
• The Statesmen defense did a great job in the red zone (held Susquehanna to one touchdown), but ran out of gas after being on the field for nearly 20 minutes of the first half. However, the defense should get the credit for the game being 13-10 at the half. The toll on the Statesmen D was most apparent when Hobart missed several tackles in the open field on Crusader WR Mike Ritter’s 56 yard touchdown catch and run mid-way thru the 3rd quarter.
• Down 20-10 Hobart had the ball for only 5:26 in the fourth quarter.
• Vella had a career day passing (245 yards) but also had his fair share of bad throws, was sacked three times by the Crusaders defense, watched his receivers drop several passes where the ball hit them directly in the hands, and threw two costly interceptions (both by Crusader DB Jalon Scott who leads the LL with four interceptions).
Looking ahead – Hobart has a chance to return to .500, both overall and in the LL when the Saint Lawrence Saints (2-2, 1-0) come to Geneva. Kick-off is noon ET. I’ll have more on this match up between the Statesmen and the Saints later this week.
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