The Hobart College Statesmen arguably capped the biggest win in school history by defeating sixth ranked Johns Hopkins University today in a back and forth game, 24-21.
The Statesmen (12-0) took a 10 point lead early on thanks to a FY PK Sean Kirshe 42 yard FG - a career beset. This scoring drive was set up after SO DB Todd Collier intercepted Blue Jays SR QB Braden Anderson on the Blue Jays (11-1) first offensive play from scrimmage.
SO RB Brad Burns capped a 10 play, 80 yard drive with a one yard TD run to push Hobart's advantage to 10-0 with 55 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Hopkins offense finally got on track thanks to a SO RB Stuart Walters five yard TD run with 10:23 to go in the second quarter.
JR RB Alex Furtado scored on a four yard run to push Hobart's lead to 16-7 with 2:31 remaining in the first half. The Statesmen special teams unit took a calculated risk in a short, high kickoff that JR WR Cooper Merrill initially recovered but subsequently fumbled and the ball was recovered by JHU.
The Blue Jays drove 11 plays in 2:27, scoring on a three yard SO WR Quinn Donaldson TD catch on the back line of the end zone. While the momentum was starting to sway to the Blue Jays, the Statesmen still held a 16-14 lead at the half.
The third quarter saw both defenses dig in and neither team scored during that period. Hopkins would take their first lead of the game when Donaldson hauled in a 28 yard TD pass from Anderson with 14:33 to go in the game. Given FY PK Jamie Sullivan's PAT was good, the Blue Jays had a 21-16 lead, meaning Hobart needed a TD to win the game.
After trading field position and a few close calls, the Statesmen's SR QB Patrick Conlan drove the team, into the wind and down the field 88 yards until SR WR John Fasano hauled in a HUGE 14 yard TD catch to regain the lead, 22-21 with only 1:26 remaining in the contest.
The two point play to SR WR Elvin Souffrant was good and Hobart led by a three point margin, 24-21. Although Hopkins would get to the Statesmen eight yard line with only a few seconds remaining, JR LB Jacob Stanley would intercept Anderson and Hobart would hang on to win, 24-21.
Conlan led Hobart with 237 passing yards and one TD. Fasano was his favorite target with six receptions for 79 yards and the game winning score. SR WR Troy Robinson played big as well, catching four passes for 68 yards. Hopkins was led by Anderson with 185 passing yards, two TDs but with two INTs.
Defensively JR LB Trayvon Toney led the Hobart defense with a game high 13 stops. SR DL Michael Rocca led JHU with 12 tackles including one TFL.
In a game of inches, it ended up being the Statesmen's +4 turnover margin (2 FRs - the second fumble coming on what could have been a decisive TD drive for Hopkins, but Hobart recovered at the 12 to start their own game winning drive - to go along with the INTs) that was the difference. Also, although the Hopkins DL/OL took control in the 2nd half, the Hobart OL managed to push through in the 4th quarter in good part thanks to a healthy 36:17 to 23:43 possession advantage.
The Statesmen will travel to Dover, DE to take on top seed Wesley College (11-1*) next Saturday in a rematch of 2011's NCAA 1st RD game that the Wolverines won, 35-28. *Wesley's lone loss this season is to UNC-Charlotte.
Hobart is pretty injury depleted and during today's game players such as SR DB Fajri Jackson and SR TE Mike Berkowitz (ankle) had to leave the field due to injury. SO FS Matt Cragg was also out with an injury as was starting SO RT Patrick O'Connell.
Hobart will have to dig deep in a match up against a FCS-quality Wesley program. More on that game later this week. Tune in to tomorrow's "In The HuddLLe" (www.inthehuddlle.com) at 7:30 PM to hear highlights and interviews from today's big win, plus a preview of the Elite 8 match-ups.
Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
NCAA RD 2 / JOHNS HOPKINS PLAYOFF GAME PREVIEW
The Hobart College Statesmen will host the Johns Hopkins University Blue Jays this Saturday at Boswell Field for a chance to advance into the Elite 8 of the 2014 D3FB Championships. The Centennial Conference (CC) Champion Hopkins (11-0) defeated NJAC Champion Rowan (7-4) last Saturday, overcoming some early offensive turnovers (sound familiar?) to win, 24-16. The Blue Jays and Statesmen (11-0) have a lot in common and the similarities of both programs’ recent runs of success is quite remarkable.
Consider this:
Both teams have also been criticized for their scheduling (or lack thereof) making this game a sort of “Rodney Dangerfield Bowl” as far as national perceptions and/or respect goes. Hopkins beat Randolph Macon (5-5) 42-3 in Week 1 before going into its nine game conference schedule. D3football.com insinuated both teams have “floated up” the rankings due to playing against weaker competition. The only like opponent the teams have had this season is Dickinson (3-7) which Hobart beat 33-21 in Week 1 and who the Blue Jays beat 42-7 in Week 7. I would not look to that game that much however given the final 14 points the Red Devils had against the Statesmen came with eight minutes remaining and with all the backups in the game. Hopkins defeated one of other playoff participant in Muhlenberg back in Wk 4, 42-26. The Mules (9-2) nearly upset MAC Champion Widener (11-0) until a last second 24 yard FG saved the Pride, 36-35.
From a historical perspective, Hobart and JHU haven’t played a football game against one another in nearly 50 years. The Statesmen went 2-0 against the Blue Jays, beating them 27-14 and 41-6, back in the 1965-66 seasons.
Scouting the Blue Jays:
#12 SR QB Braden Anderson – Anderson is the engine that drives the Blue Jays offense and is both a strong passer and mobile QB. He has thrown for 2,404 yards and 23 TDs with a very accurate 67.5% completion percentage (193 of 286). He has only been intercepted seven times in 11 games. On the ground Anderson leads Hopkins with nine rushing TDs and has carried 62 times for 405 yards (6.5 YPC average).
#88 SO WR Quinn Donaldson – Donaldson leads a corps of four WRs that spread the field on opposing defenses. He leads the team with eight receiving TDs and 749 receiving yards.
#1 SO WR Bradley Munday - The other top target for Anderson is Munday who leads the team with 74.1 receiving YPG and has a team high 56 receptions. His yardage totals are right behind Donaldson with 741 yards and six TDs.
#3 SO RB Stuart Walters & #20 JR RB Brandon Cherry – nearly identical number of carries for Walters (127 for 671 yards or 67.1 YPG and seven TDs) and Cherry (107 for 513 yards or 51.3 YPG and six TDs) means both are viable options in the run game, especially behind a big OL which includes #73 SR LT Kyle Flynn (6’ 3” 310), #57 JR LG Fernando Concepcion (5’11” 255), #71 SR C Martin Scheuring (6’2” 275), #64 JR RG Colin Egan (6’4” 300) and #75 RT Rowan Cade (6’9” 310).
#34 JR LB Keith Corliss – leads JHU with 76 total tackles.
#18 JR DB/SS Jack Toner – second on the team with 59 tackles and leads the Blue Jays defense with three interceptions and eight pass break ups. Probably plays like an OLB position similar to Hobart’s JR OLB Marcus Jemison.
#56 SR DL Michael Rocca – tall and athletic, Rocca is tough to move off the line of scrimmage. He has 42 tackles, including seven TFL and five sacks. His height (6’6”) has enabled Rocca to block four passes and one kick on the season.
#16 SR DL Michael Longo – leads the Blue Jays with 10 sacks and 13.5 TFL to go with 49 total tackles, third best on the team.
#85 FY PK Jamie Sullivan – attended Los Angeles prep powerhouse Oaks Christian (which was across the freeway from my old office) and has hit six of seven FGs, including two vs. Rowan last Saturday. His long is 39 yards, which also occurred in the first round playoff game. Sullivan also handles kickoffs and has averaged 55.9 per KO.
Keys to the Game:
1. Protect the Football – four turnovers plagued the Statesmen again digging them into a 12-0 halftime deficit, which could have been worse if the defense wasn’t so effective in forcing Ithaca (7-4) to settle for FGs instead of TDs in the red zone. The Statesmen have turned over the ball an incredible 13 times in the last 10 quarters of play. While they’ve made amends for these mistakes with timely plays and gritty comebacks, that only goes so far against Top 10 caliber competition like JHU. Hobart will need to piece together a full 60 minutes to beat a Blue Jays team that is in many ways a mirror image of Hobart both in statistics and overall talent.
2. Keep It Close (Early) and Get Points When You Can – JHU has outscored opponents 164-27 in the first quarter this season. Those big leads ballooned into Hopkins 38.7 PPG and has been protected by a stingy defense that has allowed only 14.5 PPG. Unlike the Statesmen, Hopkins really hasn’t played in a close game since Wk 2 vs. Susquehanna (2-8). Although it was 14-10 against Rowan at the half in Rd 1, JHU scored 10 points in the third quarter to take a 24-10 lead. Rowan’s final score came with under a minute to play, so the game wasn’t really as competitive as it may have appeared. The Blue Jays haven’t allowed more than 17 points in nine of their 11 games, so scoring for Hobart will be at a premium.
3. Pressure Anderson / Protect Conlan – Anderson has only been sacked seven times this season while JHU’s defense has racked up 31 sacks on opposing QBs. Keeping Conlan upright will mean the difference in his being able to make his reads, not telegraph and/or force the ball which is what got the Statesmen in hot water in the first half against Ithaca. Although I’d like to see more running plays (and it merits noting the Rowan's RB had 136 yards rushing against JHU), successfully moving the ball through the air will be important for Hobart. In Hopkins’ last two playoff losses, JHU gave up more passing yards than they completed. In similar fashion, both of Hobart’s two playoff losses since 2012 saw them complete 50% or lower and throw for under 154 yards in those games.
