The United States Merchant Marine Academy travelled to Geneva, NY looking for their first win over the #25 ranked Hobart Statesmen since joining the Liberty League in 2004. The Statesmen held home court at the "Boz" for their Homecoming and Family Weekend festivities as well the SR OL Jarrid Blades inspired Touchdowns & Tackles for Happiness House fund raiser.
The Statesmen took their first two drives into Mariner territory but the Merchant Marine defense caused Hobart to turn over the ball on downs and benefited from a 25 yard JR PK Stephen Bruening field goal attempt which hooked wide left (there was no word on why SO PK Reyes Guevara did not play but he appears to be off the Hobart roster)?
Hobart's tough luck would change after the Mariner's third possession ended on when the Mariner's Richard Grennan mishandled a punt snap and SR CB and co-captain Drake Woodard recovered it in the end zone for six. The Bruening point after would be good posting the Statesmen to a 7-0 lead with 52 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
The second frame saw the Hobart offense finally hit it's stride, scoring 21 points behind JR RB Bobby Doughtery and JR QB Nick Strang three yard TD runs, and on JR WR Junior Woodard's 36 yard catch and run for a TD which pushed the Statesmen's lead to 28-0 with 4:12 to play in the first half.
Hobart added a SR WR Garth Muratori eight yard receiving touchdown, the senior co-captain having earned his 100th career reception earlier in the game, to push the lead to 35-0 after Bruening's point after with 18 seconds to play in the first half. Garth only needs a couple of catches to pass my buddy Luke Gutelius '98 for ninth place on the all time receptions list.
The Statesmen outgained the Mariners 301 to 45 yards in the first half and added a sixth TD in the game when backup JR QB Kelly Olney found FY TE Mike Berkowitz for a three yard reception with 14:09 to play in the fourth quarter. The game well in hand, the Statesmen reserves allowed two late Mariner TDs - a 20 yard Alex Coviello run and a 37 yard Chase Dunn reception.
Hobart was lead by Strang who passed for 226 yards and two passing TDs as well as 30 yards rushing and one rushing TD. Muratori was Strang's favorite target, catching four balls for 57 yards and a TD.
On defense the Statesmen were lead by SR LB Reggie Robinson with 14 tackles, including one sack and two and a half tackles for a loss.
Merchant Marine was lead by JR QB Alex Coviello who threw for 120 yards and one touchdown as well as 105 yards rushing and a score. SR LB Kevin Stapf lead the Mariner defense with 12 tackles.
With the win Hobart improves to 5-0, 3-0 in the Liberty League and will travel to Worcester, Mass next weekend to take on the WPI Engineers.
The Mariners drop to 2-6, 1-3 in the league, and after a bye week will travel to Schenectady to play Union College Saturday, November 5th.
No comments:
Post a Comment