The Best 20 Games of the Last 20 Years - Part III (6-10)

After an interesting 11-20, we crack the Top 10 this week.

Now as I stated at the start of this ranking, not all of the best games in the last 20 years were wins. In fact, some of them were losses that showed how far the Hobart Statesmen had come as a program. Three of those games start off the Top 10, dating back to 2005, but for #10 we'll start in 2006:

#10
Hobart 18 Rowan 20 (11/8/06) - The Profs were once tabbed the "Beast of the East" given their many playoff runs back then. The Statesmen were road underdogs in this first round playoff game but they went toe to toe with Rowan the entire contest. The Statesmen were easily dispatched in the 2004 playoffs by a score of 14-45 by the Profs, so many assumed this rematch would be more of the same. To the contrary, Hobart actually led with under a minute to go in the game but the Profs were able to convert a FG with nine seconds remaining to hang on to win. While disappointing, this game showed that Hobart could have beaten the "Beast".

#9
Hobart 14 Delaware Valley 21 (11/26/05) - The last time Hobart faced the MAC champs in the second round of the NCAA playoffs, they lost decisively. This game was a different story. The score was deadlocked at 0-0 until the fourth quarter when Del Val broke the stalemate and took a 14-0 lead. To the Statesmen's credit they battled back, scoring two quick TDs to tie the game with 4:51 remaining. Del Val would retake the lead with 1:30 left, but QB Shawn Mizro would rally the Statesmen and drive Hobart to the Aggies 19 yard line with 15 seconds remaining. A couple of close calls in the end zone meant that the Statesmen came up short, but it took a desperate effort by the Del Val defense to hang on and win this hard fought game.

#8
Hobart 28 Wesley 35 (11/19/11) - A lot of Hobart fans were upset by drawing #7 Wesley in this first round NCAA matchup. Saint John Fisher, who the Statesmen destroyed in September, arguably got a better draw and seed in this tourney. To Hobart's credit, they came to play, with backup QB Kelly Olney leading the way. If the Statesmen only had a reliable place kicker they would have won this game as they were stuffed on fourth and goal three times by the Wolverine defense. While it counted as a loss, the Statesmen's play in this game served notice to the nation that Hobart was in for a big season in 2012.

#7
Hobart 20 RPI 17 (11/8/08) - RPI came into this game undefeated and ranked in the Top 20 behind the high scoring Jimmy Robertson led Engineers offense. The Statesmen defense got Hobart on the board first when LB Justin Hager blocked a RPI punt and LB Ryan Robinson returned it 32 yards for the TD. Hager would block another Engineer kick (this time a FG attempt) as time expired in the first half. Hobart would lose starting QB Rich Doyle to injury mid way through the fourth quarter with the score tied at 10. A relatively unknown QB Doug Vella came off the bench and drove the Statesmen offense to the Engineers red zone. He'd convert three huge first downs until he ultimately found WR Andy Schettine for a one yard score with 6:12 remaining in the game. The drive covered a total of 18 plays, 84 yards and 7:33 off the clock. Robertson would respond however and tied the game with a 50 yard bomb with 2:34 remaining. Vella would drive the team 53 yards in nine plays to set up a game winning 37 yd FG for then FY PK Conor Callahan. The kick split the up rights as time expired giving Hobart the upset victory!

#6
Hobart 35 Wittenberg 10 (11/24/12) - The Statesmen finally broke the second round barrier and punched their ticket to the program's first ever Elite 8 appearance with a dominant win over the NCAC Champs. Although Hobart was the higher seed and host, many picked the 13th ranked Tigers to win this game and some social media posts by Wittenberg on Friday night probably added fuel to the fire for the Statesmen. Although it was 7-3 Hobart at the half, the Statesmen ran away with the game scoring four TDs in the second half. The one-two punch of RBs Steven Webb and Bobby Dougherty combined for 39 carries, 216 yards and two TDs. At the time this was arguably the biggest win in program history.

Next week I'll cover off the Top 5 best games, in my opinion anyway. I'm sure you may already know which ones may be on that list.

Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!