Statesmen Win ECAC James Lynah Bowl, 42-14, Finish 2025 on 5-Game Win Streak

The Hobart College Statesmen finished their 2025 campaign on a five-game winning streak, defeating the SUNY-Maritime Privateers in convincing fashion in the ECAC James Lynah Bowl game, 42-14.

Hobart (6-5, 4-3) controlled the game from the get-go. The Statesmen outgained the Privateers (5-6, 3-4) 472-316 total yards. JR RB EJ Taylor had his seventh 100-yard rushing game of the season, carrying the ball 19 times for 172 yards and 2 rushing TDs.

SO QB Jeremy Weiss went 8-13 for 186 yards, 3 passing TDs and only one INT. His favorite target was SO WR Johnny Harding who caught two passes for 53 yards with both going for TDs. SR LB Noah Chachere and SO DL Trey Dillanough led the Hobart defense with nine tackles each. 

Hobart opened the scoring with SR QB Tru Styles running in from 11 yards out to take an early, 7-0, lead. Taylor would score his first TD of the day to open the second quarter to give the Statesmen a 14-0 advantage. Credit Maritime, they made it 14-7 with 3:19 to go before the half, but Hobart would take a 21-7 halftime lead thanks to a Weiss to JR WR Marcus Peterson 38-yard TD pass.

The second half was all Hobart with the second Taylor TD run and both of Harding's TD receptions. Although the Statesmen would give up a "garbage time" TD, they would win the game. 42-14.

This concludes Hobart's season and ends it on a positive note. I'll have a season recap and review later next week. In the meantime, let's enjoy this, the Statesmen's fourth ECAC bowl championship.

Thanks as always for reading and go 'Bart!

ECAC James Lynah Bowl Preview: Hobart vs. SUNY-Maritime

The Hobart College Statesmen will make the long drive down to the Bronx to take on the SUNY-Maritime Privateers of the NEWMAC in the ECAC James Lynah Bowl. 

The game is scheduled for Saturday, November 22, 2025, at Maritime's Reinhart Field in Throggs Neck, New York, giving the Privateers home-field advantage. This marks the first-ever football meeting between these two programs. Kickoff is set for 1 PM.

This game is a classic battle of strengths: Hobart's dominant run game and elite defense versus Maritime's balanced, pass-first attack and time of possession ball control offense.

The Statesmen (5-5, 4-3) enter the bowl on a scorching four-game winning streak, suggesting they've peaked at the perfect time. Their identity is clear:

Elite Rushing Attack: Hobart's offense is powered by JR RB E.J. Taylor, who posted his sixth straight 100-yard rushing performance in the regular-season finale. He is the engine of the offense, allowing them to control the clock and score in the red zone (26 rushing TDs total). Hobart averages 163.6 RYPG and a robust 4.6 YPR.

Lights-Out Defense: Led by SR OLB Mike McGhee, the defense is the team's true calling card. They led the Liberty League in total defense, allowing a mere 267.9 YPG and just 19.4 PPG. They are excellent at stopping the run (114.3 YPG allowed).

The X-Factor: SO QB Jeremy Weiss has established himself as a capable passer (12 TDs, 2 INTs), but his role is often managing the game and taking shots when the defense commits to the run.

The Maritime Privateers (5-5, 3-4) is looking to bounce back from a tough end to their schedule, including a heartbreaking double-overtime loss to MIT and a loss to conference champion Springfield. The Privateers identity is:

Balanced Offensive Output: The Privateers are slightly more balanced than Hobart, averaging 171.5 rushing YPG and 183.7 passing YPG.

Time of Possession (TOP): Maritime is highly successful in controlling the ball, owning a massive TOP advantage (32:07 per game). This is key to keeping Hobart's star RB on the sideline.

Air Attack Threat: GR QB Will Pickett is the focal point of the offense, a threat through the air (17 TDs, 6 INTs) and a key part of their rushing game (10 rushing TDs). His ability to hit his receivers will test Hobart's secondary.

Run Defense is a Concern: Maritime's run defense is respectable but allows a higher yards-per-carry average (144 RYPG) than Hobart's defense. The Privateers will need their front seven to be at their best to stop the momentum of the Statesmen's running game.

Keys to the Game:

1. Feed Taylor: Establish the OL's control of the LOS and run the ball early. Keeping Taylor on the field will wear down the Privateers' defensive front.

2. Pressure Pickett: Contain the Maritime QB's running ability and force him into quick, inaccurate throws.

3. Avoid Turnovers: Do not give Maritime's opportunistic offense short fields in a potentially low-scoring affair.

Final Thoughts:

This is an incredibly even matchup on paper, with both teams coming in at 5-5. However, the contrast in recent momentum is striking. Hobart is red-hot, having corrected their mid-season struggles, while Maritime has struggled against the top teams in the NEWMAC late in the year.

