SO QB Nick Strang Scores Six TDs as Statesmen Outlast Union in 2OT, 41-34

The Hobart Statesmen (3-2, 1-1) breathed new life into their 2010 season overcoming six turnovers to defeat the Union College Dutchmen (2-2, 1-1). The Statesmen began this pivotal game with several key players out due to injury including SR Co-captain and S John Kelliher and starting QB JR Doug Vella.

Stepping in for Vella was SO QB Nick Strang. Needless to say we may have a QB controversy after this performance.

Both teams exchanged possessions in a scoreless first quarter. The fireworks began early in the second as Hobart jumped out to a 14-0 lead thanks to a 61 yard and 20 yard receptions by WRs Junior Woodard and Garth Muratori, respectively.

Union would respond with their own long TD pass, as JR QB Drew Connolly used his feet to improvise until he found SR RB Chris Coney on a 46 yarder to make it 14-7. Strang fired right back, finding JR TE Greg Clifford on a 42 yard strike to push the Statesmen lead to 21-7. The Dutchmen would score again almost immediately as Connolly turned another broken play into a 65 yard SR WR Justin Gallo TD. The PAT failed and the 21-13 score stood at halftime.

The tide turned in Union's favor in the second half as the SO QB from Hopewell Junction made a few rookie mistakes and the Dutchmen converted blocked Hobart FG into points. Union posted a five yard TD run by Coney as well as a another Connolly to Gallo TD to post Union to a 28-21 lead, its first of the game, early in the fourth quarter.

Strang would rebound and find Junior Woodard for a 70 yard TD catch and run to tie it at 28-28. Another turnover would threaten to break the Statesmen, as a (what would appeared to have been a downed) Hobart receiver was stripped of the ball by Union S JP Sticco and returned for a 49 TD, posting the Dutchmen to a 35-28 lead with only 2:58 to play in the game.

That would be plenty of time for Strang to lead the Statesmen offense down the field. The drive covered 59 yards and was capped by another Muratori TD reception, this time for 10 yards with just under a minute to play.

Not surprisingly Coach Cragg would go for broke, opting to go for two and the Statesmen succeeded until an illegal formation penalty (one of seven times Hobart was flagged - costing them -75 yards) killed the conversion. Callahan would convert on a 25 yard PAT to tie it. Callahan had missed FG attempts from 42 yards and had a 25 yarder blocked in the third quarter.

Union kicker Blaise Ancona missed a 55 yard FG attempt as time expired so the Statesmen and Dutchmen headed into overtime for the second time in the past six seasons.

Union won the toss and elected to start on defense - a move which almost paid off when Strang's fourth interception killing Hobart's initial drive. The Dutchmen would fail to take advantage, missing a potentially game winning 37 yard FG and giving the Statesmen the chance to win the game on the final possession of the second OT.

Ironically, on a day when Hobart turned over the ball six times, it would be a Union turnover - a fumble by Justin Gallo that gave the Statesmen the chance to win the game. Strang would score his sixth and final TD of the day on a seven yard rush up the middle to win it for Hobart, 41-34.

Strang finished his first start going 19-of-29 for 405 yards (good for third on Hobart's all time game record list), tying the Hobart record with five TD passes (which was set by Shawn Mizro '07 who had five TDs vs. Union in the 2004 OT thriller). He also rushed for 93 yards and the game winner making his 498 yards of total offense a single game record and his 12.4 yards per play average the highest in history for a single game.

Strang’s top target was Woodard, who caught five passes for 182 yards and two TD. His total ranks third on the single game receiving yards list.

Defensively, FY S Devin Worthington led the way with 12 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack. SR OLB Kyle O’Laughlin and JR LB linebacker Reggie Robinson each had 11 tackles, Robinson also collected an interception.

Although Coney produced his 20th career 100-yard rushing game, finishing with 120 yards and a touchdown, this was his lowest output against the Statesmen. Connolly, who initially started 0 for 9, eventually went 13-of-29 for 248 yards and three TDs. Gallo lead all Dutchmen receivers with six catches for 141 yards and two TDs.

The Dutchmen defense was led by Anthony Cassese’s 11 tackles, while Alex Macchio and JP Sticco each logged two interceptions. Sticco accounted for the defensive TD on the fumble recovery.

With the loss the Dutchmen will need to beat first place Saint Lawrence (2-4, 2-0) next weekend to stay in the LL race. Hobart is idle until Oct 23 when they travel to Kings Point, Long Island to face the US Merchant Marine Academy (2-4, 1-1).

Analysis

This was probably the most exciting game in the past 20 years for Hobart fans. The 2004 OT game against Union arguably had more at stake, but that one didn't boast over 1,000 yards of offense and 10 TDs!!!

Still, the Statesmen got very lucky given how sloppily they played at times, what with all the turnovers (6) and penalties (-75 yards). So far this season Hobart has been flagged 39 times for -330 yards!! Compare that to the 2008 NCAA playoff team that was flagged 58 times for 478 yards IN 11 GAMES.

If Hobart is going to have hope at running the table in the LL and returning to the NCAAs, they really need to improve on the mental mistakes, turnovers and penalties.

Credit should go to this team for hanging in there and not getting down, especially when things started to go awry in the third quarter. Hobart's defense also played a really great game, practically shutting down the Union offense in the first quarter other than the blown coverages on the two first half TD plays.

Ultimately, it remains to be seen whether this Hobart offense can improve itself in putting up more points per game. It was pretty incredible that even with over 600 yards in total offense, Hobart found itself tailing late in the fourth quarter.

Perhaps with more reps, Strang will become a more consistent player and ultimately take this offense to the next level? In the meantime, it would appear Doug Vella's starting job is tenous at best. I don't know how the Statesmen coaching staff could bench a player after having such a big coming out party? Time, and practice over the next two weeks leading up to the MMA game will tell.

You can catch an interview with Nick Strang on yesterday's archived broadcast of In the HuddLLe (www.inthehuddLLe.com) and a tape delayed broadcast on WHWS 105.7 FM LP in Geneva (our first "affiliate", pretty cool if you ask me!).

Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!