Statesmen Sidestep Trap Game, Beat Morrisville, 38-24

The Hobart College Statemen will likely end up in the D3football.com Top 25 today (they didn’t and actually dropped, losing votes. More on that soon) after  managing to go 2-0 to open the season (and #19 RPI dropping a close 6-3 game to an improved WPI squad who is probably the favorite to win the NEWMAC now). The second win ended up being much harder to come by against SUNY-Morrisville (1-1) than it was last season, and even harder than it was last week against Brockport (1-1).

The game got off to an auspicious start as the underdog Mustangs easily drove 75 yards to score and take an early 7-0 lead. The defense looked shaky, but Hobart would respond, settling for a FG by JR PK Kyle Hackett which set the Statesmen record for most consecutive made with 20 straight. Unfortunately he would slip and miss on a later attempt so that 20 stands as the current record.

Hobart took it's first lead of the game when SR QB Ryan Hofmann found JR WR Mike Giacobbe from 28 yards out. Giacobbe made a spectacular one handed catch for the score and is becoming Hobart's most reliable receiver (which is saying a lot with the talent this unit has overall).

Morrisville would score on another 75-yard drive to take back the lead and Hobart once again responded. For the second week in a row, SR TE AJ Perlino hit pay-dirt on a short pass to push the Statesmen's advantage to 17-14. Unfortunately the next play saw Mustangs SO WR Toure Hall scorch the Statesmen's secondary on a go route where he simply blew everyone on the field away with his impressive speed.

Hobart trailed once again, this time by a score of 21-17, which would stand at the half.

Statesmen DL had a rough day against the Mustangs' 300+ lbs. OL, but ultimately won the day

I don't know what HC Kevin DeWall '00 and staff said to the team at halftime, but it worked. The Statesmen coaching staff made some solid adjustments, namely on defense which would hold the Mustangs offense to only 3 points the remainder of the day.

Perlino would score again on Hobart's opening possession to get the Statesmen the lead which they held for most of the third quarter. The Mustangs tied the game with 12:17, but then everything changed.

With the game still in doubt, Hobart's SO WR Shahkyle Matthews got the call and he responded running a 75-yard reverse to stun the Mustangs and put Hobart ahead, 31-24. It was an outstanding call at the perfect time by Coach DeWall and with a short field on the ensuing possession, FY RB Rayshawn Boswell put the game away with a 16 yard rushing TD.

Hobart was led on offense by Hofmann who went 11-23 for 140 yards and three passing TDs. Matthews' outstanding run aside, SR RB and Co-Captain Brian Haeffner paced the ground game with a gritty 16 rushes for 71 yard day.

Defensively the Statesmen were led by SR LB Josh Walker with 11 tackles in relief for injured FY LB CJ Calero. We hope CJ will be OK and also hope to learn of his status soon. JR OLB Emmett Forde continued his DPOY campaign with eight tackles, including three TFL and a sack. JR DE Zach Rudolph and SR OLB David McCarthy each added a sack to go with two and nine tackles, respectively.

The Statesmen will return home to take on Rowan University (0-2) next Saturday in the first of two match-ups against NJAC teams. I'll have more on that game later this week.

In the meantime, thanks for reading and go 'Bart!