4. Bend Don’t Break – Both teams play similar defensive schemes but I’d give Hobart a slight edge on the DL / LB positions in both closing speed and athleticism. While our secondary is inexperienced and smaller in size, JHU’s WRs are not veterans nor very big / tall either. These WRs can get behind the defense if coverage is soft however (which we saw a few times last Saturday). Both Munday and Donaldson have had 60+ yard receptions and they average 13.2 and 16.6 YPC when open. The Statesmen will need a big play or two on defense or special teams to turn the tide in their favor, especially since the officiating at home doesn’t seem to help them at all. Also either Blue Jay OL/OTs Coleman lines up against will be taller and 50-60 lbs heavier, so blitzing and interior DL play will be crucial. The forecast for this weekend doesn’t look too bad actually (high of 40 and partly cloudy), and it is a good haul for Hopkins to get to Geneva from Baltimore.
Prediction:
I think a close game is in store with Hobart hanging on (or coming back yet again) to win it 21-17. I initially predicted 27-24 on ITH last Sunday but given both teams are so strong defensively I am backing down a bit, points scored-wise, so to speak.
Ultimately, I think it’ll come down to who controls the line of scrimmage and can take advantage of match ups in the passing game if/when the pass rush doesn’t force Conlan or Anderson into trouble.
While I expect Hobart to be viewed as the underdog, even as the higher seed and host, I’m hopeful they’ll make enough plays to beat the Blue Jays and earn an Elite 8 game with (most likely) top-seed Wesley College (11-0).
Thanks for reading and go ‘Bart!
Consider this:
- Both teams are closely grouped together in both national polls
- Hobart is ranked 7th and 9th in the AFCA and D3football.com polls
- Hopkins is rated 6th and 7th, respectively
- Both SR classes have nearly identical (40-4 & 41-4) career records
- Both teams have won their respective conference titles the last four seasons
- Both teams are making their fourth consecutive trip to the playoffs
- The Blue Jays had a close game with Wesley in the first round of the playoffs last season, just like Hobart did back in 2011
- Both teams have been to quarterfinals once before, Hopkins in 2009 and Hobart in 2012
- Both programs have been on the losing side of games to Saint John Fisher in the playoffs also
- Both Head Coaches Mike Cragg and Jim Margraff have led their teams for over 20 seasons
- Both offenses average over 30 PPG
- Both defenses allow only about 14 PPG
- The JHU OL has only allowed seven QB sacks in 11 games, Hobart has allowed eight
- The JHU D has sacked opposing QBs 31 times, Hobart has 36 sacks on the season
Both teams have also been criticized for their scheduling (or lack thereof) making this game a sort of “Rodney Dangerfield Bowl” as far as national perceptions and/or respect goes. Hopkins beat Randolph Macon (5-5) 42-3 in Week 1 before going into its nine game conference schedule. D3football.com insinuated both teams have “floated up” the rankings due to playing against weaker competition. The only like opponent the teams have had this season is Dickinson (3-7) which Hobart beat 33-21 in Week 1 and who the Blue Jays beat 42-7 in Week 7. I would not look to that game that much however given the final 14 points the Red Devils had against the Statesmen came with eight minutes remaining and with all the backups in the game. Hopkins defeated one of other playoff participant in Muhlenberg back in Wk 4, 42-26. The Mules (9-2) nearly upset MAC Champion Widener (11-0) until a last second 24 yard FG saved the Pride, 36-35.
From a historical perspective, Hobart and JHU haven’t played a football game against one another in nearly 50 years. The Statesmen went 2-0 against the Blue Jays, beating them 27-14 and 41-6, back in the 1965-66 seasons.
Scouting the Blue Jays:
#12 SR QB Braden Anderson – Anderson is the engine that drives the Blue Jays offense and is both a strong passer and mobile QB. He has thrown for 2,404 yards and 23 TDs with a very accurate 67.5% completion percentage (193 of 286). He has only been intercepted seven times in 11 games. On the ground Anderson leads Hopkins with nine rushing TDs and has carried 62 times for 405 yards (6.5 YPC average).
#88 SO WR Quinn Donaldson – Donaldson leads a corps of four WRs that spread the field on opposing defenses. He leads the team with eight receiving TDs and 749 receiving yards.
#1 SO WR Bradley Munday - The other top target for Anderson is Munday who leads the team with 74.1 receiving YPG and has a team high 56 receptions. His yardage totals are right behind Donaldson with 741 yards and six TDs.
#3 SO RB Stuart Walters & #20 JR RB Brandon Cherry – nearly identical number of carries for Walters (127 for 671 yards or 67.1 YPG and seven TDs) and Cherry (107 for 513 yards or 51.3 YPG and six TDs) means both are viable options in the run game, especially behind a big OL which includes #73 SR LT Kyle Flynn (6’ 3” 310), #57 JR LG Fernando Concepcion (5’11” 255), #71 SR C Martin Scheuring (6’2” 275), #64 JR RG Colin Egan (6’4” 300) and #75 RT Rowan Cade (6’9” 310).
#34 JR LB Keith Corliss – leads JHU with 76 total tackles.
#18 JR DB/SS Jack Toner – second on the team with 59 tackles and leads the Blue Jays defense with three interceptions and eight pass break ups. Probably plays like an OLB position similar to Hobart’s JR OLB Marcus Jemison.
#56 SR DL Michael Rocca – tall and athletic, Rocca is tough to move off the line of scrimmage. He has 42 tackles, including seven TFL and five sacks. His height (6’6”) has enabled Rocca to block four passes and one kick on the season.
#16 SR DL Michael Longo – leads the Blue Jays with 10 sacks and 13.5 TFL to go with 49 total tackles, third best on the team.
#85 FY PK Jamie Sullivan – attended Los Angeles prep powerhouse Oaks Christian (which was across the freeway from my old office) and has hit six of seven FGs, including two vs. Rowan last Saturday. His long is 39 yards, which also occurred in the first round playoff game. Sullivan also handles kickoffs and has averaged 55.9 per KO.
Keys to the Game:
1. Protect the Football – four turnovers plagued the Statesmen again digging them into a 12-0 halftime deficit, which could have been worse if the defense wasn’t so effective in forcing Ithaca (7-4) to settle for FGs instead of TDs in the red zone. The Statesmen have turned over the ball an incredible 13 times in the last 10 quarters of play. While they’ve made amends for these mistakes with timely plays and gritty comebacks, that only goes so far against Top 10 caliber competition like JHU. Hobart will need to piece together a full 60 minutes to beat a Blue Jays team that is in many ways a mirror image of Hobart both in statistics and overall talent.
2. Keep It Close (Early) and Get Points When You Can – JHU has outscored opponents 164-27 in the first quarter this season. Those big leads ballooned into Hopkins 38.7 PPG and has been protected by a stingy defense that has allowed only 14.5 PPG. Unlike the Statesmen, Hopkins really hasn’t played in a close game since Wk 2 vs. Susquehanna (2-8). Although it was 14-10 against Rowan at the half in Rd 1, JHU scored 10 points in the third quarter to take a 24-10 lead. Rowan’s final score came with under a minute to play, so the game wasn’t really as competitive as it may have appeared. The Blue Jays haven’t allowed more than 17 points in nine of their 11 games, so scoring for Hobart will be at a premium.
3. Pressure Anderson / Protect Conlan – Anderson has only been sacked seven times this season while JHU’s defense has racked up 31 sacks on opposing QBs. Keeping Conlan upright will mean the difference in his being able to make his reads, not telegraph and/or force the ball which is what got the Statesmen in hot water in the first half against Ithaca. Although I’d like to see more running plays (and it merits noting the Rowan's RB had 136 yards rushing against JHU), successfully moving the ball through the air will be important for Hobart. In Hopkins’ last two playoff losses, JHU gave up more passing yards than they completed. In similar fashion, both of Hobart’s two playoff losses since 2012 saw them complete 50% or lower and throw for under 154 yards in those games.
4. Bend Don’t Break – Both teams play similar defensive schemes but I’d give Hobart a slight edge on the DL / LB positions in both closing speed and athleticism. While our secondary is inexperienced and smaller in size, JHU’s WRs are not veterans nor very big / tall either. These WRs can get behind the defense if coverage is soft however (which we saw a few times last Saturday). Both Munday and Donaldson have had 60+ yard receptions and they average 13.2 and 16.6 YPC when open. The Statesmen will need a big play or two on defense or special teams to turn the tide in their favor, especially since the officiating at home doesn’t seem to help them at all. Also either Blue Jay OL/OTs Coleman lines up against will be taller and 50-60 lbs heavier, so blitzing and interior DL play will be crucial. The forecast for this weekend doesn’t look too bad actually (high of 40 and partly cloudy), and it is a good haul for Hopkins to get to Geneva from Baltimore.
Prediction:
I think a close game is in store with Hobart hanging on (or coming back yet again) to win it 21-17. I initially predicted 27-24 on ITH last Sunday but given both teams are so strong defensively I am backing down a bit, points scored-wise, so to speak.
Ultimately, I think it’ll come down to who controls the line of scrimmage and can take advantage of match ups in the passing game if/when the pass rush doesn’t force Conlan or Anderson into trouble.
