The Hobart College Statesmen (2-2) are playing .500 football into Week 5 for the first time since the 2010 season. Much like that up and down year, there have been some very bright spots and some significant struggles so far this fall.
The Good:
JR QB Ryan Hofmann has played better than some may have expected, completing 75 passes on 119 attempts (63%) for 14 TDs compared to four INTs. The Statesmen have spread the ball around to 14 different receivers, and have had excellent seasons so far by JR WR Jake Catalioto, JR WR Ray Conley and SR TE and Co-Captain Matt Woods. Catalioto leads the team with 24 receptions for 352 yards and five TDs. Conley and Woods aren't far behind and have scored four TDs each.
FY LB Brian Aguilar has emerged as the leading tackler of the defense with 29 stops and 4.5 TFL. SO OLB Emmett Forde is emerging as a key contributor with 27 tackles, one sack and 3.5 TFL. Last season he played mostly in a reserve capacity, playing in all 10 games, but only making six tackles. JR FS Andrew Koonz has successfully transitioned from WR to defense, tallying 26 tackles with one TFL, a pass BU and two INTs.
The Statesmen OL has helped the Hobart offense average 37.25 PPG and 322.8 YPG while allowing only four sacks (basically one per game).
SO PK Kyle Hackett continues to climb the all-time record book as a kicker. He's been perfect so far this season, hitting 3 FGs and 19 PATs. According to WEOS PBP legend Ted Baker, Hackett has made 73 kicks (PATs and FGs) in a row. He missed his first ever kick, a PAT in the 2017 season opener vs. Brockport, but hasn't since. Ted also noted that the Statesmen have allowed only nine PR yards in their last 13 games, which is pretty amazing work from a special teams perspective. JR WR John DelliSanti has averaged 39 net yards on his 11 punts so far this season, dropping five inside the opponents' 20-yard line, forcing three fair catches and booting two punts over 50 yards.
Last but not least, congratulations to SR FS Kai Brandford on becoming a semifinalist, the only one from LL, for the prestigious Campbell Trophy. You can read more on that accomplishment here.
The Bad
The Statesmen defense have allowed 38.75 PPG and 453.8 YPG, which ranks near the bottom of all of D3FB.
The running game hasn't worked well either and the Statesmen OL need to improve the current 77.8 RYPG and 3.0 RYPC statistics we've seen so far this season. SO RB Alex Milliken has had flashes filling in for an injured SO RB Dakota Harvey, including a significant 70-yard TD run in the Shenandoah game, but otherwise Hobart's leading rusher has only gained an additional 26 net yards on his 22 other carries (1.18 YPC).
SR DB Jake Henzes transition to defense has not been a good one. He has been beaten deep on TDs passes in multiple games, and made a very costly mistake by taunting an Endicott receiver on a 2nd and 14 with about five minutes remaining, down 27-24. While the Gulls didn't score on the drive, the penalty gave them a 1st down at the Hobart 37 and ultimately burned the clock down to 2:11, backing up the Statesmen offense as the ball ended up at the Statesmen 5-yard line after the punt, effectively winning the game for Endicott.
The Ugly
Members of the Hobart DL have been flagged with numerous unsportsmanlike penalties, including late hits, tossing an opponent's helmet across the field, and refusing to shake hands after the last game which is hard to believe.
The Statesmen have been flagged 32 times for -314 yards (78.5 YPG) and have given the opposition 11 first downs because of it. Two different Hobart players were ejected in the first three games. I don't remember that ever happening since I started following the program back in 1992.
So Now What?
While I understand the frustration that comes with losing and struggling to win games, these behaviors have to stop. The Statesmen have seen an exodus of talent for a number of reasons ranging to transfers (e.g., Downey, Barfield, King, and Hill), guys just simply quitting the team (e.g., Wheeler and Conshafter) and multiple injuries to key players like former DE A.J. MacFarlane, SR OL Jack Koch, JR OL Elijah Weiss and others.
While there are a number of younger players stepping up, growing pains and all, the upperclassmen on the team need to do a better job leading this group. This includes executing plays, wrapping up on tackles and not getting flagged with avoidable penalties as we know they can based on prior seasons.
Going into Week 6, Hobart will face off against a red hot and unbeaten Union Dutchmen team that finally broke their seven-game losing streak to the Statesmen last season.
The Dutchmen have an experienced OL, a tough defense led by 1st team All-LL SR LB Jack Reilly , a QB with already 1k+ passing yards, and two rookie specialists in FY RB Ike Irabor and FY WR Andre Ross, Jr that have already combined for 13 TDs.
As challenging as the first four weeks have been, the reality is that this season only gets tougher from here. I'll have more on the match up against Union early next week.
It's 0-0 and one to go time for the Statesmen.
Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!
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