The Hobart Statesmen have completed their 2014 schedule and it is as follows:
9/6 Dickinson
9/13 @ Endicott
9/20 @ Curry
9/27 USMMA
10/4 @ WPI
10/11 Springfield
Bye week
10/25 @ RPI
11/1 Union
11/8 @ SLU
11/15 UofR
Neither Dickinson nor Curry have been that competitive of late, but have strong traditions. Endicott is interesting opponent in that they have won 8-10 games the past several seasons. In 2013 they came up short against eventual NEFC Champion Framingham State who almost beat Ithaca at home in the first round of the NCAA playoffs.
One thing is for sure, MA area and New England alumni will see a lot of the Statesmen in 2014.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Hobart Flattened by Fisher, 27-6
The eighth ranked Hobart Statesmen hosted a familiar foe Saturday when they took on the Saint John Fisher College Cardinals in a second round NCAA playoff game. Although Hobart was the home team and higher seed, the Cardinals were far from an underdog. The Statesmen got off to an auspicious start when JR FB Dominique Ellis fumbled the ball on the opening series of the game.
The turnover set up Fisher near midfield but a personal foul penalty on JR OL Ali Marpet improved the Cardinals field position. With only 36 yards to go, Fisher quickly found the end zone and a three yard Cody Miller touchdown got the visitors on the board 7-0 just over five minutes into the game.
Hobart would add fuel to the fire after a nine yard SR / P Yosh Karbowniczak punt was fielded by Fisher at the Statesmen 15 yard line. Hobart would dodge the bullet however as the defense made a stand and forced a 33 yard Brendan Carey field goal. The kick was wide left and the Statesmen would try and capitalize on the second chance. JR QB Patrick Conlan led the team down the field, eventually driving to the Fisher 18 yard line. The Cardinals defense stiffened and Hobart was unable to convert on fourth and eight, although Conlan could have gained the first down if he held onto the ball, he opted for a shovel pass to Karbowniczak but he wasn't able to collect the pass and the Statesmen turned the ball over on downs.
Fisher’s more sure handed receivers would take charge, but it really was a holding penalty on SR CB Connor Garrett that kept the Cardinals in business on the ensuing drive. SR QB Tyler Fenti would take advantage of the call and find SR WR Kevin Francis for 37 yards to get into the Hobart red zone. Two plays later, Fenti connected with JR WR Nathan Nigolian for 17 yards and a second Fisher TD. The Carey point after was good and with 7:31 to go in the first half, the Cardinals had a 14-0 lead.
The Statesmen attempted a few trick plays with SO WR Connor Merrill at quarterback but to no avail. At the half Fisher continued their 14-0 advantage and would receive the kickoff in the second half. The Cardinals Brandon Fuentes would take the kick 51 yards setting up Fisher with yet another short field. Although the Hobart defense held, Carey came away with a 27 yard field goal and the Cardinals lead was up to 17-0 only three and a half minutes into the third quarter.
Hobart would attempt to rally but once again made a mistake when Conlan was intercepted by FS Mike Guinta. On the very next play Fenti would effectively ice the game on a 32 yard TD pass to Francis.
Although Hobart would avoid the shutout due to a four yard JR TE Mike Berkowitz receiving touchdown, the Statesmen were otherwise too little, too late Saturday and fell by a score of 27-6. Fenti led the Cardinals with 244 passing yards and two touchdowns. Defensively Fisher dominated the Statesmen, holding Hobart to 241 total yards and six of 14 on third down. The Cardinals’ Ryan Seymour led the Fisher defense with nine tackles. The Statesmen defense was led by SR LB Cory Davis with a game high 10 stops. On offense Hobart was led by Conlan with 120 passing and 27 rushing yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.
The loss drops Hobart to 10-1 on the season and broke a 12 game home field winning streak by the Statesmen at Boswell Field. The win improves Fisher to 10-2 overall and advanced them into the National Quarterfinals for the second time in three years. The Cardinals, the final remaining East Region team in the tournament, will face off against third ranked University of Mary-Hardin Baylor next Saturday in Belton, Texas.
We'll discuss yesterday's game tonight at 7:30 PM on "In The HuddLLe" www.inthehuddlle.com. I'll also write up a season retrospective later this week.
The turnover set up Fisher near midfield but a personal foul penalty on JR OL Ali Marpet improved the Cardinals field position. With only 36 yards to go, Fisher quickly found the end zone and a three yard Cody Miller touchdown got the visitors on the board 7-0 just over five minutes into the game.
