The WPI Engineers will make the trek up the Mass Pike and down I-90 tomorrow for a key Liberty League showdown against the #25th ranked Hobart College Statesmen on Saturday in Geneva, NY.
WPI (3-1, 0-1) is coming off a tough 28-21 loss to industry and LL rival RPI (3-1, 1-0). The NY Engineers jumped out to a 28-0 halftime lead but the MA ones made a comeback that ultimately came up short.
Last season Hobart beat WPI in Worcester, 28-14, in a game not unlike last weekend's RPI-WPI showdown. The Statesmen took a 21-0 lead into the half and had a 28-0 advantage until about the nine minute mark of the fourth quarter when WPI scored the first of two late TDs to make the final look a little more competitive.
This season is a new year of course and both programs aren't exactly in the same boat as 2014. Hobart (3-1, 1-0) and WPI actually come into the contest with identical overall records, but the Statesmen have had a tougher schedule. The Engineers offense is off to a great start but last year's #3 ranked defense seems to have dropped off, especially from a yards allowed perspective.
Scouting WPI
The Engineers are led by #9 JR QB Dan Eckler who leads the LL in total offense (305 YPG), passing (66 of 99 for 1,077 yards, 7 TDs to 3 INTs) and efficiency (175.3 rating). Eckler's favorite target has a similar last name. #89 JR WR Brandon Eccher leads the LL in receiving yards (426) with a long of 96, scoring three receiving TDs. The #2 ranked WR in the LL (Bryant of SLU) is 204 yards BEHIND Eccher.
Far from being one dimensional, the WPI running game is paced by #3 SR RB Zach Grasis who missed most of last season due to injury. At 6' 215 lbs, Grasis is a physical runner who's carried the ball for 315 yards (good for 4th best in the LL) and scored three rushing TDs.
For all of that the Engineers best player is probably #35 JR LB Brian Murtagh. He leads the LL in total tackles with 41, including 29 solo and two INTs. #94 SO DL Dereck Pacheco leads the LL with six sacks. In the secondary, #37 SR DB Eric Lacroix has 31 stops and an INT. #20 SR DB Sean Murphy doubles as a return man and has had some rather epic pick sixes in his WPI career.
#2 JR PK Blaine Bursey has gone five of six on FGs while notching 11 PATs which is good for 2nd in the LL for overall scoring. Bursey recently earned recognition from the Fred Mitchell Award watch list which is a first for a WPI kicker. He's one of 21 players across all of CFB cited for consideration. A link to the article on this story can be seen here.
Keys to the Game
1. The Pass - WPI is the top ranked passing unit in the LL right now averaging 269.3 YPG while Hobart boasts the best pass defense only allowing 101.3 YPG. The forecast looks cool and cloudy but dry in Geneva this weekend for homecoming so the Statesmen can't count on the weather to slow down the Engineers. That's good news for the Hobart offense too as they need to improve their stats as the worst (or close to) LL offense, statistically speaking, in yards (244.5 YPG), rushing (95 YPG), and passing (149.5 YPG). WPI is nearly the worst passing defense in the LL, allowing 244 YPG via the air. Their rushing defense is above average, however, allowing 136 YPG.
2. Third Down - WPI has excelled on third down this season, converting 43.4% of their tries, ranking 2nd in the LL in that category. Hobart on the other hand is the toughest defense to convert against, leading the LL with a stingy 19% conversion rate. Unfortunately the Statesmen lost SR LB Jacob Stanley to a career ending ACL injury and the status of JR OLB Marcus Jemison is week to week with a sore shoulder so the Hobart defense may have some new faces in key LB positions Saturday. On offense if SO QB Shane Sweeney is still injured you can probably expect SO QB Tom Sydeski to get the start and hopefully improve from his five of 19 passing day against the USMMA (1-2, 0-1).
3. The Little Things - the statistics have this as a fairly even match up between the #4 overall scoring (26.5 PPG) / # 3 total offense (386 YPG) of WPI vs. the # 3 scoring (15.8 PPG) and #1 total defense (200.5 YPG). What the stats belie is #25 has played a tougher schedule and defensively is much stronger than the Engineers. If the Hobart offense can finally kick into gear, this game should be decided early on and give the home crowd a lot to cheer about. If turnovers, penalties and field position go against the Statesmen, this game will have a different feel altogether.
Prediction
While I've liked seeing the improvement in WPI from earlier this season, the wins over MIT (1-3), Worcester State (0-4) and Norwich (0-3) don't look that good now in the rear view mirror. I initially thought this may be a 28-21 close one but I'm going to agree with my ITH co-host that Hobart should win this one fairly convincingly, 35-14.
Hoping all you alums, fans and family enjoy what I'm sure will be a great Homecoming Weekend up in Geneva. While I wish I could be there in person, I will be tuning into WEOS at 12:40 PM and will be there in spirit.
Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!
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