The Hobart College Statesmen will hit the road for their first road trip of the 2026 season to take on the Utica University Pioneers. Both teams enter this contest at a perfect 2-0, so someone's undefeated streak will come to an end Saturday.
Last weekend the Pioneers (2-0) lit up RPI (1-1) to the tune of 402 passing yards in a 38-14 win. SR QB Tyler Szalkowski found SR WR Tyshawn Taylor eight times for 244 yards and TD. This earned Taylor the Empire 8 Player of the Week award.
Last season Hobart (2-0) surprised a favored Utica squad at the Boz with a great defensive performance, sacking Szalkowski four times and picking him off once, in a narrow, 20-17, victory for the Statesmen. This will be the fifth installment in this series that dates back to 2012. Hobart is 3-1 all-time against Utica, with wins in 2012 (45-26), 2013 (34-21) and last season. The Pioneers lone win in the series is when they beat the Statesmen 10-6 in the 2023 ECAC Chapman Bowl.
Scouting Utica
The Pioneers have outscored their opponents so far this season by what amounts to 20 PPG. D3football.com contributor Logan Hansen's "Ratings" predict this game to be a 30-17 Utica win based on metrics like these. The Pioneers are a pass first offense, averaging 325 YPG and basically 10 yards per pass, which is why 29 of their 42 first downs come via the air (compared to seven via the run) this season.
SR RB Eze Frazier gets about 18 carries a game to keep teams honest and has scored two rushing TDs on the season. The receiving corps has three players with double digit catches and over 100 yards in receiving already this season. The trio of Taylor (13-366-2), SR WR/KR Gabriel Zawolo (16-149-2) and big GR TE Logan Frederick (10-112-0) are all threats Hobart will need to find a way to neutralize. Overall, this is an experienced offensive team the Statesmen will need to dig in to slow down.
Defensively, Utica is led by JR LB Isaiah Thomas with 25 total tackles and 2.5 TFL this season. SR DL Jordyn Davis is their primary pass rushing threat, tallying two sacks and TFLs to go with five tackles this season.
On special teams, the Pioneers have SR PK Nico Duarte who handles PATs, FGs, KOs and punts. He averages 44 YPP, 55.3 YPKO and has gone a perfect 7-7 on FGs this season, with a long of 41 yards back in Week 1. As mentioned above, Zawolo handles KOR and PR responsibilities, averaging 12.5 and 16.25, respectively for each.
Keys to the Game
1. Sack and Sideline Szalkowski - Now let's be clear, I'm not advocating Hobart injure the Utica QB1. What I'd like to see is a repeat performance from last year, a tough pass rush and sacking Szalkowski at least four times in the game. While SR DB Zeshan Dixon's INTs and pick six took all the Week 2 headlines, when you read the box score of the Brockport game, a big reason the Statesmen won was controlling the clock and limiting the Golden Eagles' explosive offense's possessions. Hobart hung onto the ball for almost 38 minutes in that game, and so by "sideline Szalkowski", I am saying do the same thing here - control the clock and leave the Pioneers high scoring offense on the sideline watching the Statesmen offense hand the ball off to SR RB E.J. Taylor and eat up time of possession.
2. Third Down - Another key stat from the win over the Golden Eagles was Hobart's holding Brockport to two of 10 on third down. The Pioneers have an experienced team, so they will have the chemistry and plays to move the chains, so the Statesmen need to hunker down and force punts and/or turnovers whenever they can.
3. Take the Points - Both teams have strong PKs and so I wouldn't be surprised to see this game come down to a FG (or a missed one). I saw a handful of teams go for it on 4th and short near the goal line when they easily could have collected three points and it cost them in their close games. While I do appreciate aggressive play calling here and there, Hobart's road record isn't great (21-18 in the Coach DeWall era), so if we have a chance to improve our side of the scoreboard, I'd take them.
Final Thoughts
Utica HC Blaise Faggiano won his 100th game last weekend and is effectively the "Dean" of Upstate NY D3FB coaches. Coach DeWall '00 has a little more than half that number (55 wins) but has the overall experience to lead the Statesmen to a tough road victory this weekend. The Pioneers will pack the house and be looking for payback from last year, so Hobart needs to play smart, fundamentally sound football and not make critical mistakes or allow explosive plays.
I like our chances, but don't be overconfident, pretty much "everyone" who covers D3FB views the Statesmen as an underdog in this one. I hope the team embraces that mentality and uses it to their advantage.
Thanks as always for reading and go 'Bart!
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