Hobart would add fuel to the fire after a nine yard SR / P Yosh Karbowniczak punt was fielded by Fisher at the Statesmen 15 yard line. Hobart would dodge the bullet however as the defense made a stand and forced a 33 yard Brendan Carey field goal. The kick was wide left and the Statesmen would try and capitalize on the second chance. JR QB Patrick Conlan led the team down the field, eventually driving to the Fisher 18 yard line. The Cardinals defense stiffened and Hobart was unable to convert on fourth and eight, although Conlan could have gained the first down if he held onto the ball, he opted for a shovel pass to Karbowniczak but he wasn't able to collect the pass and the Statesmen turned the ball over on downs.
Fisher’s more sure handed receivers would take charge, but it really was a holding penalty on SR CB Connor Garrett that kept the Cardinals in business on the ensuing drive. SR QB Tyler Fenti would take advantage of the call and find SR WR Kevin Francis for 37 yards to get into the Hobart red zone. Two plays later, Fenti connected with JR WR Nathan Nigolian for 17 yards and a second Fisher TD. The Carey point after was good and with 7:31 to go in the first half, the Cardinals had a 14-0 lead.
The Statesmen attempted a few trick plays with SO WR Connor Merrill at quarterback but to no avail. At the half Fisher continued their 14-0 advantage and would receive the kickoff in the second half. The Cardinals Brandon Fuentes would take the kick 51 yards setting up Fisher with yet another short field. Although the Hobart defense held, Carey came away with a 27 yard field goal and the Cardinals lead was up to 17-0 only three and a half minutes into the third quarter.
Hobart would attempt to rally but once again made a mistake when Conlan was intercepted by FS Mike Guinta. On the very next play Fenti would effectively ice the game on a 32 yard TD pass to Francis.
Although Hobart would avoid the shutout due to a four yard JR TE Mike Berkowitz receiving touchdown, the Statesmen were otherwise too little, too late Saturday and fell by a score of 27-6. Fenti led the Cardinals with 244 passing yards and two touchdowns. Defensively Fisher dominated the Statesmen, holding Hobart to 241 total yards and six of 14 on third down. The Cardinals’ Ryan Seymour led the Fisher defense with nine tackles. The Statesmen defense was led by SR LB Cory Davis with a game high 10 stops. On offense Hobart was led by Conlan with 120 passing and 27 rushing yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.
The loss drops Hobart to 10-1 on the season and broke a 12 game home field winning streak by the Statesmen at Boswell Field. The win improves Fisher to 10-2 overall and advanced them into the National Quarterfinals for the second time in three years. The Cardinals, the final remaining East Region team in the tournament, will face off against third ranked University of Mary-Hardin Baylor next Saturday in Belton, Texas.
We'll discuss yesterday's game tonight at 7:30 PM on "In The HuddLLe" www.inthehuddlle.com. I'll also write up a season retrospective later this week.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
NCAA Rd 2 / SJFC Game Preview
The Hobart College Statesmen (10-0) will host a familiar foe in the second round of the NCAA Division III Football Championship tournament this Saturday at Boswell Field. The Saint John Fisher College Cardinals (SJFC) will make the short trip from Rochester, NY down the NYS Thruway to Geneva. The Cardinals (9-2) upset the ninth ranked John Carroll University Blue Streaks (9-2) in Cleveland, OH last weekend thanks to causing six turnovers, including four interceptions (INTs), to earn a 25-16 first round upset on a cold and snowy day.
Hobart defeated the Cardinals soundly, 56-20, back in the 2011 season but SJFC won the last time they faced off at the “Boz” spoiling the 2010 Homecoming game I attended in person, 34-14. The Cardinals and Statesmen last met in the NCAA playoffs back in 2007, which was a convincing 24-7 win by Fisher.
Scouting the Cardinals:
This season the Cardinals are scoring 32.7 PPG while allowing 20.4 PPG on defense. Their offense is weighted towards the pass, having gained 2,912 yards this season via the air. SJFC averages 412.6 YPG on offense and have scored exactly 23 rushing and passing TDs each.
Leading the Fisher offense is SR QB Tyler Fenti. A dual threat, he’s gone 204 of 311 (~66% completion rate) for 2,560 yards and 21 passing TDs compared to eight INTs. Fenti has added 370 rushing yards and five TDs on the ground as well. SR RB Cody Miller is the Cardinals’ feature back and he has gained 1,006 yards on the season, scoring 15 rushing TDs. Fenti’s top targets are SR WR Kevin Francis (54 receptions for 851 yards and 8 TDs) and JR WR Nathan Nigolian (50 catches for 738 yards and seven TDs).