The key factor will be Hobart's ability to run the ball on Maritime's home turf. The Statesmen's suffocating defense is designed to win games in the low-to-mid 20s, which is often what bowl games involving defensive teams become. Maritime will get their offense moving, but ultimately, the Statesmen's ability to consistently control the line of scrimmage, both offensively and defensively, will give them the edge.

I am biased, but I like Hobart's chances to take an ECAC Trophy back to home to Geneva and end the 2025 on a real high note.

Thanks as always for reading and go 'Bart!

(PS - thanks to Rowan superfan and friend Juan Sanchez for help with this write up).

Statesmen Set to Sail to NYC to Face SUNY-Maritime in the 2025 ECAC James Lynah Bowl

The Hobart College Statemen will go bowling, getting the final bowl selection to play the SUNY-Maritime Privateers of the NEWMAC. This will be the first ever meeting between these two programs. 

Maritime (5-5, 3-4) is coached by Anthony Trotta (Wilkes '17), who has prior experience with the Statesmen (5-5, 4-3) as the former defensive coordinator for Union College. Trotta also worked for former Hobart OC / QB coach Jon Drach (now the HC at Liberty League Champion, Union).

Kickoff time for the game is determined by the two teams, per the ECAC, so "check your local listings" later this week for more information. I thought this could be a possibility, and I believe this pairing was achieved by Hobart and Maritime by having the best NPI rankings of the remaining .500 or better teams in the pool. The Privateers ended up having a slightly higher NPI (aka the NCAA Power Index rating of 115) than the Statesmen (which ended up with a NPI of 128), which is probably why they are the hosts.

I am happy for both teams, but obviously more of the Statesmen seniors and players, to have earned this additional opportunity to suit up one more time this season. 

I'll have more on this matchup later this week. 

Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!

Statesmen Roll Bengals, 35-9, Await (Hopefully An) ECAC Bowl Bid

The Hobart College Statesmen ended their 2025 regular season on a four-game winning streak, beating the Buffalo State Bengals, 35-9, on Senior Day. You can read all about it via the HWSAthletics.com release here.

Hobart (5-5. 4-3) had to wait out a lightning delay and now waits out this morning to see whether or not they'll receive a potential postseason ECAC Bowl game. Please join us on In the D3FB Huddle at noon to see if they receive a bid. 

A bid will come down to whether or not there are four bowl games, not three, like they had last year. The Statesmen are one of five .500 teams, but they are the only ones with a winning conference record. I am hoping this group gets one more chance. We will find out in a couple of hours.

Thanks as always for reading, and go 'Bart!

Saluting the Statesmen Class of 2026 on Senior Day

The Hobart College Statesmen look to end what's been a challenging 2025 regular season on a relatively high note, looking for their fourth consecutive win while celebrating the 17 members of the Statesmen Class of 2026.

While there are a couple of Statesmen in the SR class who could return given eligibility, that's never a guarantee, so we are going to list everyone with the assumption that they are graduating in May.

Here they are, listed by number:

1 SR DB Alex Smith

4 SR RB Tahj Jackson

10 SR WR Anthony Ruscetta

15 SR DB Sam Sklar

21 SR OLB Mike McGhee

22 SR LB Noah Chacere

32 SR RB Kieran Cotter

34 SR TE Lukas Ruby

41 SR RB Byron Maddox, Jr. 

61 SR OL Alex Shahdanian

65 SR OL Ben Goodell

69 SR OL Quinn Broggy

71 SR OL Belendjy Geneus

73 SR OL Ashton Mejias

88 SR TE Luke Hescock

93 SR PK Vicente Lyon

96 SR DL Dante Randle

These 17 Hobart Statesmen will suit up for their final home game at the "Boz" Saturday. Kickoff against the Bengals of Buffalo State (1-8, 1-5) is scheduled for 1 PM. With confirmation that Hobart has submitted a bid for consideration in the ECAC Bowl series, the Statesmen should have an opportunity for one more game if they can end the season with a win. 

Frank Rossi and I will once again announce the ECAC Bowl game pairings the Monday (November 17th) after the NCAA playoff field is announced (Sunday, November 16). Follow In the D3FB Huddle for more information on upcoming preview and reaction shows. 

Thanks as always for reading and let's hope we send off these Statesmen with a win and get some good news regarding "bonus football" a week from today.

Go 'Bart!