While I expect Hobart to be viewed as the underdog, even as the higher seed and host, I’m hopeful they’ll make enough plays to beat the Blue Jays and earn an Elite 8 game with (most likely) top-seed Wesley College (11-0).
Thanks for reading and go ‘Bart!
Monday, November 24, 2014
Statesmen Rack Up LL Awards, Coleman DPOTY, Marpet Co-OPOTY
The Hobart Statesmen earned 20+ All-Conference awards including SR DE Tyre Coleman getting his third straight Defensive Player of the Year recognition from the LL Coaches. In a rare but deserving nod, SR OL Ali Marpet was named Co-Offensive Player of the Year. He will probably the only OL named as a POTY award winner by any conference in D3 (which is a shame because OL deserve these as much as any QB or RB). Marpet shared the POTY award with SR QB Mike Lefflbine of Saint Lawrence (8-2).
Head Coach Mike Cragg and his staff won the Coaching award for their third consecutive undefeated regular season and fourth straight conference title. A link to the All-LL teams can be found here.
Speaking of Marpet, it was announced he accepted an invitation to the East-West Shrine All Star Game on twitter today. St Pete isn't far from me so I am going to have to make some plans to drive down I-4 to see Ali in action. The game is scheduled for Jan. 17, 2015.
In the meantime, Hobart's focus remains on #6/7 Johns Hopkins (11-0). I'll post my NCAA Rd 2 Game Preview tomorrow.
Congratulations to these great Statesmen and go 'Bart!
Head Coach Mike Cragg and his staff won the Coaching award for their third consecutive undefeated regular season and fourth straight conference title. A link to the All-LL teams can be found here.
Speaking of Marpet, it was announced he accepted an invitation to the East-West Shrine All Star Game on twitter today. St Pete isn't far from me so I am going to have to make some plans to drive down I-4 to see Ali in action. The game is scheduled for Jan. 17, 2015.
In the meantime, Hobart's focus remains on #6/7 Johns Hopkins (11-0). I'll post my NCAA Rd 2 Game Preview tomorrow.
Congratulations to these great Statesmen and go 'Bart!
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Hobart Confirmed As Host vs. Hopkins, Conlan on ITH
The NCAA released the host sites for the second round of the D3FB playoffs and to nobody's surprise, the Hobart College Statesmen (11-0) will host Johns Hopkins University (11-0) this Saturday at Boswell Field. Kickoff is at noon and per NCAA guidelines videowill be free and live stats provided by the NCAA.
Tune in tonight at 7:30 pm for our interview with SR QB Patrick Conlan. Also joining us is Hobart '94 and MIT HC Chad Martinovich. Coach Chad has led his squad to a 10-0 mark and its first postseason victory in school history, a 27-20 OT thriller vs. Husson (8-2).
A link to the podcast can be found here.
Thanks for reading and a JHU game preview is coming up soon!
Tune in tonight at 7:30 pm for our interview with SR QB Patrick Conlan. Also joining us is Hobart '94 and MIT HC Chad Martinovich. Coach Chad has led his squad to a 10-0 mark and its first postseason victory in school history, a 27-20 OT thriller vs. Husson (8-2).
A link to the podcast can be found here.
Thanks for reading and a JHU game preview is coming up soon!
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Hobart Comes Back to Win NCAA 1st RD Game, 22-15
It was the worst of times and the best of times.
The Hobart College Statesmen dug themselves into a 12-0 halftime deficit after giving up four turnovers to Empire 8 Champion Ithaca College. The Bombers (7-4) had to settle for FGs vs. TDs however thanks to an excellent game by the Statesmen (11-0) defense.
In spite of what was an otherwise awful first half, Hobart recovered and held Ithaca to 59 yards and three points in the second half as the offense slowly came back to life. Leading the resurrection was SR QB Patrick Conlan who overcame a bad start in throwing three interceptions (two of which were deflections / dropped passes) to finish with 201 passing yards and 62 rushing yards and two rush TDs, including the game winner. Hobart's other rushing TD was scored by JR RB Alex Furtado.
The Statesmen defense held the Bombers SR QB Tom Dempsey to 178 passing yards and one TD. Ithaca only rushed for 34 yards on 26 carries. Overall Hobart out gained Ithaca 355 to 212 yards.
Although it took a while for the OL to get going, Hobart used a key fourth quarter surge to put the Bombers away. The Statesmen rushed for 148 yards on 47 carries, most of which came in the second half as Asst Coach and OC Kevin DeWall '00 seemed determined to try and pass on the Ithaca 3x4 defense.
FY TE Chris Cyr, who led all Hobart receivers with 65 yards, made the catch of the season hauling in a 33 yard Conlan pass to give Hobart the chance to win the game in the final minute. Conlan ran it in on 3rd down for a TD and the FY PK Will McCool PAT gave the Statesmen their first and only lead of the game, 22-15, with 12.4 seconds remaining.
Defensively JR OLB Marcus Jemison returned after missing last week due to a concussion and made a huge impact, tallying eight tackles and 2.5 sacks, including a sack of Dempsey on the final play of the game. SR DE Tyre Coleman tied for 2nd all time on the D3FB career sack list with his 49th.
While this game probably won't go down as one of Hobart's finest, it's a rare win in an otherwise lopsided series vs. Ithaca, and it likely ensures the Statesmen will host Johns Hopkins (11-0) in Rd 2 next Saturday. The Blue Jays, Champions of the Centennial Conference, defeated Rowan (7-4) the New Jersey Athletic Conference Champions, by a score of 24-16.
Kickoff will once again be at noon. The official host locations are announced by the NCAA tomorrow.
More analysis on this tomorrow night at 7:30 pm at www.inthehuddlle.com. Tune in and go 'Bart!
The Hobart College Statesmen dug themselves into a 12-0 halftime deficit after giving up four turnovers to Empire 8 Champion Ithaca College. The Bombers (7-4) had to settle for FGs vs. TDs however thanks to an excellent game by the Statesmen (11-0) defense.
In spite of what was an otherwise awful first half, Hobart recovered and held Ithaca to 59 yards and three points in the second half as the offense slowly came back to life. Leading the resurrection was SR QB Patrick Conlan who overcame a bad start in throwing three interceptions (two of which were deflections / dropped passes) to finish with 201 passing yards and 62 rushing yards and two rush TDs, including the game winner. Hobart's other rushing TD was scored by JR RB Alex Furtado.
The Statesmen defense held the Bombers SR QB Tom Dempsey to 178 passing yards and one TD. Ithaca only rushed for 34 yards on 26 carries. Overall Hobart out gained Ithaca 355 to 212 yards.
Although it took a while for the OL to get going, Hobart used a key fourth quarter surge to put the Bombers away. The Statesmen rushed for 148 yards on 47 carries, most of which came in the second half as Asst Coach and OC Kevin DeWall '00 seemed determined to try and pass on the Ithaca 3x4 defense.
FY TE Chris Cyr, who led all Hobart receivers with 65 yards, made the catch of the season hauling in a 33 yard Conlan pass to give Hobart the chance to win the game in the final minute. Conlan ran it in on 3rd down for a TD and the FY PK Will McCool PAT gave the Statesmen their first and only lead of the game, 22-15, with 12.4 seconds remaining.
Defensively JR OLB Marcus Jemison returned after missing last week due to a concussion and made a huge impact, tallying eight tackles and 2.5 sacks, including a sack of Dempsey on the final play of the game. SR DE Tyre Coleman tied for 2nd all time on the D3FB career sack list with his 49th.
While this game probably won't go down as one of Hobart's finest, it's a rare win in an otherwise lopsided series vs. Ithaca, and it likely ensures the Statesmen will host Johns Hopkins (11-0) in Rd 2 next Saturday. The Blue Jays, Champions of the Centennial Conference, defeated Rowan (7-4) the New Jersey Athletic Conference Champions, by a score of 24-16.
Kickoff will once again be at noon. The official host locations are announced by the NCAA tomorrow.
More analysis on this tomorrow night at 7:30 pm at www.inthehuddlle.com. Tune in and go 'Bart!
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
NCAA RD 1 / ITHACA GAME PREVIEW
The seventh / ninth ranked (more on this can be found here) and Liberty League Champion Hobart College will host Empire 8 Champion Ithaca College Saturday in the first round of the NCAA D3FB Championship playoffs at Boswell Field.
The Statesmen (10-0) haven’t played the Bombers (7-3) since the 2003 season, a 14-7 loss. Prior to that game, Hobart went 2-1 against Ithaca, winning 19-0 and 17-6 in 2000 and 2002, respectively (hopefully the fact it’s 2014, an “even year”, is a good omen). The 2000 win was a major turning point for the Statesmen program as Hobart had not beaten the Bombers since 1983 and were 1-22 against their Cayuga Lake neighbors until that game. That 2000 team would be Hobart’s first ever NCAA playoffs qualifier and wrapped up that season 9-2 overall, which tied the Statesmen’s highest win total in program history (set back in 1896) at the time. In spite of their proximity, this weekend’s match up will be the first time the two programs have squared off in the NCAA playoffs.
Ithaca is nursing their pride a bit after a failed FG attempt turned into a game winning TD in their season finale vs. arch rival SUNY Cortland (5-5). The play was picked up by ESPN and the Bombers’ loss was replayed to a national audience which probably didn’t help. Ithaca is a good, but tough, draw for the Statesmen in that they bring some interesting matchup challenges to the “Boz.”