The SJFC defense is led by a talented LB corp, headed by JR LB Sean Preish with a team high 110 tackles including 14 TFL, seven sacks and an INT. SR LB Mike Donitzen has 64 tackles, 11 TFL, three sacks and two INTs. SR DB Mike Guinta has added 57 tackles, three TFL and a team high six INTs.
The Cardinals special teams unit is led by SR PK Brendan Carey. Carey has converted four of eight FGs with a long of 39 yards. JR WR / P Ryan Sweet handles punting duties and has kicked 41 punts for a 38.3 YPP average.
Keys to the game:
1. Time of Possession – In both of Fisher’s losses this season, the Cardinals only held the ball for 25 and 22 minutes, respectively. Effectively the best defense for the SJFC offense is to keep them on the sidelines. Hobart can take a page from the Salisbury (6-4) game where the Gulls racked up an amazing 451 rushing yards en route to a 42-35 win that wasn't as close as that final score appears. A heavy dose of running plays can wear down the Cardinals “D” and avoid TFL and/or sacks and INTs which are their bread and butter. SJFC has racked up 33 sacks on defense this season (three per game on average) and they will bring a great deal of pressure.
2. Win the Second and Fourth Quarters – Going into halftime with momentum will be critical in this game. Fisher has outscored opponents 145-40 in this frame during the season. Likewise, the Cardinals have been strong closers, outscoring their opposition 107-59 in the fourth. If the Statesmen can set the tone of the game in the first and third quarters, and force the Cardinals to play from behind, Hobart has a good chance to win and advance to the Quarterfinals.
3. Play Smart - These programs have arguably two of the best in the East Region for about a decade. Given the profile and proximity of the schools there's a natural local rivalry. Fisher can be chippy at times and were called for several (11 for -111 yards in) penalties in their game against JCU. Hobart has seen this with other opponents and will have to avoid any extra cirricular activity after the whistle. The Cardinals are an experienced team, so they'll pick their spots and take calculated risks. I don't see much rattling them, so Hobart will need to be equally firm in this game.
4. Forget Total Yardage, Focus on the Final Score - It's possible Fisher may out-gain the Statesmen. Their passing offense is very strong and will likely eat up a lot of yardage on Saturday, especially given the size and speed of their WRs. Ithaca and Salisbury had success in limiting the Cardinals running game, forcing Fisher to beat them with the pass. In the game against Ithaca (9-2), that lead to two Cardinal INTs.
5. Red Zone Defense - Points will be at a premium in this contest so any trips to the red zone that don't produce a TD are wins for the defense. Against Ithaca, for example, Fisher went three of five in the red zone (60%) and ended up losing that game by three points (25-22).
Prediction:
The weather for Saturday is a high of 32, mostly cloudy with 0% chance of rain/snow, and light wind 8 mph. This forecast is actually pretty nice for Upstate NY in late November. I don't suspect the conditions to really affect the game that much and look for Hobart to try and establish their running game while taking a few shots downfield when the right matchups present themselves, like they have all season.
The Cardinals defense is aggressive so the Statesmen OL will need to do their best to open up running lanes and give JR QB Patrick Conlan or Kyle Bayly time in the pocket. Conlan should be able to play, but either way, I see Hobart sticking to what got them this far - a strong rushing attack, tough defense and opportunistic special teams.
This will be the toughest opponent the Statesmen will have faced to date, but Fisher has some chinks in their armor. To their credit, they've played a tougher schedule and beaten better teams than Hobart has this season. Still, the IC and SU losses point to their weaknesses and that will help the Statesmen coaching staff with their game plans.
I'll take Hobart to eke out a hard fought 32-21 victory Saturday that won't be decided until the fourth quarter - something that hasn't happened all year.
Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!
Hobart defeated the Cardinals soundly, 56-20, back in the 2011 season but SJFC won the last time they faced off at the “Boz” spoiling the 2010 Homecoming game I attended in person, 34-14. The Cardinals and Statesmen last met in the NCAA playoffs back in 2007, which was a convincing 24-7 win by Fisher.
Scouting the Cardinals:
This season the Cardinals are scoring 32.7 PPG while allowing 20.4 PPG on defense. Their offense is weighted towards the pass, having gained 2,912 yards this season via the air. SJFC averages 412.6 YPG on offense and have scored exactly 23 rushing and passing TDs each.
