The Hobart College Statesmen arguably capped the biggest win in school history by defeating sixth ranked Johns Hopkins University today in a back and forth game, 24-21.
The Statesmen (12-0) took a 10 point lead early on thanks to a FY PK Sean Kirshe 42 yard FG - a career beset. This scoring drive was set up after SO DB Todd Collier intercepted Blue Jays SR QB Braden Anderson on the Blue Jays (11-1) first offensive play from scrimmage.
SO RB Brad Burns capped a 10 play, 80 yard drive with a one yard TD run to push Hobart's advantage to 10-0 with 55 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Hopkins offense finally got on track thanks to a SO RB Stuart Walters five yard TD run with 10:23 to go in the second quarter.
JR RB Alex Furtado scored on a four yard run to push Hobart's lead to 16-7 with 2:31 remaining in the first half. The Statesmen special teams unit took a calculated risk in a short, high kickoff that JR WR Cooper Merrill initially recovered but subsequently fumbled and the ball was recovered by JHU.
The Blue Jays drove 11 plays in 2:27, scoring on a three yard SO WR Quinn Donaldson TD catch on the back line of the end zone. While the momentum was starting to sway to the Blue Jays, the Statesmen still held a 16-14 lead at the half.
The third quarter saw both defenses dig in and neither team scored during that period. Hopkins would take their first lead of the game when Donaldson hauled in a 28 yard TD pass from Anderson with 14:33 to go in the game. Given FY PK Jamie Sullivan's PAT was good, the Blue Jays had a 21-16 lead, meaning Hobart needed a TD to win the game.
After trading field position and a few close calls, the Statesmen's SR QB Patrick Conlan drove the team, into the wind and down the field 88 yards until SR WR John Fasano hauled in a HUGE 14 yard TD catch to regain the lead, 22-21 with only 1:26 remaining in the contest.
The two point play to SR WR Elvin Souffrant was good and Hobart led by a three point margin, 24-21. Although Hopkins would get to the Statesmen eight yard line with only a few seconds remaining, JR LB Jacob Stanley would intercept Anderson and Hobart would hang on to win, 24-21.
Conlan led Hobart with 237 passing yards and one TD. Fasano was his favorite target with six receptions for 79 yards and the game winning score. SR WR Troy Robinson played big as well, catching four passes for 68 yards. Hopkins was led by Anderson with 185 passing yards, two TDs but with two INTs.
Defensively JR LB Trayvon Toney led the Hobart defense with a game high 13 stops. SR DL Michael Rocca led JHU with 12 tackles including one TFL.
In a game of inches, it ended up being the Statesmen's +4 turnover margin (2 FRs - the second fumble coming on what could have been a decisive TD drive for Hopkins, but Hobart recovered at the 12 to start their own game winning drive - to go along with the INTs) that was the difference. Also, although the Hopkins DL/OL took control in the 2nd half, the Hobart OL managed to push through in the 4th quarter in good part thanks to a healthy 36:17 to 23:43 possession advantage.
The Statesmen will travel to Dover, DE to take on top seed Wesley College (11-1*) next Saturday in a rematch of 2011's NCAA 1st RD game that the Wolverines won, 35-28. *Wesley's lone loss this season is to UNC-Charlotte.
Hobart is pretty injury depleted and during today's game players such as SR DB Fajri Jackson and SR TE Mike Berkowitz (ankle) had to leave the field due to injury. SO FS Matt Cragg was also out with an injury as was starting SO RT Patrick O'Connell.
Hobart will have to dig deep in a match up against a FCS-quality Wesley program. More on that game later this week. Tune in to tomorrow's "In The HuddLLe" (www.inthehuddlle.com) at 7:30 PM to hear highlights and interviews from today's big win, plus a preview of the Elite 8 match-ups.
Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!
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