Scouting the Bombers:
#7 SR QB Tom Dempsey – with a strong arm and smarts to boot, Dempsey is easily the best QB the Hobart defense will have faced all season. He’s passed for 2212 yards, going 205-303 (67.65%) with 21 TDs compared to eight interceptions (146.57 pass efficiency rating). The SR QB runs the spread very well and has multiple receivers who are all strong players.
#4 SR WR Vito Boffoli – leads Ithaca with 533 receiving yards and has scored five TDs. Boffoli had 100+ yard receiving games against Alfred and Buff State, but is primary a possession receiver. His longest catch on the season was for 37 yards in the Buff State game.
#40 SR FB Ben Cary – A stocky (6’ 225 lbs) blocking back, Cary is actually more of a receiving than rushing threat. He’s carried the ball only five times for 22 yards with a TD. By contrast he leads Ithaca with eight receiving TDs and has caught 43 passes for 370 yards. It’ll be important for whichever Hobart LB draws Cary in coverage keeps him in check.
#2 WR/RB Josh Oliver – a small (5’5” 160 lbs) but tough player, Oliver was a HS teammate of Hobart’s SR DE Tyre Coleman. Initially a receiver (12 receptions for 101 yards), Oliver has converted to RB after #33 FR RB Tristan Brown went down with an injury in the game vs. Salisbury. Brown is back, but he only carried four times for 12 yards against Cortland. Since he took over for Brown, Oliver has carried the ball 76 times for 299 yards (3.93 YPC), scoring two rushing TDs in Ithaca’s last three games. Oliver also primarily handles both kickoff and punt return duties for IC. He’s averaged 10.5 YPR on punts and 23.4 YPR on kickoffs, so look for the angle kick by SO PK Sean Kirshe to keep the ball away from Oliver.
#47 SR LB Marc Recio – similar to Oliver what Recio lacks in size (5’7” 195lbs) he makes up in gritty play. Recio leads the Bombers defense with 71 tackles, including 5.5 TFL.
#92 JR DL Schnayder Termidor – Ithaca’s best pass rusher, Termidor leads the Bombers with six sacks and 7.5 TFL. He’s forced two fumbles too, which Hobart will need to avoid given their recent turnover struggles.
#34 JR PK Max Rottenecker – handles kickoffs for the Bombers and averages 59.6 YPKO. He has gone five of seven on FGs with a long of 50.
#24 SR PK Garrett Nicholson – has gone seven of nine on FGs with a long of 33. Nicholson has kicked 28 PATs on 32 (87.5%) attempts.
Keys to the Game:
1. Protect the Football – The Statesmen have been their own worst enemy of late, turning over the ball nine times in their last two games. Ithaca is too good of a team to provide short fields and/or points too given the strength of their defense which allows 16.7 PPG and only 293 YPG.
2. Dump Dempsey – Hobart’s pass rush and its success in breaking up the spread will be critical. If Dempsey has time in the pocket he will pick apart Hobart’s pass defense which is not the Statesmen’s strong suit. The Bombers OL is very experienced with four SR and one JR starters, but they have allowed 21 sacks for -154 yards this season.
3. Home Sweet Home – The Statesmen are 7-1 in NCAA first round playoff games played at the “Boz” (8-1 if you count the 2003 ECAC bowl game where Hobart beat Norwich 34-18). The last time Hobart lost in the first round at home was back in 2002 against John Carroll. Hopefully the Statesmen have a bit of a chip on their shoulder given last year’s 27-6 loss to Saint John Fisher (also of the E8). An added bonus would be the possibility of hosting the winner of the Johns Hopkins (10-0) and Rowan (7-3) game if they can get by the Bombers. While the second round hosts won't be announced officially until Sunday, the bracket placement of Hobart points to them being the 2 seed, which would host.
Prediction:
Saturday will be a tough, physical game that will be won or lost in the trenches. Ithaca’s OL is seasoned but their drop back style of offense plays to Hobart’s defensive strengths of sacking the QB and hitting runners behind the line of scrimmage. On Sunday’s ITH I predicted the Statesmen would win the game 25-17, unless Ithaca is able to capitalize on the turnover issues that have plagued Hobart in recent weeks. My co-host Frank Rossi was more optimistic, picking the Statesmen to win 34-20.
I suspect we’ll see a good dose of running plays by Hobart who averages 224.6 YPG against a Bomber defense that allows 111.1 YPG. Something will give here and I’m hoping it’ll be the Statesmen controlling the clock and slowly grinding down Ithaca. Either way it should be a great game by two storied NYS programs lead by excellent coaching staffs. This is what the playoffs are all about.
Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!
The Statesmen (10-0) haven’t played the Bombers (7-3) since the 2003 season, a 14-7 loss. Prior to that game, Hobart went 2-1 against Ithaca, winning 19-0 and 17-6 in 2000 and 2002, respectively (hopefully the fact it’s 2014, an “even year”, is a good omen). The 2000 win was a major turning point for the Statesmen program as Hobart had not beaten the Bombers since 1983 and were 1-22 against their Cayuga Lake neighbors until that game. That 2000 team would be Hobart’s first ever NCAA playoffs qualifier and wrapped up that season 9-2 overall, which tied the Statesmen’s highest win total in program history (set back in 1896) at the time. In spite of their proximity, this weekend’s match up will be the first time the two programs have squared off in the NCAA playoffs.
Ithaca is nursing their pride a bit after a failed FG attempt turned into a game winning TD in their season finale vs. arch rival SUNY Cortland (5-5). The play was picked up by ESPN and the Bombers’ loss was replayed to a national audience which probably didn’t help. Ithaca is a good, but tough, draw for the Statesmen in that they bring some interesting matchup challenges to the “Boz.”
Scouting the Bombers:
#7 SR QB Tom Dempsey – with a strong arm and smarts to boot, Dempsey is easily the best QB the Hobart defense will have faced all season. He’s passed for 2212 yards, going 205-303 (67.65%) with 21 TDs compared to eight interceptions (146.57 pass efficiency rating). The SR QB runs the spread very well and has multiple receivers who are all strong players.
#4 SR WR Vito Boffoli – leads Ithaca with 533 receiving yards and has scored five TDs. Boffoli had 100+ yard receiving games against Alfred and Buff State, but is primary a possession receiver. His longest catch on the season was for 37 yards in the Buff State game.
#40 SR FB Ben Cary – A stocky (6’ 225 lbs) blocking back, Cary is actually more of a receiving than rushing threat. He’s carried the ball only five times for 22 yards with a TD. By contrast he leads Ithaca with eight receiving TDs and has caught 43 passes for 370 yards. It’ll be important for whichever Hobart LB draws Cary in coverage keeps him in check.
#2 WR/RB Josh Oliver – a small (5’5” 160 lbs) but tough player, Oliver was a HS teammate of Hobart’s SR DE Tyre Coleman. Initially a receiver (12 receptions for 101 yards), Oliver has converted to RB after #33 FR RB Tristan Brown went down with an injury in the game vs. Salisbury. Brown is back, but he only carried four times for 12 yards against Cortland. Since he took over for Brown, Oliver has carried the ball 76 times for 299 yards (3.93 YPC), scoring two rushing TDs in Ithaca’s last three games. Oliver also primarily handles both kickoff and punt return duties for IC. He’s averaged 10.5 YPR on punts and 23.4 YPR on kickoffs, so look for the angle kick by SO PK Sean Kirshe to keep the ball away from Oliver.
#47 SR LB Marc Recio – similar to Oliver what Recio lacks in size (5’7” 195lbs) he makes up in gritty play. Recio leads the Bombers defense with 71 tackles, including 5.5 TFL.
#92 JR DL Schnayder Termidor – Ithaca’s best pass rusher, Termidor leads the Bombers with six sacks and 7.5 TFL. He’s forced two fumbles too, which Hobart will need to avoid given their recent turnover struggles.
#34 JR PK Max Rottenecker – handles kickoffs for the Bombers and averages 59.6 YPKO. He has gone five of seven on FGs with a long of 50.
#24 SR PK Garrett Nicholson – has gone seven of nine on FGs with a long of 33. Nicholson has kicked 28 PATs on 32 (87.5%) attempts.
Keys to the Game:
1. Protect the Football – The Statesmen have been their own worst enemy of late, turning over the ball nine times in their last two games. Ithaca is too good of a team to provide short fields and/or points too given the strength of their defense which allows 16.7 PPG and only 293 YPG.
2. Dump Dempsey – Hobart’s pass rush and its success in breaking up the spread will be critical. If Dempsey has time in the pocket he will pick apart Hobart’s pass defense which is not the Statesmen’s strong suit. The Bombers OL is very experienced with four SR and one JR starters, but they have allowed 21 sacks for -154 yards this season.
3. Home Sweet Home – The Statesmen are 7-1 in NCAA first round playoff games played at the “Boz” (8-1 if you count the 2003 ECAC bowl game where Hobart beat Norwich 34-18). The last time Hobart lost in the first round at home was back in 2002 against John Carroll. Hopefully the Statesmen have a bit of a chip on their shoulder given last year’s 27-6 loss to Saint John Fisher (also of the E8). An added bonus would be the possibility of hosting the winner of the Johns Hopkins (10-0) and Rowan (7-3) game if they can get by the Bombers. While the second round hosts won't be announced officially until Sunday, the bracket placement of Hobart points to them being the 2 seed, which would host.