Leading the Fisher offense is SR QB Tyler Fenti. A dual threat, he’s gone 204 of 311 (~66% completion rate) for 2,560 yards and 21 passing TDs compared to eight INTs. Fenti has added 370 rushing yards and five TDs on the ground as well. SR RB Cody Miller is the Cardinals’ feature back and he has gained 1,006 yards on the season, scoring 15 rushing TDs. Fenti’s top targets are SR WR Kevin Francis (54 receptions for 851 yards and 8 TDs) and JR WR Nathan Nigolian (50 catches for 738 yards and seven TDs).
The SJFC defense is led by a talented LB corp, headed by JR LB Sean Preish with a team high 110 tackles including 14 TFL, seven sacks and an INT. SR LB Mike Donitzen has 64 tackles, 11 TFL, three sacks and two INTs. SR DB Mike Guinta has added 57 tackles, three TFL and a team high six INTs.
The Cardinals special teams unit is led by SR PK Brendan Carey. Carey has converted four of eight FGs with a long of 39 yards. JR WR / P Ryan Sweet handles punting duties and has kicked 41 punts for a 38.3 YPP average.
Keys to the game:
1. Time of Possession – In both of Fisher’s losses this season, the Cardinals only held the ball for 25 and 22 minutes, respectively. Effectively the best defense for the SJFC offense is to keep them on the sidelines. Hobart can take a page from the Salisbury (6-4) game where the Gulls racked up an amazing 451 rushing yards en route to a 42-35 win that wasn't as close as that final score appears. A heavy dose of running plays can wear down the Cardinals “D” and avoid TFL and/or sacks and INTs which are their bread and butter. SJFC has racked up 33 sacks on defense this season (three per game on average) and they will bring a great deal of pressure.
2. Win the Second and Fourth Quarters – Going into halftime with momentum will be critical in this game. Fisher has outscored opponents 145-40 in this frame during the season. Likewise, the Cardinals have been strong closers, outscoring their opposition 107-59 in the fourth. If the Statesmen can set the tone of the game in the first and third quarters, and force the Cardinals to play from behind, Hobart has a good chance to win and advance to the Quarterfinals.
3. Play Smart - These programs have arguably two of the best in the East Region for about a decade. Given the profile and proximity of the schools there's a natural local rivalry. Fisher can be chippy at times and were called for several (11 for -111 yards in) penalties in their game against JCU. Hobart has seen this with other opponents and will have to avoid any extra cirricular activity after the whistle. The Cardinals are an experienced team, so they'll pick their spots and take calculated risks. I don't see much rattling them, so Hobart will need to be equally firm in this game.
4. Forget Total Yardage, Focus on the Final Score - It's possible Fisher may out-gain the Statesmen. Their passing offense is very strong and will likely eat up a lot of yardage on Saturday, especially given the size and speed of their WRs. Ithaca and Salisbury had success in limiting the Cardinals running game, forcing Fisher to beat them with the pass. In the game against Ithaca (9-2), that lead to two Cardinal INTs.
5. Red Zone Defense - Points will be at a premium in this contest so any trips to the red zone that don't produce a TD are wins for the defense. Against Ithaca, for example, Fisher went three of five in the red zone (60%) and ended up losing that game by three points (25-22).
Prediction:
The weather for Saturday is a high of 32, mostly cloudy with 0% chance of rain/snow, and light wind 8 mph. This forecast is actually pretty nice for Upstate NY in late November. I don't suspect the conditions to really affect the game that much and look for Hobart to try and establish their running game while taking a few shots downfield when the right matchups present themselves, like they have all season.
The Cardinals defense is aggressive so the Statesmen OL will need to do their best to open up running lanes and give JR QB Patrick Conlan or Kyle Bayly time in the pocket. Conlan should be able to play, but either way, I see Hobart sticking to what got them this far - a strong rushing attack, tough defense and opportunistic special teams.
This will be the toughest opponent the Statesmen will have faced to date, but Fisher has some chinks in their armor. To their credit, they've played a tougher schedule and beaten better teams than Hobart has this season. Still, the IC and SU losses point to their weaknesses and that will help the Statesmen coaching staff with their game plans.
I'll take Hobart to eke out a hard fought 32-21 victory Saturday that won't be decided until the fourth quarter - something that hasn't happened all year.
Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Hobart Beats Bison, 34-7, & Lots of Other Headlines....
The eighth ranked Hobart College Statesmen hosted the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) Champions, the Gallaudet University Bison at Boswell Field in the first round of the NCAA Division III Football Championship tournament.
The Bison, being the only University in the country that specifically serves deaf and hard of hearing students, had a mountain of press this week including a feature on ESPN. The attention is well deserved, especially given their first ever run to the NCAA tournament.
