Both the Engineers and Statesmen looked to keep their NCAA playoff hopes alive when they faced off Saturday at the East Campus Athletic Village Saturday in Troy, NY.
The visitors struck first as Hobart drove 60 yards and capped an eight play drive when junior quarterback Doug Vella scored on a 1 yard run with 8:45 to play in the first quarter. The Statesmen's momentum looked to continue into the second quarter when the Hobart defense blocked a 29 yard Peter Nilson field goal attempt. Hobart would fail to cash in on the opportunity, as Vella had a pass batted down by RPI defensive lineman Darryl Brown and intercepted by Mike Kukesh.
Sophomore quarterback Mike Hermann would get the Engineers on the board completing a one play, 42 yard TD from WR Ray Davis on the option pass on the ensuing possession.
After the Nilson point after was good, the score was knotted at 7-7 with 9:34 to play in the second quarter. The Engineers would hit pay dirt again when Bryan Carmody hauled in a 3 yard pass from Hermann capping a 13 play, 71 yards drive with 22 seconds to play in the half. Although Hobart's Steven Webb's kickoff return gave the Statesmen (who still had all three time outs) a shot to score, Brown sacked Vella on the ensuing play and the Statesmen elected to kneel on the ball to end the half with the Engineers ahead by a score of 14-7
In the second half RPI would cash in on another Hobart miscue, this time on a muffed punt with the Statesmen backed up to their end zone. Dustin Schuld pounced on the ball for the touchdown giving the hosts a 21-7 advantage with 12:33 to play in the third quarter.
To Hobart's credit, they came back, overcoming a Vella fumble thanks to the Statesmen defense and special teams units. After holding RPI on their ensuing possession, Hobart returned the Engineer's punt to the 50 yard line. The Statesmen would drive the short field on nine plays leading to Vella's second TD run.
With the extra point made by freshman Reyes Guevara, who was filling in for junior kicker Conor Callahan, Hobart cut the Engineer lead to 21-14 with 3:25 to play in the third.
The remainder of the third and much of the fourth quarter would remain a defensive battle. The Statesmen would take advantage of another short field and drove 51 yards in six plays capped by Webb's first touchdown on the day, his 11th rushing touchdown of the season.
The score would tie the game at 21 a piece with only 1:20 remaining in the game.
Although the Hobart defense had been stout all game, Hermann lead the Engineers down the field to set up another potential game winner for Nilson, who kicked a 37 yarder two weeks ago to knock off then #20 Alfred.
Nilson hit the 34 yarder as time expired in the game and on the Statesmen's NCAA hopes. Saint Lawrence had lost earlier in the day, but the loss effectively handed the Saints the title and Hobart with its second year in a row of losing two LL games.
RPI was lead on offense by Hermann who passed for 181 yards and one touchdown. Just like last week, senior wide out Pat McCarthy was Hermann's favorite target, collecting six catches for 77 yards.
The Engineer “black shirt” defense was lead by graduate student Colin King with 10 tackles, but Ray Pasco (8 tackles, including 3 sacks and an interception) and Darryl Brown (8 tackles, one for a loss) also came up big for RPI.
Hobart was lead by Webb who gained 83 yards and a touchdown. Although Vella threw for 238 yards and accounted for two of Hobart's rushing TDs, he also was responsible for three turnovers in the game.
The Statesmen's defense was once again lead by freshman safety Devin Worthington who tallied eight tackles, including 2.5 for a loss and 1.5 sacks.
With the win RPI improves to 5-3, 3-2 in the league and Hobart drops to the same record. Next week the Statesmen host Rochester in Geneva for the annual Centennial Cup game. RPI wraps up its regular season in Kings Point, Long Island vs. the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
We'll be recapping this game, among others, tomorrow night on In the HuddLLe (www.inthehuddlle.com).
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