It will be a battle of unbeaten teams when the seventh ranked Hobart College Statesmen (12-0) faces off against the fourth ranked University of Saint Thomas (12-0) in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Tommies are the champions of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) and is a program that has become one of Division III’s best in the past few seasons. UST is making their fourth consecutive NCAA playoff and national quarterfinal run and have amassed an impressive 48-4 (.923) record since 2009. The Tommies advanced to the National Semifinals in 2011, losing 20-0 to the eventual National Champion University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
UST is a young squad and has suffered a few injuries this season leaving some to say they are more vulnerable than they have been in prior years. The Tommies had to come back from a 14-0 deficit against the seventeenth ranked Elmhurst College Blue Jays (10-2) last Saturday, using an 86 yard fumble return for a touchdown (TD) to spark the team to a hard fought 24-17 win.
UST is lead by SO QB Matt O’Connell who has thrown for 2253 yards (204.8 YPG) and 22 TDs compared to 10 interceptions (INT). O’Connell is undefeated as the Tommies’ starter and is a mobile QB, rushing for 719 yards (65.4 YPG) this season and three TDs. O’Connell’s favorite targets are Dan Ferrazzo (42 catches for 622 yards and four TDs) and Logan Marks (38 catches for 440 yards and six receiving TDs).
O’Connell is protected by 6’ 3” 304 lbs SR OL Curtis James, a finalist for the prestigious Gagliardi Trophy (sort of like the DIII version of the Heisman Trophy except it factors in a lot more than just football stats) which presented annually to the “outstanding football player in NCAA Division III who exhibits excellence in athletics, academics and community service.” The Tommies’ OL has only allowed ten sacks all season and has helped open holes for RB Brenton Braddock to rush for 914 yards and 12 TDs.
In spite of averaging an impressive 36.2 PPG on offense, much like Hobart, the UST calling card is on the defensive side of the ball. The Tommies are especially effective stopping the run, holding opponents to a mere 75.9 YPG. This excellence on the DL has forced opponents to pass, and UST has given up over 200 YPG through the air, but only 14 total passing TDs in 12 games.
The Tommies’ “D” is lead by SR LB Mike Valesano and JR OLB Tremayn Williams with 46 and 45.5 total tackles, respectively. UST has sacked opposing QB 38 times on the season for -219 yards and has 79 TFL for -336 yards.
Keys to the Game:
1. Win the line of scrimmage (LOS) – Both teams boast excellent rushing defenses. The Tommies have held opponents to 75.92 YPG and Hobart isn’t that far behind with an 88.08 YPG mark. Elmhurst did have a good running game thanks to having one of the best overall RBs in all of DIII (Scottie Williams) and gained 180 rushing yards last weekend. Reviewing the Blue Jay game tape and plan may show Coach DeWall some gaps on the UST 30-stack defense that the Hobart OL can try and exploit with JR RB Steve Webb and SR RB Bobby Dougherty. The weather is looking cold (high of 44) and potentially wet (30% chance of “few showers”). A light (12 mph) wind will probably make it feel much colder. If the Hobart OL can keep the Tommie pass rush at bay (they, like the Statesmen average over three sacks a game) and the rain holds off, either SR QB Nick Strang or SR QB Kelly Olney may look to test UST downfield. The Statesmen will likely have to trust in secondary options in the passing game as SR WR Junior Woodard will likely draw Tommies’ best cover man and/or double coverage down field. Olney and/or Strang will need SO TE Mike Berkowitz and JR WR Yosh Karbowniczak to come up with some key catches to keep the UST defense honest. Although UST is on another level, this game could play out similarly to when Hobart struggled on the road against Saint Lawrence. A long road trip to a wet field and a tough rushing defense forced the offense to switch gears. Strang would go on to have what I thought was his best overall passing game of his SR year, going 15 of 18 for 233 yards and three passing TDs. Conversely on the defensive end, SR DT Nick Auriemma and FY Mark Guarino-Hyde will be keys to disrupting a big Tommie OL and freeing up SR LBs Andrew Klindera and Nick Zapp to make plays at the LOS. Given O’Connell’s mobility, Hobart will need to stay in their lanes and not over pursue. The latter killed them against SO QB Connor Eck in the Union game, so I hope the Statesmen “stay home” and avoid falling victim to naked boot legs and other plays on the outside.