The Statesmen however have been there and done that and were ready to show it. After a defensive stop, Hobart would score on it's initial offensive possession. A 14 play drive that featured a balanced attack of passes and runs ended with a two yard SR RB Steven Webb TD with 6:26 to go in the first quarter.
After both teams turned the ball over on downs, Gallaudet looked to make something happen with their first possession of the second quarter. JR DE Tyre Coleman had other plans, causing a fumble which was scooped up by SR OLB Devin Worthington and returned 48 yards for the score. Tonight at 7:30 PM ET we'll have Devin on In The HuddLLe (www.inthehuddlle.com). Tune in or catch the interview on our podcast.
Although the point after failed, Hobart enjoyed an early 13-0 advantage. Bison Head Coach Chuck Goldstein decided to try another fourth down conversion, but SO DE Mark Guarino-Hyde snuffed out the play. Three Webb runs later and he had his second TD, pushing Statesmen's lead to 20-0 after the FY PK Sean Kirsche kick was good.
You could say everything was going the Statesmen's way, which was true, until a fateful tackle behind the line of scrimmage hobbled JR QB Patrick Conlan. Conlan had to be carried off the field and was unable to put any weight on his injured leg. JR QB Kyle Bayly came in and led the offense to another score, a one yard JR TE Mike Berkowitz TD pass to push Hobart's lead to 27-0 just before halftime. We probably won't know Conlan's status until Saturday's game.
The offensive fireworks would resume on the first play of the third quarter. Webb took the first hand off from scrimmage and streaked 58 yards to the end zone for this third, and 20th rushing, TD. The latter broke a long standing Statesmen record (hopefully someone in Geneva has nominated Webb for the Gagliardi Trophy by now).
Up 34-0 Head Coach Mike Cragg emptied the benches and although the reserves did allow a one yard BJ Flores TD, they held the Bison out of the end zone as time expired for a 34-7 victory.
Webb led Hobart with 161 rushing yards and three scores. The defense was led by Coleman with a game high 10 tackles and three and a half for a loss.
Flores led all rushers with 176 rushing yards, most of them coming in the second half. Three Bison defenders tallied nine stops a piece.
The loss drops Gallaudet to 9-2 and ends what was otherwise a remarkable and historic season. The win improves Hobart to 10-0 overall and the Statesmen will host 9-2 Saint John Fisher College, who upset OAC runner up John Carroll University 25-16, in the Second Round of the NCAAs next Saturday in Geneva. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.
Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!
The Bison, being the only University in the country that specifically serves deaf and hard of hearing students, had a mountain of press this week including a feature on ESPN. The attention is well deserved, especially given their first ever run to the NCAA tournament.
The Statesmen however have been there and done that and were ready to show it. After a defensive stop, Hobart would score on it's initial offensive possession. A 14 play drive that featured a balanced attack of passes and runs ended with a two yard SR RB Steven Webb TD with 6:26 to go in the first quarter.
After both teams turned the ball over on downs, Gallaudet looked to make something happen with their first possession of the second quarter. JR DE Tyre Coleman had other plans, causing a fumble which was scooped up by SR OLB Devin Worthington and returned 48 yards for the score. Tonight at 7:30 PM ET we'll have Devin on In The HuddLLe (www.inthehuddlle.com). Tune in or catch the interview on our podcast.
Although the point after failed, Hobart enjoyed an early 13-0 advantage. Bison Head Coach Chuck Goldstein decided to try another fourth down conversion, but SO DE Mark Guarino-Hyde snuffed out the play. Three Webb runs later and he had his second TD, pushing Statesmen's lead to 20-0 after the FY PK Sean Kirsche kick was good.
You could say everything was going the Statesmen's way, which was true, until a fateful tackle behind the line of scrimmage hobbled JR QB Patrick Conlan. Conlan had to be carried off the field and was unable to put any weight on his injured leg. JR QB Kyle Bayly came in and led the offense to another score, a one yard JR TE Mike Berkowitz TD pass to push Hobart's lead to 27-0 just before halftime. We probably won't know Conlan's status until Saturday's game.
The offensive fireworks would resume on the first play of the third quarter. Webb took the first hand off from scrimmage and streaked 58 yards to the end zone for this third, and 20th rushing, TD. The latter broke a long standing Statesmen record (hopefully someone in Geneva has nominated Webb for the Gagliardi Trophy by now).
