The Hobart Statesmen (4-0, 2-0) are off to their best start since the 2008 season. Although Division III football pollsters have largely ignored them, at mid season the Statesmen are ranked 29th in the country in total offense, 16th in total defense and 11th in sacks per game.
Hobart is ranked first in the following categories in the Liberty League (LL):
Offense:
Scoring – 38.2 PPG
Total yards – 433.2 YPG and 20 Touchdowns (TDs)
Red zone (88.2%)
3rd down conversions (56.5%)
Time of Possession (34:49 - good for 8th nationally)
Sacks against (3 for -16 yards)
Defense:
Scoring – 13.2 PPG
Turnover margin +6 (which is a huge improvement from last year)
Rush – 109.8 (1 TD allowed)
Pass – 136.4 PPG (6 TDs allowed)
Total - 246.2 YPG (7 TDs total allowed)
Pass efficiency (98.7 rating)
Opponent first downs (57)
Red zone (42.9% and only 3 TDs)
Opponent 3rd down conversions (31.5%)
Special teams, statistically speaking, could use some work as SO PK Reyes Guevara has missed 4 PATs (18-22) so far on the season. In Guevara’s defense however he is second in the league amongst kickers (and the entire Statesmen team, just behind SR WR and Co-Captain Garth Muratori’s 24 on four TD receptions) with 21 points. Kickoff and punt return yardage is also fairly low, netting Hobart only 17.1 and four and a half yards on average, respectively. The punting game has also been down but that statistic is a bit misleading given Hobart has only punted five times all season and one of those was a shank that netted little, if not zero, yards in the Saint Lawrence game. A positive note for the Statesmen punting game is that opponents have zero success (and yards) in returning punts against the Hobart punt unit.
Individually the Statesmen boast the number five, eight and tenth best rushers in the LL with SO RB Steven Webb averaging 66.2 YPG and having scored two TDs; JR QB Nick Strang averaging 50.5 YPG and JR RB Bobby Dougherty 48.5 YPG. Both Strang and Dougherty have 3 rushing TDs a piece.
Strang is the fourth rated passer in the LL based on YPG (194.8) and has nine passing TDs (compared to three interceptions) to his credit. Strang is the second rated quarterback in the league based on passing efficiency (143 rating). His primary targets, Muratori (88.8 YPG and four TDs) and JR WR Junior Woodard (70 YPG and two TDs) are second and fourth in the LL standings for reception yards per game.
On the defensive side of the ball, Hobart’s SR CB and Co-Captain Drake Woodard is tied for first in the LL for interceptions (three, which is tied for first in the nation in INT per game) and first overall in return yardage (66). SR LB Reggie Robinson ranks 21st in the LL with 23 total (an average of 5.8 tackles per game). FY DE Tyre Coleman is first in sacks with 6.5 (and second in the nation in sacks per game) and SO OLB Devin Worthington is tied for second with four sacks on the season. Coleman, who’s been named LL Rookie of the Week Award three weeks consecutively, also leads the league in tackles for a loss with seven and a half for -55 yards.
Overall the Statesmen have proven to be a solid team, both explosive offensively and stout on the defensive end. That said Hobart has at times been their own worst enemy. Penalties and turnovers are down from 2010, but the Statesmen have gotten bogged down at times. Fortunately their mistakes have yet to come back to haunt them but it will remain to be seen how many times they can successfully bail themselves out of sticky situations.
Hobart takes the field again on Saturday, October 22 during Homecoming Weekend. The Statesmen will line up against the Mariners of the United States Merchant Marine Academy (2-4, 1-1 at the moment, but they do play Rochester this Saturday). Kickoff is at 1 PM ET. I’ll have a preview of the Mariner-Statesmen match-up early next week.
Until then, thanks for reading and go ‘Bart!
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