The eighth ranked* Hobart College Statesmen will host the Utica College Pioneers this Saturday night under the lights at Boswell Field for Homecoming and Parent’s Weekend. Utica (2-0) is coming off a strong 25-16 win over Union College (0-1). The Pioneers SID has already posted a preview of this weekend's game. You can find it here.
Utica brings a balanced attack into this game – of their 46 first downs, 23 came by the run and 22 by the pass (one was via penalty). Still, Utica leans more towards the pass and stats reflect the same. The Pioneers have averaged 144.5 YPG rushing and 240 YPG passing in their first two games.
There were some questions around how Utica would reload after four year starter Andrew Benkwitt graduated, but so far JR QB Connor Butkiewicz has looked good. The Southington, CT native has thrown for 479 yards and four TDs this season, completing 63% of his passes (46 of 76).
Butkiewicz’s primary targets are a trio of experienced receivers led by JR WR Anthony Acevedo (15 receptions for 187 yards and two TDs), SR WR Joseph Gerbino (8 receptions for 124 yards and one TD) and SR WR Jamie Murphy (12 receptions for 106 yards). Butkiewicz, while showing himself to a capable field general in his first two games as a starter, has been susceptible to a handful of “rookie mistakes,” including three interceptions.
Leading the Pioneers run game is SR RB Jake Larson. Larson has carried the ball 41 times for 188 yards scoring two TDs. While Utica struggled to run the ball on the Union defense (only gaining 62 yards), they racked up 227 yards and three scores vs. Lewis and Clark (0-2) in Week 1.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Pioneers are lead by SR LB Joe Giametta (20 total tackles, two tackles for a loss and two sacks), SR LB Ryan Hansen (18 total tackles, 3 tackles for loss and one sack) and JR FS James Lenahan (10 tackles, two interceptions, two and a half tackles for loss and two sacks). The Utica defense is holding opponents to a respectable 19 PPG and 334 YPG of total offense.
The Pioneers defense sacked Union JR QB Connor Eck nine times Saturday night, have picked off opposing QBs four times and have caused three fumbles. Hobart will do well to protect the football against this ball hawk defense.
On special teams the Pioneers have a solid player in SO PK Thomas Woodburn who’s kicked three of four FGs, with a long of 34 yards, on the season.
Keys to the Game:
1. Apply Pressure to the Pios – while Utica has a solid club, they are still an upcoming program and prone to mistakes. They have turned the ball over five times on the season and have averaged a surprisingly high 102 YPG in penalties. If the Hobart defense can keep the heat on Butkiewicz and the Pioneer offense, they can cause turnovers and take advantage of this inexperience. On the flip side, if the Hobart offense can control the line of scrimmage and run the ball, it will force Utica to play from behind. The Pioneers, aside about 11 minutes in the first quarter against L&C, have been in the lead in the two games they've played this season.
2. Home Sweet Home – Boswell Field has been a “house of horrors” for visiting teams since it was upgraded in 2010. The Statesmen have gone 13-3 over that time period, including a perfect 8-0 in 2012 (including the NCAA playoffs) and haven’t lost a home game since November of 2011. I expect a big home crowd given its Homecoming and Parent’s Weekend that will be loud, proud and fully behind the Statesmen. It will be the Pioneers first road game of 2013 and the Pioneer faithful do travel well, so this may be the biggest game the Statesmen (attendance wise) have this season.
3. Turnovers - Last season Utica had success in getting Hobart to make mistakes, namely fumble the football. The Statesmen did so on four occasions and this was the real reason the game was close late in the third quarter, early fourth until Hobart pulled away en route to a 45-26 victory. The Statesmen put up 500 yards on the Pioneer defense last season and I'd expect Hobart to try to do the same Saturday night.
Prediction:
Utica has done very well in out of conference games, especially against the LL of late. Their team is confident and will be playing to win in spite of all of accolades the Statesmen have received. Seeing them on film a couple of seasons now, I'd say Utica's offense is still working out the kinks. Their defense looks better than in prior years, so the line of scrimmage will be where this game is won. I do worry about the Pioneer receiving corp, which put up over 300 passing yards vs. Hobart last season. Still, I like our chances on our home field, in a big game, under the lights. I also hope that JR DE Tyre Coleman will get the two sacks he needs to break / set the Statesmen all time sack mark.
Given the above, I'll take Hobart's OL and DL to wear down Utica and help the Statesmen earn a tough 35-17 victory.
Go 'Bart!
PS - some fans noticed Hobart dropped from seventh to eighth in this week's D3football.com Top 25 poll. This drop was really because of four points (426 in Week 1 to 422 in Week 2) in the overall standings. Given how relatively close the seventh - ninth places are, we may see more movement up or down as the season progresses. I am pretty sure the coaches aren't focusing on this at all, and the players' goal is to get a win Saturday night. The polls will say what they say, and getting to 2-0 is really more important anyway.
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