Up 34-0 Head Coach Mike Cragg emptied the benches and although the reserves did allow a one yard BJ Flores TD, they held the Bison out of the end zone as time expired for a 34-7 victory.
Webb led Hobart with 161 rushing yards and three scores. The defense was led by Coleman with a game high 10 tackles and three and a half for a loss.
Flores led all rushers with 176 rushing yards, most of them coming in the second half. Three Bison defenders tallied nine stops a piece.
The loss drops Gallaudet to 9-2 and ends what was otherwise a remarkable and historic season. The win improves Hobart to 10-0 overall and the Statesmen will host 9-2 Saint John Fisher College, who upset OAC runner up John Carroll University 25-16, in the Second Round of the NCAAs next Saturday in Geneva. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.
Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!
Thursday, November 21, 2013
NCAA RD 1 Gallaudet Game Preview
It’s playoff time and for the third year in a row, the Hobart College Statesmen have made it into the field of 32 teams vying for the National Championship. Based on Sunday night’s NCAA Selections, Hobart (9-0, 7-0) landed the second seed in the bracket headed by third ranked University of Mary-Hardin Baylor (10-0, 6-0). UMHB is a rising powerhouse program out of Belton, TX (about an hour away from Austin). In order to punch a ticket to Belton, Hobart needs first to defeat the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) Champion Gallaudet University Bison.
Gallaudet (GU), out of Washington, DC, is another triple option team but is unique to collegiate sports in that GU is a school for the deaf / hard of hearing. The Bison (9-1, 6-1) came up short in their bid to have an undefeated season after losing 7-6 to ECFC rival SUNY-Maritime (5-5, 5-2). Although GU did defeat the University of Rochester (5-4, 3-3) by a similar margin (three TDs) of victory as the Statesmen, Hobart (9-0, 7-0) is considered a heavy favorite in this game.
Scouting the Bison:
GU averages 366.5 YPG with 316.7 YPG rushing given their triple option offense. The Bison has averages 27.8 PPG. The key players for GU on offense include SO QB Todd Bonheyo who leads the Bison with 387 passing yards, two passing TDs to go with five INTs. Bonheyo has rushed for 583 yards and seven scores. Bonheyo was knocked out of the game in the second to final series against SUNY-Maritime (which was the primary reason the Bison went for two and the win), so it remains to be seen if he’ll be able to suit up vs. the Statesmen or not. If he can’t go, either FY QB Chris Papacek or SO QB Quentin Williams will get the start.
The Bison feature a trio of rushers including SO FB BJ Flores (1051 rushing yards and four TDs), SR RB Ryan Bonheyo (Todd’s older brother who’s rushed for 497 rushing yards and nine TDs and 152 receiving yards with two TD catches) and SO RB Braxton Baker (241 rushing yards and six TDs).
Defensively GU has allowed 260.5 YPG and is tough against the run only allowing 100.5 rush YPG. Their points allowed are a respectable 14.8 PPG. The Bison are led on defense by a pair of JR LB’s including Gregg McConville and Jaris Alleyne. This duo has tallied 85 tackles, three sacks, 11.5 TFL and 84 tackles, three sacks, eight and a half TFL, respectively.
The GU special teams unit is led by SO PK Chase Magsig who’s connected on five of eight FGs, including a long of 38 yards. Magsig has converted 31 of 35 PATs and is also the punter, averaging 33.9 YPP with a long of 66 yards.
Keys to the Game:
- Early and Often – Hobart’s had a couple of weeks of slow starts on offense. Against Saint Lawrence (7-3, 5-2) the Statesmen’s first TD came at 3:23 to go in the first quarter. Against Rochester it took even longer, at 13:52 to go in the second quarter. I’d like to see the Statesmen put the Bison on their heels early in the game as triple option offenses aren't that effective playing from behind.
- Third Down – A key in their loss to SUNY-Maritime last weekend were the Bison’s struggles converting on third down. The Privateer defense only allowed five out of 14 conversions and kept GU under 200 yards rushing. Hobart’s rushing defense is considerably better, and given their familiarity defending against the option, should be able to pin down the Bison.
- Wet and Wild – The forecast for Saturday’s game is a high of 39 degrees and 60% chance of rain. That’s playoff weather, and the Statesmen need to avoid fumbles on offense while looking to create them on defense.
Prediction:
Occasionally first round playoff match ups feature blowouts. In spite of all the national media love shown to GU, and deservedly so, I think the Bison's Cinderella run hits midnight at noon this Saturday. Although Hobart will have its hands full in the second round, I think the Bison is a relatively easy out for the eighth ranked team in the country. I’ll take Hobart to win this game 42-14 and advance to Sweet 16.