Prediction:
Saturday will be a tough, physical game that will be won or lost in the trenches. Ithaca’s OL is seasoned but their drop back style of offense plays to Hobart’s defensive strengths of sacking the QB and hitting runners behind the line of scrimmage. On Sunday’s ITH I predicted the Statesmen would win the game 25-17, unless Ithaca is able to capitalize on the turnover issues that have plagued Hobart in recent weeks. My co-host Frank Rossi was more optimistic, picking the Statesmen to win 34-20.
I suspect we’ll see a good dose of running plays by Hobart who averages 224.6 YPG against a Bomber defense that allows 111.1 YPG. Something will give here and I’m hoping it’ll be the Statesmen controlling the clock and slowly grinding down Ithaca. Either way it should be a great game by two storied NYS programs lead by excellent coaching staffs. This is what the playoffs are all about.
Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!
Monday, November 17, 2014
Hobart Draws Ithaca, Cragg on ITH
The Hobart College Statesmen (10-0) got a nice draw (a likely two seed) in the Wesley bracket of the D3FB NCAA Championships and will face off against Empire 8 Champion Ithaca College in Round 1. Kickoff is scheduled for noon on Saturday, November 22 at Boswell Field.
Ithaca (7-3) is hurting after losing their annual rivalry game 23-20 on a last second broken play / failed FG attempt that turned into the winning TD for Cortland State (5-5).
We spoke to Coach Cragg last night on In The HuddLLe. His interview starts at the 63 minute mark and the link to the podcast can be found here.
I'll have more on the Ithaca matchup later this week. Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!
Ithaca (7-3) is hurting after losing their annual rivalry game 23-20 on a last second broken play / failed FG attempt that turned into the winning TD for Cortland State (5-5).
We spoke to Coach Cragg last night on In The HuddLLe. His interview starts at the 63 minute mark and the link to the podcast can be found here.
I'll have more on the Ithaca matchup later this week. Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Hobart Hangs On to Centennial Cup to Go 10-0, Awaits NCAA Fate
The eighth ranked Hobart College Statesmen (10-0, 7-0) capped their third straight undefeated regular season in a sloppy but otherwise hard fought win over their oldest rival, the University of Rochester Yellow Jackets (5-4, 3-4) yesterday on Senior Day at Boswell Field.
Hobart's fumbling issues continued, as four were either caused or were unforced with two being recovered by Rochester in the game, one for a safety early in the third quarter. The safety play sparked the Yellow Jackets, who were down 21-0 at the half, to a 16 point run that wasn't answered by the Statesmen until JR RB Conner Hartigan went 55 yards for a TD with 12:39 to go in the game.
Although Rochester made it a one score game with 1:30 remaining, the onside kick was recovered by SR WR Troy Robinson and Hobart took to the victory formation for a 28-23 win. SR QB Patrick Conlan led the Statesmen with 157 passing yards and one TD pass (to SR WR Elvin Souffrant). Hartigan led all rushers with a game high 114 yards and two scores. Hartigan has rushed for 239 yards on 27 carries the last two weeks, scoring in big spots for Hobart in both the SLU and UofR games. Needless to say I'd be interested in seeing him with a ~20 carry game come the playoffs.
On defense SO OLB Michael Harper made his first career start in relief of JR OLB Marcus Jemison (who I hope was out for precautionary measures if he is in fact nursing an injury). Harper was outstanding and tallied 11 tackles and 2.5 TFL for the Statesmen "D". SR DE Tyre Coleman added two more sacks and TFL to his already impressive resume. He now stands 3rd all time in sacks and needs one more TFL for fifth all time in that category.
In spite of a few issues in the second half, the Statesmen will find out tonight at 6PM what bracket they will land in the NCAA playoffs. D3football.com's Pat Coleman joined my ITH co-host Frank Rossi last night to go through a mock selection process. Check www.inthehuddlle.com for the recording of that show and D3football.com for their mock brackets (they put Hobart in the Mount Union bracket, hosting Delaware Valley in Round 1). My guess is the Statesmen draw NEFC Champion MIT (9-0) coached by former Hobart QB Chad Martinovich '94.
Tune into NCAA.com for tonight's selection show and In The HuddLLe starting at 7:15 PM. Frank and I will discuss the playoff brackets, interview Duey Naatz, the D3FB Selection Committee Chairman around 7:45 PM, then Coach Cragg after 8 PM tonight on www.inthehuddlle.com.
Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!
Hobart's fumbling issues continued, as four were either caused or were unforced with two being recovered by Rochester in the game, one for a safety early in the third quarter. The safety play sparked the Yellow Jackets, who were down 21-0 at the half, to a 16 point run that wasn't answered by the Statesmen until JR RB Conner Hartigan went 55 yards for a TD with 12:39 to go in the game.
Although Rochester made it a one score game with 1:30 remaining, the onside kick was recovered by SR WR Troy Robinson and Hobart took to the victory formation for a 28-23 win. SR QB Patrick Conlan led the Statesmen with 157 passing yards and one TD pass (to SR WR Elvin Souffrant). Hartigan led all rushers with a game high 114 yards and two scores. Hartigan has rushed for 239 yards on 27 carries the last two weeks, scoring in big spots for Hobart in both the SLU and UofR games. Needless to say I'd be interested in seeing him with a ~20 carry game come the playoffs.
On defense SO OLB Michael Harper made his first career start in relief of JR OLB Marcus Jemison (who I hope was out for precautionary measures if he is in fact nursing an injury). Harper was outstanding and tallied 11 tackles and 2.5 TFL for the Statesmen "D". SR DE Tyre Coleman added two more sacks and TFL to his already impressive resume. He now stands 3rd all time in sacks and needs one more TFL for fifth all time in that category.
In spite of a few issues in the second half, the Statesmen will find out tonight at 6PM what bracket they will land in the NCAA playoffs. D3football.com's Pat Coleman joined my ITH co-host Frank Rossi last night to go through a mock selection process. Check www.inthehuddlle.com for the recording of that show and D3football.com for their mock brackets (they put Hobart in the Mount Union bracket, hosting Delaware Valley in Round 1). My guess is the Statesmen draw NEFC Champion MIT (9-0) coached by former Hobart QB Chad Martinovich '94.
Tune into NCAA.com for tonight's selection show and In The HuddLLe starting at 7:15 PM. Frank and I will discuss the playoff brackets, interview Duey Naatz, the D3FB Selection Committee Chairman around 7:45 PM, then Coach Cragg after 8 PM tonight on www.inthehuddlle.com.
Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!
Thursday, November 13, 2014
UofR / Centennial Cup Game and Senior Day Preview
The eighth ranked Hobart College Statesmen will host their oldest active rival, the University of Rochester Yellow Jackets, on Senior Day at Boswell Field this Saturday in each team’s regular season finales. Hobart (9-0, 6-0) is looking to cap their third consecutive undefeated regular season, a feat that is a first in Statesmen history and would end the Class of 2015’s regular season careers’ with an incredible 36-1 (.972) record 38-4 overall, so tomorrow would be their 39th win which is pretty awesome). Conversely the Yellow Jackets (5-3, 3-3) are seeking their first six win season since 2007.
Hobart leads the all time series by a mark of 51-48-7 and has not lost to Rochester since the 2010 season. In 2007, the schools created the Centennial Cup Trophy to commemorate the 100th game between the two rivals. The Statesmen are 6-1 all time in the Centennial Cup series and will look to retain the Cup this season. Last year, Hobart had four takeaways and three sacks in a 42-21 rout of the Yellow Jackets.
Scouting Rochester:
#16 FY QB Daniel Bronson – Although only a rookie, Bronson has quickly become one of the LL’s rising stars and a potential ROTY candidate. He ranks 12th overall in rushing with 416 yards and four TDs while also going 70 of 126 (55.6%) for 944 yards and seven TDs. He has second best pass efficiency rating of active starting QBs but has thrown five interceptions in eight games.
#32 SO RB Myles Allen – has rushed for 594 yards on 123 carries, good for a LL fourth best 71.4 YPG average, and five rushing TDs.
#9 JR WR Farid Adenuga – leads Rochester with 393 receiving yards and five TD catches. His 49.1 YPG average is fourth best in the league.
#28 JR CB R.J. Borgolini – one of the top tacklers on the Yellow Jackets defense, Borgolini has 59 stops in seven games (8.4 TPG) and an interception.
#34 FY OLB Isaiah Smith – another potential ROTY candidate, Smith has been a beast on defense and special teams for Rochester this season. He leads the Yellow Jackets with 67 tackles and was named to last week’s D3football.com’s “Team of the Week” for recovering a fumble and blocking a potential game winning field goal by WPI in a 24-21 OT win for Rochester. He also earned D3football.com TOTW honors back on 10/23 for a 17 tackle performance in a 34-20 win over RPI (5-4, 3-3).
#39 JR OLB Thomas Marone – second on the team with 62 tackles including a team high four sacks.
Keys to the Game:
1. Ball Control – After committing a season high five turnovers at Saint Lawrence (7-2, 5-1) last Saturday, the Statesmen need to do a better job at protecting the football. The good news for Hobart is that the Yellow Jackets don’t create too many takeaways. In fact, they only have two interceptions and a -5 turnover margin overall.
2. Ball Control, Part II – Hobart has kept time of possession by about five more minutes a game on average than Rochester (33:04 to 28:06). Keeping this edge will go a long way to the Statesmen winning another Centennial Cup game. The Yellow Jackets rush defense is not stout, allowing 198.1 YPG. I expect a lot of running plays to keep the game clock going, especially given the strength of Rochester is their pass defense. The Yellow Jackets only allow 147.8 YPG which is second best in the league. Rochester has allowed only eight passing TDs (basically one per game).
