JR WR Brandon Shed tied the same single season receptions in a game record his teammate SR WR Jack Pfohl had also tied last week in an awesome 12 catch, 241 yard and two TD performance today in Canton, NY.
Hobart (8-1, 5-1) is one more win away from recapturing the Liberty League title and returning to the NCAA playoffs for the first time since the 2014 season. Shed also set the single season receiving yards, receptions and TD marks and now also holds the record for most receiving yards in a single game. Needless to say, Shed is likely on his way to first team All-American status by the end of the season. He needs one more TD to break the all-time mark and 800 yards to break the all-time record. He's on pace for an 80-85 reception, 1300-1400 yard and 18-21 TD season if you factor in the playoffs which is amazing.
An emotional and fiery Vimeo / pep talk produced by Connor Cough '16 that included testimonials by former Statesmen greats like Ali Marpet '15, Patrick Conlan '15, Trayvon Toney '16 and others about why Hobart needed to win this game must have worked, because the Statesmen came out swinging in this championship caliber fight.
After the Hobart defense held SLU (8-1, 5-1) to a FG, JR QB Shane Sweeney found Shed for a 58 yard TD catch and run that gave the Statesmen their first lead of the game. Although SLU would retake the lead on a SR WR Vincenzo Ferraro TD catch, Sweeney would connect with Shed again from four yards and Pfohl for 10 to give Hobart a 20-10 halftime lead.
The Saints got the ball to start the second half and used better field position and their elusive QB to keep the Hobart defense on the field for most of the third quarter. SLU would force a safety, then score on the ensuing possession to cut the Statesmen's lead to 20-18 with 1:34 left in the third. The two point conversion failed so Hobart hung onto their lead going into the final 15 minutes of the game.
JR WR Joe Barrocas would give the Statesmen some breathing room with a six yard TD catch after SR OLB Mike Harper made what arguably was the play of the game - an interception of Richardson which he returned to the Saints 22 yard line.
Pfohl would supply the final dagger with a TD a few plays later. The game was over when JR DE Brandon Ball took down Richardson on the final play of the game to give Hobart the win. To his credit, Richardson passed for 350 yards and two TDs against the Statesmen. The Hobart rush defense really had a nice game and held the Saints to only 71 rushing yards, 34 of which went to Richardson.
Sweeney passed for 363 yards and five TDs. Pfohl finished with eight catches for 71 yards and two scores. Defensively Hobart was led by JR LB Almamy Conde with a game high 14 tackles. SR DE James Hedger added two sacks and three QBHs.
Hobart will host Rochester (1-7, 0-6) in the annual Centennial Cup game next Saturday in Geneva. The Yellow Jackets lost in a 37-34 come from behind shootout to WPI (6-3, 3-3). I'll have more on this game (including post game interviews with HC Mike Cragg and others) and the next week's match ups on Sunday's In The HuddLLe podcast.
More to come and Hip Hobart!
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