#13 Hobart Sinks Mariners, 42-21

The #13 Hobart Statesmen donned their camouflage uniforms in honor of our troops today hosting the United States Merchant Marine Academy on Family Weekend in Geneva.  With the Mariners pinned deep, Hobart fielded a short punt and only needed four plays to score a JR RB Steven Webb nine yard touchdown (TD) run to take an early 7-0 lead.  The Statesmen would add a second rushing TD, this time a SR RB Bobby Dougherty four yard run to push the lead to 14-0 to close the first quarter.

The second quarter saw the Mariners take advantage of two SR QB Nick Strang miscues for interceptions.  The Merchant Marine would drive into the Statesmen red zone twice but the Hobart defense would hold both times forcing the Mariners to settle for 22 and 21 yard Daniel Kennedy field goals.

The 14-6 score would hold at the half.

The Statesmen defense would come up big again to open the third quarter but a good Mariner punt would pin Hobart back at their own five yard line.  The Statesmen would grind out an impressive 16 play, 95 yard drive which ended when SO FB Dominque Ellis dove into the end zone for a three yard TD with 3:28 to play in the third quarter.

Hobart would get the ball back almost immediately when JR CB Connor Garrett picked off Mariner SO QB Luke Stidham.  Webb would effectively ice the game a few plays later on a 38 yard TD run.  Webb would break a nearly identical play on the ensuing possession for a 39 yard TD to push the home team to a 35-6 lead.

Although the defense would allow two fourth quarter Mariner TDs, FY RB Conner Hartigan would score his first collegiate and Hobart's final TD of the game to give the Statesmen a hard fought 42-21 victory.

Hobart was lead by Webb with 150 rushing yards and three TDs. Defensively the Statesmen were lead by SR LB Andrew Klindera and SO LB Nolan Toran with eight total tackles and 1.5 TFL a piece.

The win moves Hobart to 4-0 on the season, 1-0 in the LL.  Next week the Statesmen will travel to Worcester in their longest road trip of the season to face WPI (1-3, 0-1).  More this game and a look at WPI next week.

Go 'Bart!