The 7th/9th ranked Hobart College Statesmen traveled to Dover, DE to face off against top seeded and 4th/5th ranked Wesley College in the third round of the NCAA play-offs.
The Wolverine's high powered offense struggled early on in the steady rain and against a stalwart Statesmen defense.
Wesley's initial offensive possession would stall at the Hobart 15 yard line. Eric Speidel's 32 yard FG attempt was good and the Wolverines took an early 3-0 lead with 10:33 to go in the first quarter.
The Wesley and Hobart defensive units would continue to control the game, with each side intercepting the opposing quarterback on successive possessions.
The Statesmen had a good opportunity after All American and LL DPOTY SR DE Tyre Coleman sacked Wesley SR QB and Gagliardi trophy semi finalist Joe Callahan for a 10 yard loss to the Wolverine 30 yard line. A short punt then gave Hobart the ball at their 40.
Unfortunately on the second play of the drive, Wesley's Andre Connally forced a fumble and Sean Hopkins took it to the house for a TD. The Speidel point after gave the Wolverines momentum and, more importantly, a 10-0 lead with 30 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Hobart's offense would pick itself up and take their next drive all the way to the Wesley five yard line. On 3rd and goal, FY TE Chris Cyr was wide open for a TD. The SO PK Sean Kirshe point after failed and the Statesmen trailed 10-6 with 8:55 to go in the first half.
The Wolverines would find the end zone once more before halftime after a questionable pass interference penalty gave Wesley a first and goal at the Hobart three yard line. SO RB Jamar Baynard would score on the next play and after the Speidel kick was good, extending the Wolverines lead to 17-6 with 1:37 remaining in the first half.
Hobart would go three and out on the ensuing drive and Wesley took a knee and a 17-6 halftime lead.
The Statesmen defense forced a three and out of their own to open the second half but another critical mistake hurt Hobart on a punt snap that wasn't able to be fielded by JR QB/P Parker Thelander. The Statesmen defense stood tall however; and Wesley had to settle for another Speidel FG, which was good from 24 yards out, to push the Wolverines lead to 20-6 with 10:26 to go in the third quarter.
Hobart would start their next offensive possession at their own 36 yard line. Although they appeared to stall, Coach Cragg called for the fake on a fourth and 8 and Thelander took off on a 41 yard run to the Wesley 21.
A personal foul on the Wolverines helped the Statesmen to the seven yard line and on third and goal, SR QB Patrick Conlan found SR TE Mike Berkowitz (who gritted out a bad ankle sprain in heroic fashion) for a TD. The Kirshe point after was good and Hobart was back in the game down 20-13 with 5:42 remaining in the third quarter.
Although Coleman would sack Callahan again, earning him second and third all time on Division 3 career sack and tackles for loss list, he had to leave the game with an injury.
On the ensuing Wesley possession, Hobart's FY CB Tommy D'Antonio slipped in tight coverage and All American SR WR Steve Koudossou made an incredible 60 yard catch and run. The long pass play and Speidel extra point would put Wesley up 27-13 with 33 seconds left in the third quarter.
In spite of a two score lead and an ineffective Hobart offense, Wolverine HC Mike Drass kept his foot on the gas in the fourth quarter, padding the Wolverine stats by adding two TDs, including a final 19 yard passing score with 3:01 remaining, to win 41-13.
Leading the Wolverines was Callahan with 315 passing yards, two TDs and one INT. Koudossou was his favorite target and the SR WR made five catches for 125 yards and a score. Baynard had two rushing TDs and a game high 78 rush yards on 21 carries (3.7 AVG).
Hobart was led by Conlan who struggled (but tougher it out playing with a bad shoulder / injury) passing for only 74 yards, two TDs and three INTs.
The Statesmen defense was led by JR LB Jacob Stanley, who missed the entire second half due to injury, but still made a team high nine tackles. Coleman also had nine stops and set a Hobart single game record with six TFL to go along with two sacks. Coleman's absence was noticeable given about half of Callahan's passing yards and a TD came AFTER Coleman left the game. It truly was an all time great performance by arguably the greatest player in Hobart College Football's 121 year history.
Wesley's defense was led by All-American SR LB Sosthene Kapepula with a game high 13 stops. The Wolverine defense held Hobart to 163 total yards and most importantly, only three of 17 third down conversions.
The loss ends the Statesmen's 2014 campaign at 12-1, tying the 2012 team's record for most wins in a season.
The win improves Wesley to 12-1 overall and the Wolverines will return to Alliance, OH for a rematch with the 13-0 Mount Union Purple Raiders for a berth into the Stagg Bowl National Championship game
Join us tonight on InTheHuddLLe.com for our season finale at 7:30 PM. We'll interview the voice of the Statesmen, Ted Baker, along with Mount Union's Lenny Reich.
Thanks for reading this season and go Bart!
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