3. Enjoy the Day – as stated above, this game will be the last home regular season game for the Class of 2015. Their run has been spectacular and I hope the players and their families take in what they have accomplished. Although the weather can change in a New York minute, the current forecast is a cold, but dry and mostly wind free day Saturday which is about as good as you can expect for mid-November Upstate.
Prediction: I think Hobart won’t struggle too much with a good, but not great, Rochester team. I’ll take the Statesmen to win 37-13.
Please tune into NCAA.com at 6PM to find out Hobart’s first round playoff opponent and bracket placement, then to InTheHuddLLe.com at 7:30 PM this Sunday night. On ITH we’ll speak with Head Coach Mike Cragg and NCAA D3FB Championship Committee Char Duey Naatz about the 2014 Playoffs.
Thanks for reading and go ‘Bart!
Hobart leads the all time series by a mark of 51-48-7 and has not lost to Rochester since the 2010 season. In 2007, the schools created the Centennial Cup Trophy to commemorate the 100th game between the two rivals. The Statesmen are 6-1 all time in the Centennial Cup series and will look to retain the Cup this season. Last year, Hobart had four takeaways and three sacks in a 42-21 rout of the Yellow Jackets.
Scouting Rochester:
#16 FY QB Daniel Bronson – Although only a rookie, Bronson has quickly become one of the LL’s rising stars and a potential ROTY candidate. He ranks 12th overall in rushing with 416 yards and four TDs while also going 70 of 126 (55.6%) for 944 yards and seven TDs. He has second best pass efficiency rating of active starting QBs but has thrown five interceptions in eight games.
#32 SO RB Myles Allen – has rushed for 594 yards on 123 carries, good for a LL fourth best 71.4 YPG average, and five rushing TDs.
#9 JR WR Farid Adenuga – leads Rochester with 393 receiving yards and five TD catches. His 49.1 YPG average is fourth best in the league.
#28 JR CB R.J. Borgolini – one of the top tacklers on the Yellow Jackets defense, Borgolini has 59 stops in seven games (8.4 TPG) and an interception.
#34 FY OLB Isaiah Smith – another potential ROTY candidate, Smith has been a beast on defense and special teams for Rochester this season. He leads the Yellow Jackets with 67 tackles and was named to last week’s D3football.com’s “Team of the Week” for recovering a fumble and blocking a potential game winning field goal by WPI in a 24-21 OT win for Rochester. He also earned D3football.com TOTW honors back on 10/23 for a 17 tackle performance in a 34-20 win over RPI (5-4, 3-3).
#39 JR OLB Thomas Marone – second on the team with 62 tackles including a team high four sacks.
Keys to the Game:
1. Ball Control – After committing a season high five turnovers at Saint Lawrence (7-2, 5-1) last Saturday, the Statesmen need to do a better job at protecting the football. The good news for Hobart is that the Yellow Jackets don’t create too many takeaways. In fact, they only have two interceptions and a -5 turnover margin overall.
2. Ball Control, Part II – Hobart has kept time of possession by about five more minutes a game on average than Rochester (33:04 to 28:06). Keeping this edge will go a long way to the Statesmen winning another Centennial Cup game. The Yellow Jackets rush defense is not stout, allowing 198.1 YPG. I expect a lot of running plays to keep the game clock going, especially given the strength of Rochester is their pass defense. The Yellow Jackets only allow 147.8 YPG which is second best in the league. Rochester has allowed only eight passing TDs (basically one per game).
3. Enjoy the Day – as stated above, this game will be the last home regular season game for the Class of 2015. Their run has been spectacular and I hope the players and their families take in what they have accomplished. Although the weather can change in a New York minute, the current forecast is a cold, but dry and mostly wind free day Saturday which is about as good as you can expect for mid-November Upstate.
Prediction: I think Hobart won’t struggle too much with a good, but not great, Rochester team. I’ll take the Statesmen to win 37-13.
Please tune into NCAA.com at 6PM to find out Hobart’s first round playoff opponent and bracket placement, then to InTheHuddLLe.com at 7:30 PM this Sunday night. On ITH we’ll speak with Head Coach Mike Cragg and NCAA D3FB Championship Committee Char Duey Naatz about the 2014 Playoffs.
Thanks for reading and go ‘Bart!
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
2nd NCAA Regional Playoff Rankings Released, Hobart Still 2nd
Although the Hobart College Statesmen have a higher national ranking, one more win over a RRO (regional ranked opponent, in this case Saint Lawrence) and a better SoS; they still ended up second to Delaware Valley (9-0) in the latest NCAA playoff rankings released tonight. A link to the rankings can be found here.
I am at a bit of a loss but at the end of the day all the Statesmen (9-0, 6-0) can do is beat Rochester (5-3, 3-3) and let the rest take care of itself Saturday night (when the final, unpublished rankings come out and the Committee begins creating the respective Championship bracket).
While it seems like the #2 seed they received in 2012 for going 10-0 may not happen this year, it is possible that Widener (9-0) defeating DVC on Saturday for the MAC title could be just enough to boost Hobart into a 2 seeding, especially given the "Whitewater rule". Ultimately less than .02 separates the teams as far as SoS goes and Widener would get a boost from beating DelVal whereas Hobart won't get much, if any lift, from beating UofR.
Regardless, we'll know how it turns out come Sunday at 6 PM. In the meantime, let the fan hand wringing begin (like how Framingham State is ranked four places higher than Rowan, a team it lost to H2H).
I will have the UofR game preview up tomorrow.
Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!
Monday, November 10, 2014
DeWall Talks SLU & UofR on ITH, Polls Drop Hobart to 8th
The Hobart College Statesmen (9-0, 6-0) have a big week coming up after winning their fourth consecutive Liberty League title. We spoke to OC Kevin DeWall '00 last night about the SLU game, the approach to this weekend's UofR (5-3, 3-3) game and potential playoff seedings / draws.
The podcast can be heard here.
In spite of winning their fourth conference title, the Statesmen were leapfrogged by Johns Hopkins to fall to eighth in both the D3football.com and AFCA polls. This seems to fall in line with the recent NCAA regional playoff rankings which came out last Wednesday and will be refreshed this Wednesday afternoon. If Hobart remains in 2nd in the next RRs my guess is barring a potential "photo finish / Whitewater rule" scenario with Widener (currently in 3rd), they'd end up as a third seed in their respective bracket.
While Widener, if they beat Delaware Valley (ranked 1st), would have either the same amount of wins against ranked opponents as or one more (if Lycoming goes 8-2) than the Statesmen, their SoS is actually lower than Hobart's which may help the Statesmen's seeding.
We will have Head Coach Mike Cragg and Duey Naatz, the Chair of the D3FB Championship Committee on ITH next Sunday after 7:30 pm to discuss Hobart's draw in the tournament and other topics, so please tune in.
This week I'll post a reaction to the next set of RR's Wednesday and have the UofR preview up sometime Thursday.
Thanks for reading and go Bart!
The podcast can be heard here.
In spite of winning their fourth conference title, the Statesmen were leapfrogged by Johns Hopkins to fall to eighth in both the D3football.com and AFCA polls. This seems to fall in line with the recent NCAA regional playoff rankings which came out last Wednesday and will be refreshed this Wednesday afternoon. If Hobart remains in 2nd in the next RRs my guess is barring a potential "photo finish / Whitewater rule" scenario with Widener (currently in 3rd), they'd end up as a third seed in their respective bracket.
While Widener, if they beat Delaware Valley (ranked 1st), would have either the same amount of wins against ranked opponents as or one more (if Lycoming goes 8-2) than the Statesmen, their SoS is actually lower than Hobart's which may help the Statesmen's seeding.
We will have Head Coach Mike Cragg and Duey Naatz, the Chair of the D3FB Championship Committee on ITH next Sunday after 7:30 pm to discuss Hobart's draw in the tournament and other topics, so please tune in.
This week I'll post a reaction to the next set of RR's Wednesday and have the UofR preview up sometime Thursday.
Thanks for reading and go Bart!
Saturday, November 8, 2014
Not Pretty, But We'll Take The Win, Hobart Outlasts SLU, 29-27
The #7 Hobart College Statesmen won their fourth straight LL Championship today, 29-27, in a nail biter at Saint Lawrence. Hobart (9-0, 6-0) did their best to give this one away, turning over the ball FIVE times to the Saints (7-2, 5-1) nationally ranked defense.
In the end it was the Statesmen defense who played big and the offense did just enough, overcoming their mistakes with 488 total yards and big runs by JR RBs Conner Hartigan and Alex Furtado behind an excellent game by the Hobart OL in the second half.
But who knew that it would come down to FY PK Will McCool connecting on a 32 yard FG to push the Statesmen to a 29-27 win? On a weekend where higher ranked teams fell in conference championship games (e.g., Ithaca beating Fisher and Morrisville beating Montclair), Hobart hung on and won.
Tune into ITH tomorrow night when we talk to Coach DeWall about today's game.
More analysis to come.
In the end it was the Statesmen defense who played big and the offense did just enough, overcoming their mistakes with 488 total yards and big runs by JR RBs Conner Hartigan and Alex Furtado behind an excellent game by the Hobart OL in the second half.
But who knew that it would come down to FY PK Will McCool connecting on a 32 yard FG to push the Statesmen to a 29-27 win? On a weekend where higher ranked teams fell in conference championship games (e.g., Ithaca beating Fisher and Morrisville beating Montclair), Hobart hung on and won.
