The undefeated Hobart Statesmen traveled Schenectady to face long-time rival and league unbeaten Union Fighting Dutchmen with first place in the Liberty League on the line.
The Dutchmen's offense took the field after winning the coin toss and capped an impressive 10 play, 73 yard opening drive with a 10 yard Drew Connolly to Justin Gallo touchdown giving Union an early 7-0 lead.
The Statesmen's offense was shut down, going three and out on their first two possessions. The Hobart defense hung tough however keeping the Dutchmen at bay.
SO RB Steven Webb would get the Statesmen on the board taking the hand off, and after running into a wall of tacklers, burst through the line for a 70 yard TD dash to tie it at 7-all.
The Union offense responded with their own big play as Connor Gallo made a spectacular one-handed catch for a 61 yard TD bomb reminiscent of his older brother's long TD catches from the 2009 Hobart-Union game. The 3 play, 71 yard drive took only 1:19 off the clock and pushed the Dutchmen's lead to 14-7.
In the second quarter the teams traded possessions until a short Sasha Papich punt set up the Statesmen at the Union 43 yard line. After a few short gains, Hobart benefited from a pass interference call on the Dutchmen's secondary. Two plays later JR RB Bobby Doughtery ran in his third rushing TD from 9 yards out, tying the game at 14 all.
Union caught a big break however when JR WR Junior Woodard lost the ball in the sun and ultimately fumbled a Union punt setting up the Dutchmen on the Hobart 22 yard line. The Statesmen defense came up big sacking Connolly on consecutive possessions until a draw play by Darnel Thomas pulled the Dutchmen to the Hobart 22. Adam Henry connected on a season long 39 yard field goal which pushed Union's lead to 17-14 with 1:58 to play in the first half.
Hobart would strike back quickly however on an 83 yard pass from Strang to Woodard giving the Statesmen their first lead of the game, a 21-17 advantage, which would stand until the ensuing kickoff. FY S James Smith recovered a Union fumble at the 15 yard line and pushed Hobart's lead to 27-17 after the Guevara point after hit the goal post.
Union held Hobart to a three and out to start the second half and took over from their own 39 yard line. The Dutchmen run game asserted itself driving to the Statesmen 26 yard line until SR CB Drake Woodard picked off Connolly and ripped off a 45 yard return. Eight plays later, Strang would find FY WR Troy Robinson on a 15 yard pass to push the Hobart lead to 34-17.
Union fought back scoring on another Connolly to (Justin) Gallo quick strike for 34 yards and the Dutchmen appeared to regain some momentum after Colin Beerworth intercepted Strang on Hobart's ensuing possession giving the Dutchmen offense the ball at the Hobart 49 yard line only down 34-24.
Although Union drove to the Statesmen 21, the Hobart defense came up big again with their backs against the wall sacking Connolly and driving Union out of field goal range. The Statesmen took over and with 6:43 to play and worked to run out the clock.
Strang ended up following his offense line to pay dirt, scoring on a 5 yard touchdown to cap an 11 play, 72 yard drive with 1:19 to close out the scoring and the game giving Hobart a 41-24 win.
Although Hobart had some key players come up big in this game, the star was SO OLB Devin Worthington who lead the defense with 10 tackles and 3.5 sacks - the most by a Statesmen defender since 2006. Hobart improves to 4-0, 2-0 in the LL and is idle next weekend. More on this game an look at the Statesmen halfway through the regular season later this week.
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