Statesmen Tie Modern Scoring Record, Rout WPI 61-8

The #12 ranked Hobart Statesmen travelled down I-90 to Worcester, Massachusetts to face the WPI Engineers. Both teams would turn over the ball on their opening offensive possessions, but the Engineers Nick Chambers 45 yard interception return would set up the home team with the first scoring opportunity of the game. Three plays later running back Chris Turner would find the end zone from 10 yards out to give WPI an early 6-0 lead. The Mitchell Lewis extra point would be wide left.

The Statesmen would recover and tie it on the ensuing drive capping an eight play, 54 yard drive with a two yard JR RB Steven Webb touchdown run. The Engineers would one up their nationally ranked opponents again, blocking the extra point attempt and returning it for a two point score to maintain an 8-6 lead in the first quarter.

Hobart would finally take the lead when SR QB Nick Strang found JR WR Yosh Karbownizcak 10 yards behind the defense. Karbownizcak would easily score on the 40 yard catch and run. The FY PK James Hull kick was good and giving Hobart a 13-8 lead with 44 seconds to go in the first quarter.

The Statesmen would expand their lead after a 39 yard SR WR Junior Woodard catch and run set up the Hobart offense in the WPI red zone. Another Woodard catch would set up Webb from the two yard line where he would score his second touchdown of the game. The Hull extra point was good and Hobart stretched their lead to 20-8.

With the defense asserting itself on the WPI offense, Hobart would drive 83 yards finding FY FB Chris Holoman for four yards. The catch was the first in Holoman’s collegiate career, and it was good for a touchdown. With the Hull extra point the visitors pushed their advantage to 27-8.

Hobart would add to their lead on a Hail Mary which would be caught by Karbownizcak at the two yard line and run into the end zone as the first half expired. The Hull extra point was good and Hobart took a 34-8 lead into halftime.

The Statesmen outgained WPI 367 to 52 yards in the first half and ultimately put the reserves in the second half coasting to a 61-8 victory. FY LB Trayvon Toney scored on a pick six and FY RB Conner Hartigan is looking at another LL Rookie of the Week award after a 16 carry, 106 rushing yard and one TD performance.

The final score tied a modern Hobart record for points scored in a game (the Statesmen defeated Kenyon 61-0 back in 1953). Hobart SID Ken DeBolt indicated that Hobart’s highest point total was 70 points all the way back in 1896.

Hobart improves to 5-0, 2-0 in the LL and WPI drops to 1-4, 0-2.  Next week the Statesmen host Springfield at Boswell Field.