Tune into ITH tomorrow night when we talk to Coach DeWall about today's game.
More analysis to come.
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Stanley Talks SLU, Hobart 2nd In Initial NCAA East Region Rankings
Although the Hobart College Statesmen (8-0, 5-0) rank 7th in both the D3football.com and AFCA polls, the NCAA sent a clear message today that they disagree with that ranking. Reading between the lines this probably means only one home playoff game, if they can beat Saint Lawrence (7-1, 5-0) who came in at sixth, and finish 10-0.
Widener (8-0) beating Delaware Valley (8-0) in their season finale may help Hobart, but that remains to be seen. The Statesmen would get both a Strength of Schedule and Regional Ranked Opponent boost by beating SLU. Husson winning the ECFC could help too as their location in ME is a scheduling issue for the NCAA given the 500 mile rule. Best case for the Statesmen would be drawing a tough but beatable Round 1 opponent in say, NJAC champ Montclair, then hosting the winner of the Husson-MIT game. All that is pure projections and may not come to pass. Hobart really just needs to focus on SLU.
A link to the rankings can be found here.
We discussed Hobart's low SOS as a potential issue on ITH last Sunday and it appears to have hurt them, at least in this first round. Another ranking will be released next week, then a final unpublished one used to seed the 32 team NCAA bracket.
You can hear that discussion plus an interview with JR LB Jacob Stanley here.
Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
SLU / LL Title Game Preview
So it’s come down to this weekend where the irresistible force meets the unmovable object. On the line for only the fourth time since 2004 is the Liberty League (LL) title in a winner take all game. Both teams have defenses ranked in the Top 10 nationally, so expect a low scoring, hard hitting affair.
Hobart (8-0, 5-0) boasts a strong scoring offense (34.5 PPG) while the Saints (7-1, 5-0) have the LL’s best scoring defense (11 PPG). The Saints offense averages 25.9 PPG is led by a strong passing attack (201.3 YPG) and a LL leading 17 passing TDs. Conversely the Saints are ball hawks, collecting a LL high 17 interceptions (tied for second nationally) while only allowing three passing TDs all season. The Statesmen defensive strength is against the run, having only allowed 87.3 YPG rushing and four rush TDs.
Last season the Statesmen raced out to 24-0 lead before cruising to a 37-7 win over the Saints in Geneva. Hobart held SLU to only 145 total yards and only allowing three of 17 third down conversions. The Statesmen led the all-time series vs. SLU with a 47-37-2 mark. Hobart last lost to the Saints in 2010 in a 24-21 decision that was the first win by SLU over Hobart since 1991.
Scouting the Saints:
#6 SR QB Mike Lefflbine – the top rated passer in the LL, Lefflbine has a nearly 60% completion rate, going 142 of 237 for 15 TDs and only four INTs. Lefflbine is a mobile QB who is most comfortable in roll out and play action type of plays. While not overly quick, Lefflbine is mobile and has gained 176 rushing yards and scoring two TDs this season.
#72 SR OT Luke Lendaway – a SR Co-Captain, the VT native led an OL that gave up a LL low three sacks in 2013. This season the Saints OL has allowed eight sacks (or one per game) and who’s blocking has assisted SLU maintain a 35:33 TOP average.
#16 SO TE Mitch Gallagher – big (6’2” 225 lbs) and athletic, Gallagher is a match up challenge for Hobart. He is first in the LL with 581 receiving yards and tied for first with five receiving TDs. His counterpart is #86 SO TE Matt Gardiner who is also tall (6’3” 217 lbs) and has caught 26 passes for 294 yards and three TDs.
The “Goon Squad” – A trio of outstanding players in #1 JR Evan Lapice (34 tackles, four INTs including an 80 pick six last week vs. WPI), #4 SO James Holley-Grisham (46 tackles, seven INTs) and dual threat #3 JR Leondre Simmon (14 tackles, five INTs while also adding 10 receptions for 140 yards and four TDs on offense).
#15 SO LB Alec Dietsch – last year’s LL ROTY, Dietsch leads the Saints with 56 tackles. #55 SO DE Chyron Brown-Wallace – leads SLU with 12.5 TFL and seven sacks.
#30 SO PK Andrew Carvalho – Perfect and leading the LL in PATs with a 27-27 mark, Carvalho has struggled with FGs. He’s only four of seven and has a long of 36.
Keys to the Game:
1. Win the LOS – To me this game is about how Hobart’s OL handles the Saints DL. I have no doubt the Statesmen DL and LBs will put pressure on Lefflbine because they’ll need to in order to avoid him being able to exploit a clear size advantage of SLU’s tall TE’s and WR’s vs. Hobart’s shorter OLB’s and DB’s. The Statesmen will need to be able to run the ball against SLU’s stout rush defense which only allows 114.3 YPG. The Statesmen average 267 YPG rushing, so something’s going to give here. I expect a heavy dose of SR FB Dominique Ellis and JR FB Christopher Holoman to wear down the Saints LBs.
2. Avoid Turnovers / Special Teams Mistakes - the Saints have made a living this season off of turnovers. SLU ranks fifth in the nation with a +17 turnover margin. The Saints also average nearly 20 YPR on kickoffs and Holley-Grisham averages over 16 YPR on punts. He took a WPI punt 52 yards to the house last Saturday in a 20-7 win in Worcester. The Saints have the best punt team in terms of Net/P (34.1 yards) in the LL.
3. Third Down – SLU has struggled on third downs in spots, only converting 35.5% vs. Hobart’s LL leading 48.5%. However, the Saints defense leads the LL allowing only 29.2% opponent conversions. If the Statesmen rushing game stalls in the cold, grass field at Leckonby Stadium, Hobart will need SR QB Patrick Conlan to take to the air and gain valuable yards. Last season the Statesmen only went three of 13 on third down but had enough success on first and second down to warrant only four punts in the game. Hobart went for it four times and converted twice, and may elect to attempt some fourth down plays, pending field position and weather conditions (currently showing high, but otherwise dry, 39 after a snowy Friday).
Prediction:
I believe the first half will be a back and forth, lowing scoring affair. I do think the Statesmen offense will catch steam and pull away late in the third quarter to win the game 24-10 and capture a fourth straight LL championship.
Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!
PS - check back for quick update tmw once the NCAA East Regional Playoff rankings come out....
Hobart (8-0, 5-0) boasts a strong scoring offense (34.5 PPG) while the Saints (7-1, 5-0) have the LL’s best scoring defense (11 PPG). The Saints offense averages 25.9 PPG is led by a strong passing attack (201.3 YPG) and a LL leading 17 passing TDs. Conversely the Saints are ball hawks, collecting a LL high 17 interceptions (tied for second nationally) while only allowing three passing TDs all season. The Statesmen defensive strength is against the run, having only allowed 87.3 YPG rushing and four rush TDs.
Last season the Statesmen raced out to 24-0 lead before cruising to a 37-7 win over the Saints in Geneva. Hobart held SLU to only 145 total yards and only allowing three of 17 third down conversions. The Statesmen led the all-time series vs. SLU with a 47-37-2 mark. Hobart last lost to the Saints in 2010 in a 24-21 decision that was the first win by SLU over Hobart since 1991.
Scouting the Saints:
#6 SR QB Mike Lefflbine – the top rated passer in the LL, Lefflbine has a nearly 60% completion rate, going 142 of 237 for 15 TDs and only four INTs. Lefflbine is a mobile QB who is most comfortable in roll out and play action type of plays. While not overly quick, Lefflbine is mobile and has gained 176 rushing yards and scoring two TDs this season.
#72 SR OT Luke Lendaway – a SR Co-Captain, the VT native led an OL that gave up a LL low three sacks in 2013. This season the Saints OL has allowed eight sacks (or one per game) and who’s blocking has assisted SLU maintain a 35:33 TOP average.
#16 SO TE Mitch Gallagher – big (6’2” 225 lbs) and athletic, Gallagher is a match up challenge for Hobart. He is first in the LL with 581 receiving yards and tied for first with five receiving TDs. His counterpart is #86 SO TE Matt Gardiner who is also tall (6’3” 217 lbs) and has caught 26 passes for 294 yards and three TDs.
The “Goon Squad” – A trio of outstanding players in #1 JR Evan Lapice (34 tackles, four INTs including an 80 pick six last week vs. WPI), #4 SO James Holley-Grisham (46 tackles, seven INTs) and dual threat #3 JR Leondre Simmon (14 tackles, five INTs while also adding 10 receptions for 140 yards and four TDs on offense).
#15 SO LB Alec Dietsch – last year’s LL ROTY, Dietsch leads the Saints with 56 tackles. #55 SO DE Chyron Brown-Wallace – leads SLU with 12.5 TFL and seven sacks.
#30 SO PK Andrew Carvalho – Perfect and leading the LL in PATs with a 27-27 mark, Carvalho has struggled with FGs. He’s only four of seven and has a long of 36.
Keys to the Game:
1. Win the LOS – To me this game is about how Hobart’s OL handles the Saints DL. I have no doubt the Statesmen DL and LBs will put pressure on Lefflbine because they’ll need to in order to avoid him being able to exploit a clear size advantage of SLU’s tall TE’s and WR’s vs. Hobart’s shorter OLB’s and DB’s. The Statesmen will need to be able to run the ball against SLU’s stout rush defense which only allows 114.3 YPG. The Statesmen average 267 YPG rushing, so something’s going to give here. I expect a heavy dose of SR FB Dominique Ellis and JR FB Christopher Holoman to wear down the Saints LBs.
