Hobart Overwhelms WPI, 41-7

The seventh ranked Hobart College Statesmen dominated the WPI Engineers by the score of 41-7 today at Boswell Field.  The Statesmen (4-0, 2-0) out gained WPI (2-3, 1-1) 501 to 270 yards.

Hobart opened the scoring off of two SR RB Steven Webb 38 and 42 TD runs early in the game.  The Statesmen's JR QB Patrick Conlan found JR WR Elvin Souffrant on a five yard pass to push the Hobart lead to 21-0 with only 1:05 to play in the first quarter.  Conlan found find the end zone again by calling his own number, scoring on a three yard TD rush early the in the second quarter.  This score was set up by Hobart's second defensive interception of WPI QB Jacob Grills.  The first was by SR CB Connor Garrett (resulting in Webb's second TD) and the second by JR OLB Nolan Toran.

The real fireworks didn't start though until Conlan and JR WR Troy Robinson executed the longest passing TD in Hobart history connecting on an 89 yard flea flicker to push the Statesmen lead to 34-0.  Dan Suozzi '05 hauled in an 88 yard score from Craig Swanson '04 in a 35-3 beating of Union in 2003 which was the previous record. Pretty much everything went Hobart's way up until then, the only miscue being a FY PK Sean Kirsche pulling the PAT wide left. To be fair, Kirsche had a great game overall, going four of five on averaging 58 yards on kickoff, even handling punts later in the game.

Head Coach Mike Cragg would empty the bench in the second half and JR QB Kyle Bayly took advantage of the opportunity, scoring his first ever Hobart passing TD, finding Robinson for 27 yards and a 41-0 Statesmen lead.

The Engineers would avoid a shutout as SR QB Johnny Antonopoulos's play action pass to Larry McGillicuddy would connect for 70 yards late in the game.  Blaine Bursey's point after was good and WPI was on the board, but down 41-7, which would be the final.

Leading the Statesmen on offense was Conlan in an impressive nine for 15, 208 passing yards and two TD performance.  Webb added 113 yards on 10 carries and two scores.  Robinson was the top target hauling in three catches for 127 yards and two scores.

Defensively the Statesmen were once again led by SR LBs Jacob Price and Cory Davis with five stops a piece.  JR DE Tyre Coleman added three tackles, including a TFL and one sack.  The latter leaves him only a 1/2 sack away from Hobart's all time mark of 33 set by Dave Russell '98.

Next week the Statesmen will travel to Springfield, MA to take on the reeling Pride (3-2, 0-2) of Springfield College.  Once thought to be potential contenders to Hobart's LL crown, the Pride have lost back to back LL games and were otherwise man handled by previously win less Union College (1-3, 1-1).  Hobart will do well not to look past to Springfield however.  I am looking forward to seeing the Statesmen in person next weekend.  Fans, friends of the program, let's meet up for a tailgate!

Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!