Follow me on twitter @ITHuddLLe for score updates on Saturday and tune in Sunday night to www.inthehuddlle.com to hear about this game and the rest of the playoffs, at 7:30 PM ET.
Thanks for reading and go Bart!
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
20 Statesmen and Coaches Garner All League Recognition
Yesterday the Liberty League (LL) published their annual Football awards and the eighth ranked Hobart College Statesmen (9-0, 7-0) were well represented. A link to the release can be found here.
Coach Cragg and his staff won the Coaches' Award and SR RB Steven Webb was an unanimous selection as Offensive Player of the Year (OPOY). JR DE Tyre Coleman won a second Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award as well.
Overall, 20 players were recognized, earning 21 All LL team spots. Here they are:
First Team Offense:
RB Steven Webb
RB Dominique Ellis
OL Michael Green
OL Ali Marpet
First Team Defense:
DL Tyre Coleman
DL Mark Guarino-Hyde
LB Trayvon Toney
LB Devin Worthington
DB Fajri Jackson
First Team Specialists:
RS Troy Robinson
Second Team Offense:
WR Troy Robinson
OL DeAndre Smith
OL Alex Bush
Second Team Defense:
DL Troy Johnson
DB Jolyon Davis
Second Team Specialists:
K Sean Kirsche
Honorable Mention Offense:
TE Mike Berkowitz
QB Patrick Conlan
OL Trevor Schutte
Honorable Mention Defense:
LB Nolan Toran
Honorable Mention Specialists:
P Yosh Karbowniczak
Congratulations to all these great Statesmen!
Tomorrow I'll publish my NCAA Game Preview. Go 'Bart!
Coach Cragg and his staff won the Coaches' Award and SR RB Steven Webb was an unanimous selection as Offensive Player of the Year (OPOY). JR DE Tyre Coleman won a second Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award as well.
Overall, 20 players were recognized, earning 21 All LL team spots. Here they are:
First Team Offense:
RB Steven Webb
RB Dominique Ellis
OL Michael Green
OL Ali Marpet
First Team Defense:
DL Tyre Coleman
DL Mark Guarino-Hyde
LB Trayvon Toney
LB Devin Worthington
DB Fajri Jackson
First Team Specialists:
RS Troy Robinson
Second Team Offense:
WR Troy Robinson
OL DeAndre Smith
OL Alex Bush
Second Team Defense:
DL Troy Johnson
DB Jolyon Davis
Second Team Specialists:
K Sean Kirsche
Honorable Mention Offense:
TE Mike Berkowitz
QB Patrick Conlan
OL Trevor Schutte
Honorable Mention Defense:
LB Nolan Toran
Honorable Mention Specialists:
P Yosh Karbowniczak
Congratulations to all these great Statesmen!
Tomorrow I'll publish my NCAA Game Preview. Go 'Bart!
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Hobart Out-Gained, But Still Win Big, 42-21
The seventh ranked Hobart College Statesmen finished their second consecutive unbeaten regular season with a hard fought 42-21 victory over their oldest rivals, the University of Rochester Yellow Jackets Saturday at Fauver Stadium. It was the 106th meeting between the two programs, Hobart now owning a 51-48-7 overall lead in the series. Apparently the Statesmen and Jackets got a shout out on ESPN's College Game Day this morning given the age of this series.
The Statesmen (9-0, 7-0) needed a big second half and an opportunistic defense to put away a pesky Rochester (5-4, 3-3) team. The Yellow Jackets racked up 504 yards on 95 plays compared to Hobart's 376 on 47.
After a scoreless first quarter that featured punts and field position, the Statesmen finally got on the board thanks to JR FB Dominique Ellis scoring from 11 yards out with 13:52 to go in the second quarter.
Rochester would respond on the next drive, when SR QB Dean Kennedy slipped past several would be Hobart tacklers from six yards out to tie it up 7-7 with 8:26 to go in the half.
JR QB Patrick Conlan would air it out twice finding classmates JR WR Elvin Souffrant and John Fasano for 45 and 16 yards, respectively. Conlan would finish the drive with a 17 yard TD pass to JR TE Mike Berkowitz to give the Statesmen the 14-7 lead with 5:33 remaining in the second quarter. Although Kennedy got the Yellow Jackets into the Hobart two yard line, SR FS Jolyon Davis intercepted a last ditch effort as time expired so Hobart could hang on to a 14-7 lead at the half.
