The eighth ranked Hobart Statesmen looked to accomplish several firsts in hosting their oldest rival, the University of Rochester Yellow Jackets, in both teams' regular season game. On the line for the Statesmen was their first outright Liberty League title since 2004, first regular season unbeaten mark since 1957 and first ever 10 win season in program history. For Rochester it was an opportunity to reclaim the Centennial Cup and finish with their first winning season since 2007 in this 105th meeting with Hobart.
Hobart got on the board first when SR RB Bobby Dougherty capped an eight play, 44 yard drive with a one yard touchdown run, his fourteenth of the year with less than five minutes into the first quarter. FY PK James Hull's point after was good giving the Statesmen a 7-0 lead.
Dougherty would score his second touchdown of the game with less than a minute to go in the first quarter, this time from three yards out to push the Statesmen’s lead to 14-0 after the Hull point after was good.
Things got a little hairy for Hobart in the second quarter. Rochester JR QB Dean Kennedy lead the Yellow Jackets on a 70 yard march which was capped on a 38 yard pass to Derek Wager for a touchdown. The Alex Antonucci point after was good and the Yellow Jackets trailed 14-7 with 13 minutes to play in the first half. The Statesmen would fail to convert on a fake punt inside their own 20 yard line giving the ball to Rochester at the Hobart 16 yard line.
The Statesmen defense would force the Yellow Jackets to settle for a 32 yard Antonucci field goal, but Hobart’s lead was cut to 14-10 with 7:50 left in the second quarter. SR QB Nick Strang would be intercepted on the ensuing possession but once again the Statesmen defense held. Strang would redeem himself with a 29 yard strike to SR WR Junior Woodard for a touchdown (and 30th consecutive game with a catch) with 1:06 left in the first half. The Hull kick was good pushing the Hobart lead to 21-10 which would stand at the half.
The third quarter saw the Statesmen defense force a safety off a bad Rochester punt snap pushing Hobart’s lead to 23-10. The Statesmen attempted to extend their lead but a 29 yard Hull field goal attempt was wide right. The Yellow Jackets would capitalize on the turnover and drive 80 yards in 11 plays. Kennedy would find Brandon Young for a two yard score and after the Antonucci point after was good, only trailed Hobart 23-17 after three quarters of play.
The Statesmen were undaunted and continued to trot out SR QB Kelly Olney who started the second half for Hobart in his final collegiate regular season game. Olney only needed three plays to find JR WR Yosh Karbowniczak for 46 yards and a touchdown with 13:46 to go in the fourth quarter. The two point play failed but the Statesmen were back in control with a 29-17 lead.
Kennedy would cap a second 70 yard drive with a nine yard touchdown pass to Thomas Hayes with 9:33 to play. The Antonucci point after cut Hobart’s advantage to 29-24, the closest margin of the game.
The Statesmen would rally however thanks to Olney who once again found Karbowniczak for 46 yards setting up Hobart at the Rochester two. A penalty would push the Statesmen back but Olney would find FY FB Christopher Holoman open for a seven yard touchdown. The two point play to SR TE Brent Matazinsky was good giving Hobart a 37-23 lead with 7:31 to play in the game. The Hobart defense would force the Yellow Jackets to turn over the ball on downs and Dougherty would cap the game with his third touchdown run as time expired. The Statesmen won the game 43-24, finishing the season a perfect 10-0 and 7-0 in the Liberty League.
Leading Hobart was Olney with 189 passing yards and two touchdowns along with Dougherty’s three touchdown runs. Rochester would be lead by Kennedy with an impressive 220 yard passing and three touchdown performance. The Statesmen defense held Rochester to only 45 rushing yards and were lead by SR LB Andrew Klindera and FY DE Mark Guarino-Hyde with eight tackles a piece. The Yellow Jackets were lead by James Barrett with a game high 10 tackles.
With the win Hobart moves to 10-0 overall, 7-0 in the Liberty League. The loss drops Rochester to 4-5 overall, 3-4 in the league. Hobart’s first round NCAA playoff opponent will be announced Sunday at 6 PM eastern time. My co-host Frank Rossi and I will be speaking with the D3 championship tournament chair regarding Hobart's bracket and related matters tomorrow at 7:30 PM on www.inthehuddlle.com.
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