UofR / Centennial Cup Game and Senior Day Preview

The eighth ranked Hobart College Statesmen will host their oldest active rival, the University of Rochester Yellow Jackets, on Senior Day at Boswell Field this Saturday in each team’s regular season finales. Hobart (9-0, 6-0) is looking to cap their third consecutive undefeated regular season, a feat that is a first in Statesmen history and would end the Class of 2015’s regular season careers’ with an incredible 36-1 (.972) record 38-4 overall, so tomorrow would be their 39th win which is pretty awesome). Conversely the Yellow Jackets (5-3, 3-3) are seeking their first six win season since 2007.

Hobart leads the all time series by a mark of 51-48-7 and has not lost to Rochester since the 2010 season. In 2007, the schools created the Centennial Cup Trophy to commemorate the 100th game between the two rivals. The Statesmen are 6-1 all time in the Centennial Cup series and will look to retain the Cup this season. Last year, Hobart had four takeaways and three sacks in a 42-21 rout of the Yellow Jackets.

Scouting Rochester:

#16 FY QB Daniel Bronson – Although only a rookie, Bronson has quickly become one of the LL’s rising stars and a potential ROTY candidate. He ranks 12th overall in rushing with 416 yards and four TDs while also going 70 of 126 (55.6%) for 944 yards and seven TDs. He has second best pass efficiency rating of active starting QBs but has thrown five interceptions in eight games.

#32 SO RB Myles Allen – has rushed for 594 yards on 123 carries, good for a LL fourth best 71.4 YPG average, and five rushing TDs.

#9 JR WR Farid Adenuga – leads Rochester with 393 receiving yards and five TD catches. His 49.1 YPG average is fourth best in the league.

#28 JR CB R.J. Borgolini – one of the top tacklers on the Yellow Jackets defense, Borgolini has 59 stops in seven games (8.4 TPG) and an interception.

#34 FY OLB Isaiah Smith – another potential ROTY candidate, Smith has been a beast on defense and special teams for Rochester this season. He leads the Yellow Jackets with 67 tackles and was named to last week’s D3football.com’s “Team of the Week” for recovering a fumble and blocking a potential game winning field goal by WPI in a 24-21 OT win for Rochester. He also earned D3football.com TOTW honors back on 10/23 for a 17 tackle performance in a 34-20 win over RPI (5-4, 3-3).

#39 JR OLB Thomas Marone – second on the team with 62 tackles including a team high four sacks.

Keys to the Game: 

1. Ball Control – After committing a season high five turnovers at Saint Lawrence (7-2, 5-1) last Saturday, the Statesmen need to do a better job at protecting the football. The good news for Hobart is that the Yellow Jackets don’t create too many takeaways. In fact, they only have two interceptions and a -5 turnover margin overall.

2. Ball Control, Part II – Hobart has kept time of possession by about five more minutes a game on average than Rochester (33:04 to 28:06). Keeping this edge will go a long way to the Statesmen winning another Centennial Cup game. The Yellow Jackets rush defense is not stout, allowing 198.1 YPG. I expect a lot of running plays to keep the game clock going, especially given the strength of Rochester is their pass defense. The Yellow Jackets only allow 147.8 YPG which is second best in the league. Rochester has allowed only eight passing TDs (basically one per game).

3. Enjoy the Day – as stated above, this game will be the last home regular season game for the Class of 2015. Their run has been spectacular and I hope the players and their families take in what they have accomplished. Although the weather can change in a New York minute, the current forecast is a cold, but dry and mostly wind free day Saturday which is about as good as you can expect for mid-November Upstate.

Prediction: I think Hobart won’t struggle too much with a good, but not great, Rochester team. I’ll take the Statesmen to win 37-13.

Please tune into NCAA.com at 6PM to find out Hobart’s first round playoff opponent and bracket placement, then to InTheHuddLLe.com at 7:30 PM this Sunday night. On ITH we’ll speak with Head Coach Mike Cragg and NCAA D3FB Championship Committee Char Duey Naatz about the 2014 Playoffs.

Thanks for reading and go ‘Bart!