Rochester came out stinging in the third quarter however, taking a play from the Statesmen special teams book. SO OLB Chris Merenich blocked a SR WR Yosh Karbowniczak punt which was recovered by Yellow Jacket FY ILB David Wolff. The block gave Kennedy and the Rochester offense the ball at the Hobart 33 yard line. Three plays later Kennedy would find SR WR Thomas Hayes open for a 29 yard TD and tied the game 14-14 with 11:32 to go in the third quarter.
The Statesmen would blow the doors off on three big plays including a 43 yard TD run by Ellis, a pick six by Davis and a 64 yard Fasano TD catch and run to push the Hobart lead to 35-14 going into the fourth quarter. The lead expanded to 42-14 after a 48 yard SR RB Steven Webb TD run.
Although the Jackets would score another TD, a play in which SR LB Tony Ortega came in as a RB/TE, the Statesmen would win the game by a final score of 42-21.
Hobart was led by Conlan with 185 passing yards and two TDs. The combo of Ellis and Webb rushed for a combined 160 yards and three scores. Defensively the Statesmen were led by SO LB Trayvon Toney with a game high 14 tackles.
Rochester was led by Kennedy with a game high 325 passing yards and two scores (but three interceptions, SR CB Connor Garrett collected the third). The Yellow Jacket defense was led by Ortega and SR LB Zach Cicero, with nine stops a piece.
The win improves Hobart to 9-0, their second consecutive undefeated regular season. The Statesmen have now run the LL table in back to back seasons as well. Hobart will await word this Sunday night at 6pm ET when the Division III Football Championship Bracket is released by the NCAA.
We are interviewing the Committee Chair Duey Naatz on www.inthehuddlle.com at 7:55 PM ET.
Thanks for reading and go Bart!
The Statesmen (9-0, 7-0) needed a big second half and an opportunistic defense to put away a pesky Rochester (5-4, 3-3) team. The Yellow Jackets racked up 504 yards on 95 plays compared to Hobart's 376 on 47.
After a scoreless first quarter that featured punts and field position, the Statesmen finally got on the board thanks to JR FB Dominique Ellis scoring from 11 yards out with 13:52 to go in the second quarter.
Rochester would respond on the next drive, when SR QB Dean Kennedy slipped past several would be Hobart tacklers from six yards out to tie it up 7-7 with 8:26 to go in the half.
JR QB Patrick Conlan would air it out twice finding classmates JR WR Elvin Souffrant and John Fasano for 45 and 16 yards, respectively. Conlan would finish the drive with a 17 yard TD pass to JR TE Mike Berkowitz to give the Statesmen the 14-7 lead with 5:33 remaining in the second quarter. Although Kennedy got the Yellow Jackets into the Hobart two yard line, SR FS Jolyon Davis intercepted a last ditch effort as time expired so Hobart could hang on to a 14-7 lead at the half.
Rochester came out stinging in the third quarter however, taking a play from the Statesmen special teams book. SO OLB Chris Merenich blocked a SR WR Yosh Karbowniczak punt which was recovered by Yellow Jacket FY ILB David Wolff. The block gave Kennedy and the Rochester offense the ball at the Hobart 33 yard line. Three plays later Kennedy would find SR WR Thomas Hayes open for a 29 yard TD and tied the game 14-14 with 11:32 to go in the third quarter.
The Statesmen would blow the doors off on three big plays including a 43 yard TD run by Ellis, a pick six by Davis and a 64 yard Fasano TD catch and run to push the Hobart lead to 35-14 going into the fourth quarter. The lead expanded to 42-14 after a 48 yard SR RB Steven Webb TD run.
Although the Jackets would score another TD, a play in which SR LB Tony Ortega came in as a RB/TE, the Statesmen would win the game by a final score of 42-21.
Hobart was led by Conlan with 185 passing yards and two TDs. The combo of Ellis and Webb rushed for a combined 160 yards and three scores. Defensively the Statesmen were led by SO LB Trayvon Toney with a game high 14 tackles.
Rochester was led by Kennedy with a game high 325 passing yards and two scores (but three interceptions, SR CB Connor Garrett collected the third). The Yellow Jacket defense was led by Ortega and SR LB Zach Cicero, with nine stops a piece.
The win improves Hobart to 9-0, their second consecutive undefeated regular season. The Statesmen have now run the LL table in back to back seasons as well. Hobart will await word this Sunday night at 6pm ET when the Division III Football Championship Bracket is released by the NCAA.
We are interviewing the Committee Chair Duey Naatz on www.inthehuddlle.com at 7:55 PM ET.
Thanks for reading and go Bart!
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