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The seventh ranked Hobart College Statesmen (3-0, 1-0) host the WPI Engineers, in a rare home game, Saturday in Geneva at noon. The Statesmen will once again don their camouflage / Wounded Warrior uniforms (see below) in honor of America’s troops. Funds raised from the game will go to assist “Honor Flight”, a charity organization that provides travel services for veterans to Washington, DC.
Last season Hobart had their way with WPI in a 61-8 blowout that saw the Statesmen rack up 542 total yards and hold the ball for 39:46 in the contest. Hobart tallied 27 compared to WPI’s six first downs and the Engineers only gained 78 total yards in the game.
This year WPI is coming into this contest with a better overall team and record (2-2, 1-0) than 2012. Last Saturday they had a resounding 27-14 win over LL and “industry” rival RPI in the annual “Transit Trophy” game. WPI has had a “Jekyll and Hyde” type of season of sorts, with dominant victories over Curry (0-3, 0-1) and RPI (3-1, 0-1) while playing quite the opposite in a 31-14 loss to Norwich (1-2) in Week 3. The Engineers could easily be 3-1, but lost a 15-14 heart breaker to cross town rival Worcester State (3-1, 1-1) in the final seconds of that game, in Week 2 (and perhaps the hangover lasted until after Week 3?).
WPI ranks just behind Hobart in scoring offense (25.8 compared to 29.3 PPG) and boasts one of the best running backs in the conference, if not the country, in JR Zach Grasis who’s averaging 131.2 YPG, scoring seven touchdowns (TDs) in four games. Grasis ranks 10th in the nation in total rush yards (525) and is tied for sixth in rushing TDs (6). It appears after last week that JR QB Jacob Grills has earned the starting job over SR QB Johnny Antonopoulos, and he looked good, going 17 of 30 for 184 yards and one TD against RPI. Grills’ top target is SR WR Ehab Hamdan who leads the LL with 89 receiving YPG and six TDs. The six receiving TDs also ranks Hamdan as second in the nation according to the NCAA DIII stat sheet.
Defensively WPI has struggled a bit, allowing 22 PPG and allowing a LL-worst 400.5 YPG and 12 TDs. The Engineers have been particularly susceptible against strong passing teams, allowing 221.2 YPG and eight receiving TDs to their opponents. SO DB Eric Lacroix leads the Engineers with 34 total tackles (8.5 TPG), two interceptions and one sack. Lacroix earned LL honors as Co-DPOY after tallying eight stops against RPI, including five solo tackles, one for a loss and a 33 yard interception return. JR LB Jake Brown has 25 tackles and one sack.
On special teams WPI has a solid kicker in FY Blaine Bursey. He’s two for two on FGs this season and has converted 11 of 14 PATs. SO PK Vincent Tavernelli leads the LL in punting, averaging 42.5 YPP with a long of 74 yards.
Keys to the Game:
1. Zack Attack (or really, Attack Zach) – Stuffing WPI’s run game is the key to beating WPI. In the Engineers’ two wins, Grasis has run for 342 yards and six scores. In the two losses, he ran for 183 and just one TD. Against Norwich WPI really struggled on third down, only converting two of 13 attempts. If the Statesmen can force the Engineers to be one dimensional, they can pin them back and rush Grills, potentially forcing…
2. Turnovers – WPI is -1 on the season in turnover margin, and their struggles with possession have played a role in their losses this season. The Engineers have thrown a league high six interceptions, so if the Statesmen bottle up Grasis, players like JR OLB Nolan Toran or SR FS Jolyon Davis could collect a pick (or two) Saturday
3. Rush for 300(+) – Norwich ran for 374 yards on the WPI defense and I expect Hobart will be shooting to eclipse the 300 rushing yard mark as well. While the Statesmen may test the Engineer pass defense, I don’t see it happening until after a steady dose of SR RB Steven Webb and SO RB Connor Hartigan
Prediction:
The Statesmen are very tough to beat at the “Boz”, and this game will be no exception. I think WPI’s issues on defense and ball control on offense should make for another home win for Hobart. I’ll take the Statesmen to win going away, 30-10.
Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!
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