2. Avoid Turnovers / Special Teams Mistakes - the Saints have made a living this season off of turnovers. SLU ranks fifth in the nation with a +17 turnover margin. The Saints also average nearly 20 YPR on kickoffs and Holley-Grisham averages over 16 YPR on punts. He took a WPI punt 52 yards to the house last Saturday in a 20-7 win in Worcester. The Saints have the best punt team in terms of Net/P (34.1 yards) in the LL.
3. Third Down – SLU has struggled on third downs in spots, only converting 35.5% vs. Hobart’s LL leading 48.5%. However, the Saints defense leads the LL allowing only 29.2% opponent conversions. If the Statesmen rushing game stalls in the cold, grass field at Leckonby Stadium, Hobart will need SR QB Patrick Conlan to take to the air and gain valuable yards. Last season the Statesmen only went three of 13 on third down but had enough success on first and second down to warrant only four punts in the game. Hobart went for it four times and converted twice, and may elect to attempt some fourth down plays, pending field position and weather conditions (currently showing high, but otherwise dry, 39 after a snowy Friday).
Prediction:
I believe the first half will be a back and forth, lowing scoring affair. I do think the Statesmen offense will catch steam and pull away late in the third quarter to win the game 24-10 and capture a fourth straight LL championship.
Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!
PS - check back for quick update tmw once the NCAA East Regional Playoff rankings come out....
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Defense Dominates Dutchmen in 30-6 Win
The eighth ranked Hobart College Statesmen hosted their second oldest active rival, the Union College Dutchmen Saturday at Boswell Field.
After the Statesmen defense forced a Union three and out, SR QB Patrick Conlan led Hobart on a 12 play drive that was capped by a nine yard TD pass to SR WR Troy Robinson, his first TD catch of the season.
FY PK Will McCool's point after was good and the Statesmen took an early 7-0 lead with 7:24 to go in the first quarter. The Dutchmen offense would respond as FY QB Dante Cioffi led Union to the Hobart 14 yard line. After a SR RB Darnel Thomas run on third down was stopped for no gain, JR PK David Pope came on to attempt a 31 yard field goal. The kick was good and the Dutchmen trimmed the Statesmen’s lead to 7-3 with 3:52 to go in the first.
Hobart would get back to work on offense and drive to the Union nine yard line. On the first play of the second quarter, SR TE Mike Berkowitz scored his 15th career TD on a nine yard pass play. The McCool kick was good and the Statesmen led 14-3 with 14:56 to go in the first half. The next 13 minutes saw both teams defenses dig in. Hobart would finally reach the Union 13 yard line but couldn’t convert on third down. McCool would come into the game to attempt his first career field goal on this play which was good from 30 yards out to push the Hobart's lead to 17-3.
Although Union only had 1:39 left before half time an excellent kickoff return (or not so good coverage, which was an issue in today's game) gave the Dutchmen the ball at their 44 yard line. Cioffi would drive his team to the Hobart 22 yard line, when once again Pope was called on to attempt another field goal attempt, this time from 39 yards. The kick was good and the 17-6 score would stand at the half.
Both offenses struggled to start the second half but on Hobart’s third possession, the Statesmen running game started to gain traction. Behind the Hobart OL, SO RB Brad Burns, JR FB Christopher Holoman and JR RB Alex Furtado helped drive the team to the Dutchmen 14 yard line. The Statesmen called a timeout with 3:48 to go in the third quarter. On the ensuing play SR FB Dominique Ellis ran in for a TD. The McCool kick was good and Hobart extended its advantage to 24-6 with 3:41 to go in the quarter.
Both defenses kept the opposing offenses at bay into the fourth quarter. The Statesmen defense would make a statement when JR LB Jacob Stanley broke through the Union line, sack Cioffi, force a fumble, then scoop and score from 44 yards out. The McCool point after was no good but Hobart had a 30-6 lead with 11:34 to go in the game.
Hobart would try and add to this lead but committed two turnovers in the final drives of the fourth quarter. Although Hobart wouldn’t score again, they did enough to win the game 30-6. The Statesmen defense has not allowed a TD since the 2nd quarter of the Springfield game back on October 11th. Hobart held Union to a paltry 10 rushing yards while controlling TOP by an incredible 38:16 to 21:44 margin.
Leading the Dutchmen on offense was Cioffi with 206 passing yards. He was intercepted late in the game by JR LB Trayvon Toney. Conlan led Hobart with 148 passing yards and two TDs. Defensively Union was led by JR LB Thomas Hayes with a game high 10 tackles, including one for a loss and forcing a Statesmen fumble.
Hobart was led by SR DB Fajri Jackson with eight stops. Stanley and JR OLB Marcus Jemison recorded seven tackles a piece. SR DE Tyre Coleman Swas credited with a sack and one and half tackles for a loss. The sack moved Coleman in sole possession of fourth place in the all time career list for Division III. He’s eighth all time in tackles for a loss.
The win improves Hobart to 8-0 overall and 5-0 in the league. The Statesmen will take on Saint Lawrence (7-1, 5-0) next Saturday in Canton, New York for the Liberty League Championship. The loss drops Union to 1-7 overall and 1-4 in the league. The Dutchmen will host the Merchant Marine Academy (2-6, 0-5) next Saturday in Schenectady.
With fifth ranked Linfield being upset 31-28 by Willamette today it's possible Hobart will move up one spot to seventh in the D3football.com and AFCA polls. Tune in to ITH tomorrow night at 7:30 PM where we'll have highlights from this game, plus an interview with Jacob Stanley.
Thanks for reading and go Bart!
FY PK Will McCool's point after was good and the Statesmen took an early 7-0 lead with 7:24 to go in the first quarter. The Dutchmen offense would respond as FY QB Dante Cioffi led Union to the Hobart 14 yard line. After a SR RB Darnel Thomas run on third down was stopped for no gain, JR PK David Pope came on to attempt a 31 yard field goal. The kick was good and the Dutchmen trimmed the Statesmen’s lead to 7-3 with 3:52 to go in the first.
Hobart would get back to work on offense and drive to the Union nine yard line. On the first play of the second quarter, SR TE Mike Berkowitz scored his 15th career TD on a nine yard pass play. The McCool kick was good and the Statesmen led 14-3 with 14:56 to go in the first half. The next 13 minutes saw both teams defenses dig in. Hobart would finally reach the Union 13 yard line but couldn’t convert on third down. McCool would come into the game to attempt his first career field goal on this play which was good from 30 yards out to push the Hobart's lead to 17-3.
Although Union only had 1:39 left before half time an excellent kickoff return (or not so good coverage, which was an issue in today's game) gave the Dutchmen the ball at their 44 yard line. Cioffi would drive his team to the Hobart 22 yard line, when once again Pope was called on to attempt another field goal attempt, this time from 39 yards. The kick was good and the 17-6 score would stand at the half.
Both offenses struggled to start the second half but on Hobart’s third possession, the Statesmen running game started to gain traction. Behind the Hobart OL, SO RB Brad Burns, JR FB Christopher Holoman and JR RB Alex Furtado helped drive the team to the Dutchmen 14 yard line. The Statesmen called a timeout with 3:48 to go in the third quarter. On the ensuing play SR FB Dominique Ellis ran in for a TD. The McCool kick was good and Hobart extended its advantage to 24-6 with 3:41 to go in the quarter.
Both defenses kept the opposing offenses at bay into the fourth quarter. The Statesmen defense would make a statement when JR LB Jacob Stanley broke through the Union line, sack Cioffi, force a fumble, then scoop and score from 44 yards out. The McCool point after was no good but Hobart had a 30-6 lead with 11:34 to go in the game.
Hobart would try and add to this lead but committed two turnovers in the final drives of the fourth quarter. Although Hobart wouldn’t score again, they did enough to win the game 30-6. The Statesmen defense has not allowed a TD since the 2nd quarter of the Springfield game back on October 11th. Hobart held Union to a paltry 10 rushing yards while controlling TOP by an incredible 38:16 to 21:44 margin.
Leading the Dutchmen on offense was Cioffi with 206 passing yards. He was intercepted late in the game by JR LB Trayvon Toney. Conlan led Hobart with 148 passing yards and two TDs. Defensively Union was led by JR LB Thomas Hayes with a game high 10 tackles, including one for a loss and forcing a Statesmen fumble.
Hobart was led by SR DB Fajri Jackson with eight stops. Stanley and JR OLB Marcus Jemison recorded seven tackles a piece. SR DE Tyre Coleman Swas credited with a sack and one and half tackles for a loss. The sack moved Coleman in sole possession of fourth place in the all time career list for Division III. He’s eighth all time in tackles for a loss.
The win improves Hobart to 8-0 overall and 5-0 in the league. The Statesmen will take on Saint Lawrence (7-1, 5-0) next Saturday in Canton, New York for the Liberty League Championship. The loss drops Union to 1-7 overall and 1-4 in the league. The Dutchmen will host the Merchant Marine Academy (2-6, 0-5) next Saturday in Schenectady.
With fifth ranked Linfield being upset 31-28 by Willamette today it's possible Hobart will move up one spot to seventh in the D3football.com and AFCA polls. Tune in to ITH tomorrow night at 7:30 PM where we'll have highlights from this game, plus an interview with Jacob Stanley.
Thanks for reading and go Bart!
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