The 15th ranked Hobart College Statesmen didn't look anything like a Top 15 program Saturday in a wet and sloppy (six penalties for 66 yards) game against former OC and now Endicott College HC Kevin DeWall '00.
Hobart (2-0) was out-gained 259 to 204 yards by the Gulls (0-2) on a day when the OL and running game (only 52 rush yards, but somewhat misleading given bad punt snap and subsequent loss on that play) really struggled to pick up blitzes and create good running lanes.
In fact it was SR DE Zach Thornton and the Statesmen defense who got Hobart on the board first, recovering an Endicott fumble in the end zone for a TD with only 14 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Endicott would respond capping a 13 play, 58 yard drive with a Kyle Regan 27 yard FG to pull within 7-3. The best Hobart offensive series would follow, when JR RB Brad Burns turned in a "Sportscenter" caliber 36 yard TD run where he leaped over a would be defender on the way to the end zone.
A bad punt snap would give the Gulls a short field and they'd cash in on the opportunity thanks to a 16 yard TD pass from QB Sam Oulette to WR Jake Pellitier to make it 14-9 with 3:49 to go in the first half.
At halftime Hobart great Tyre Coleman '15 was recognized and presented the Cliff Harris Award for being the best small college defensive player in the nation for 2014.
The second half saw the Statesmen get off to a good start, marching 48 yards in eight plays capping the drive on a SO QB Shane Sweeney to SO WR Brandon Shed 16 yard TD pass and catch.
JR WR Sean Cunningham would effectively put the game away after taking an Endicott punt 59 yards to the house. Although the Gulls would score once again, the Hobart defense would clamp down and Hobart would hang on for a 28-17 win (which is ironically almost the exact same score as last season's 28-18 decision in Beverly, MA).
The Good: the Statesmen defense caused four turnovers, including three INTs, two of which were snagged by JR CB Todd Collier. He could have had three if he hauled in a one-hander which would also have been #SCTop10 worthy. The Hobart D also held the Gulls to only two of 16 third down conversations which is excellent.
The Bad: Hobart only rushed for 52 yards on a day that the OL just looked out of sync. Maybe it's because we've been spoiled with the Garvey's, Smith's, Marpet's and the like but this OL had about as bad a game as I've seen in years.
The Ugly: where's the team passion? Last year guys would mob their scoring teammate. This year's squad came out for this game flat and seemed uninspired for most of the game. Hopefully this is just the case of the classic "trap game" and the fact the Statesmen were playing a staff that knows their team and scheme inside out. Several of the penalties by Hobart were unnecessary also and will need to be cleaned up by next week.
This film which be a tough pill to swallow but only because Hobart holds itself to such high standards. At the end of the day, they played good enough to win and if a few things happened differently, it probably would have been a rout.
Ithaca (1-0) was probably watching intently and they have to be confident after seeing Hobart struggle. That said Week 3 is a new chapter in the 2015 season. I expect Coach Cragg will have the team ready.
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