The Hobart College Statesmen dropped another strange and heartbreaking game at Ithaca today, 13-7. There were a mix of bad calls, breaks and just bad play on third down that ultimately sunk the Statesmen's (1-3, 0-1) chances at winning their first ever road game at Butterfield Stadium.
Hobart went 2-13 on third downs and was held to only 79 rushing yards in the loss. All three Hobart QBs played, but none of them were really able to rally the offense. SO QB Aidan Conrath getting the start was a surprise, and while he was in was very efficient, going 9-10 for 87 yards, but his injury from last week must have flared up because he gave way to SR QB Tru Styles. SO QB Jeremy Weiss threw the only Hobart TD of the game - a neat 12-yard sideline pass to SO WR Johnny Harding with 28 seconds before the end of the first half to tie the game at 7-7.
Ithaca (3-1, 1-0) would struggle to move the ball all day against an aggressive and stalwart Statesmen defense. SR OLB Mike McGhee was everywhere, tallying 15 tackles. The Bombers were held to 140 passing yards, well below their usual average. The Bombers opened the second half with a quick score but missed the extra point. They missed a FG in the game as well.
Unfortunately a few bad calls, especially the DPI flag that was picked up when Hobart was driving to potentially win the game, became part of another chapter in the long curse of Butterfield, where strange things happen to help Ithaca win.
The loss all but ends Hobart's NCAA playoff hopes, barring some kind of three or four car pile-up in the conference standings, which is theoretically possible with seven teams.
It doesn't get any easier with a resurgent RPI (3-1, 1-0) coming to the Boz for Homecoming on Saturday. The Engineers beat Brockport, 30-24 in overtime in Week 3 and demolished previously unbeaten Rochester (3-1, 0-1), 31-3 today.
Will have more on the RPI game early next week. This one hurt, but we have to move on.
Thanks for reading and go 'Bart.
No comments:
Post a Comment