The Hobart College Statesmen 2025 regular season got off to a dubious start last Friday night with an unexpected, 28-23, loss to the Alfred University Saxons. Alfred had been the team who Hobart (0-1, 0-0) had a 14-game winning streak against dating back to 1996 going until this year.
The Saxons (1-0, 0-0) capitalized on several Statesmen mistakes and penalties, including a pick six interception return for a TD by SR DB Thomas Welch. SO QB Aidan Conrath got the start and made a few rookie mistakes (the pick six included) along the way. JR RB E.J. Taylor had a good night, rushing for over 100 yards and scoring all three of Hobart's TD's. Injuries to the OL and the new injury rules implemented by the NCAA bit the Statesmen multiple times. At this point the Hobart are potentially down three starters, which is pretty shocking this early in the year. Hopefully they will all make quick recoveries, and this won't be like the lacrosse team who seems to lose key contributors on the regular every season. Makes me wonder if we have a S&C issue, or just really bad luck.
While I didn't understand the lack of urgency / use of a no huddle offense in the final drive of the game, clearly the coaching staff felt with the two minute and three timeouts they'd be ok. In the end, it didn't pan out that way. Hobart took nearly six minutes to score, couldn't convert the onside kick and Alfred made some plays and ran out the clock to win the game.
You can read more about the game from the HWSAthletics.com recap here.
The loss drops Hobart's road record under Coach DeWall to 18-15. The Statesmen just seem like a different team away from Boswell Field. Something I want to deep dive into soon.
Looking ahead, a motivated and strong Brockport (1-0, 0-0) team that blasted Buffalo State (0-1, 0-0), 41-0, last Thursday night awaits. Equipped with one of the best OL's and RBs in the Empire 8 (if not Region 2), the Statesmen could be looking at an 0-2 start. Brockport DC Mike Fox runs a trickly 3-man stack defense that an inexperienced OL and QB may struggle against.
I have to say after last Friday, I am less optimistic about Hobart's chances in this one but will hold out hope they can make some corrections quickly.
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