Hobart Humbles Hilbert in Hamburg, 63-6

The Hobart College Statesmen improved to 4-5, 3-3 overall with a resounding, 63-6 win over Hilbert College Saturday. The Statesmen scored nine total TDs with SO QB Jeremy Weiss going 8-11 for 113 yards with two TDs and SR QB Tru Styles going 3-5 for 60 yards and one passing score. This was the Statesmen third straight victory, with a chance to end the season a four-game winning streak. 

SO WR Johnny Harding had seven receptions for 72 yards and 2 TDs, while JR RB EJ Taylor had one receiving TD to go with 148 yards rushing the three rushing TDs.

Also scoring for Hobart included SR RB Tahj Jackson, SR RB Bryon Maddox, Jr. and SO WR Tristan Reynolds. SR LB Mike McGhee and JR DL Hunter Vos led the defense with six tackles each. 

Given this result, I expect Hobart to submit a bid for an ECAC Postseason Bowl game before the November 10th deadline. Next weekend will be the regular season finale and Senior Day against Buffalo State (1-8, 1-5).

More to come on that this week. 

Thanks as always for reading and go 'Bart!

Looking Ahead to Weeks 10 and 11

We've reached the home stretch of the 2025 season. It will go down as a tough one for the Hobart College Football team, but after a rough start, the Statesmen (3-5, 2-3) have a chance to go out on a four-game win streak. 

Last Saturday's win over Rochester marked not only a turning point in the season but also marked an important milestone as HC Kevin DeWall '00 won his 50th game!

Going forward, Hobart takes on new Liberty League affiliate member, Hilbert College (Hamburg, NY, near Buffalo) this weekend before wrapping up the season at home against Buffalo State. The Hawks (0-8. 0-6) are only in their second year as a varsity program. They've yet to win a game in the Empire 8 (where they were members last year) and the LL so far. This will be a game where the starters should give way to backups and younger Statesmen to keep building towards 2026.

Buffalo State's only win this season was a 15-7 one over Hilbert back in Week 4. They have otherwise struggled this year (1-7, 1-4) and will complete their seventh losing season in a row. They went 6-5, 3-4 in the Empire 8 back in 2017.

I will do a short recap of the Hilbert game this weekend and highlight the Hobart seniors who will be suiting up for the final time going into in Week 11. There are 17 listed on the current roster as part of the Class of 2026, so we want to send them off in style.

I suppose if the Statesmen put their name in for an ECAC bowl bid there's an outside chance, not a great one but not impossible, that they could get selected. We did see Stevenson receive one after a 5-5 season (Frank and I cohost the ECAC Bowl Selection show every year and will again this Monday, November 17, more to come on that). The Mustangs travelled to Morrisville State and lost, 21-18, in HC Ed Raby's final game (he would take the HC job at Saint John Fisher a month or so later) at Mo'ville.

That's all for now, so thanks as always for reading. More to come as this blog creeps closer to its 1000th post (kind of crazy that's almost here). 

Go 'Bart!

Statesmen Survive in Overtime, 28-21, Over Rochester to Retain the Centennial Cup

It was a tale of two halves.

The Hobart College Statesmen rolled over the University of Rochester to a 21-0 advantage in the first half in Saturday's Centennial Cup game - the 117th in the series. SO QB Jeremy Weiss had 2 passing TDs and JR RB EJ Taylor had over 130 rushing yards and a TD to pace the Statesmen. 

Then after the half, a different team showed up. The Yellow Jackets scored 21 unanswered points to comeback and make it a game. A long FG attempt at the end of the game went wide right, forcing overtime.

In overtime Hobart leaning once again on Taylor, but ultimately it was a SR QB Tru Styles pass to JR WR Marcus Peterson that put the Statesmen up, 28-21, in the first OT period.

The defense would carry the day as the Yellow Jackets (5-3, 2-3) would drive inside the two-yard line but get intercepted (or batted down, the announcers called it an INT) on fourth down to seal the win for the Statesmen!

Leading the defense today was SR LB and Captain Mike McGhee who had eight tackles. His first of the game was his 200th of his impressive Hobart career. Speaking of career days, JR RB EJ Taylor had a career best game of 196 rushing yards on 28 carries and a TD. SO WR Johnny Harding finished the day with seven catches for 133 yards and a TD (all in the first half). 

The win improves the Statesmen's record to 3-5 overall and 2-3 in the Liberty League. Based on the remaining schedule, Hobart is basically guaranteed to finish the season 5-5. More on that this week. 

What a big win this was for the future of the Hobart program. In spite of an ugly and confused second half, the Statesmen pulled themselves together when it mattered and won, keeping the Centennial Cup in Geneva for a 14th straight year.

Thanks as always for reading and go 'Bart!