2. Road Warriors – Hobart has never won a NCAA playoff game away from Boswell Field. The Tommies are especially tough to beat at home going 32-2 under Head Coach Caruso (who played at Ithaca and beat the Statesmen twice during his “Bomber years”) including 15 in a row. The Tommies have outscored opponents early and often during the regular season. However, they found themselves down 14-0 early to Elmhurst and needed two 80+ yard plays (a fumble recovery and long pass) to get back into the game. The Statesmen’s early ability to sustain drives and maintain good field position will do a lot of good for their confidence.
3. Third (and fourth) down conversions – Both Hobart and St. Thomas have excellent third down defenses, the Tommies holding opponents to a 28.11 conversion percentage and the Statesmen not far behind at 31.58%. Last week Elmhurst converted over 53% of their third downs (nine of 17) and even went for it four times, converting once, on fourth down. Coach Cragg has shown little fear of going for it on fourth down, and the Statesmen have a pretty good track record. Hobart has attempted 25 fourth down conversions, making 17 (or 68%) of them. As stated above, field position will also be very important, especially if the defenses run the show and both teams need to relay on their punters. UST has a very good one in Garrett Maloney. He averages over 40 YPP. Karbowniczak’s average dropped slightly to 38.45 YPP after a tough outing in the swirling winds of Saturday’s game vs. Wittenberg. Still a blocked (or shank) punt could really turn the game around for either team. Could a fake be in the game plan? Maybe. The Statesmen have been a lot more conservative in that department of late, most likely due to trust in their defense which has been well earned.
4. Turnovers – It goes without saying that this will be a big, if not the biggest factor, in determining the winner of Saturday’s game. Hobart doesn’t turn over the ball much but they equally don’t create many turnovers either. O’Connell didn’t pass much vs. Elmhurst (only 14 attempts) and was as apt to run with the ball as throw it. If SO DE Tyre Coleman, JR OLB Devin Worthington and others can get to O’Connell, hopefully they will “play for the ball” and force a fumble (or two). The Hobart secondary has done well coming up with an interception here and there which would be huge against UST.
Prediction:
The Statesmen have had a great run in the 2012 season and the good news is although they are the underdog in this game they also have a good chance of pulling off the upset. Andrew Lovell of D3sports.com did a nice job comparing the similarities and differences of both teams in a D3football.com feature story (check it out at www.d3football.com) earlier today.
I remain cautiously optimistic about Hobart’s chances given the Tommies’ youth. Still, they are clearly the more experienced playoff competitor so you have to give them the edge in that department. The Statesmen do have enough components and are, in my (biased?) opinion a better team than the Elmhurst one that could have upended UST last weekend. If the Hobart defense can hold the Tommies to under 21 points, the Statesmen can win. UST is virtually unbeaten in games when they score 21 or more.
I will go out on a limb and predict a close 21-17 win for the Statesmen. If Hobart falls Saturday it will be disappointing but it wouldn’t detract from one of, if not the best, season in Statesmen football history.
The game will kick off at 12 PM CT / 1 PM ET. WEOS FM and Ted Baker will have the Hobart call at www.weos.org and information on the webcast and related live stats will be on www.hwsathletics.com. For those going to the game, the Hobart Alumni Office has organized a get together Friday night at “Champps” bar in the Sibley Mall Plaza. A tailgate at “Purple on the Plaza” starts at 10:30 AM local time on game day.
No matter what the outcome, it’s the biggest game yet, so GO ‘BART!
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Hobart Runs Away from Wittenberg, 35-10, Advance to Elite 8
The seventh ranked Hobart Statesmen got off to a rocky start but eventually dominated visiting 24th ranked Wittenberg University Tigers to win 35-10 in the second round of the NCAA DIII Football Playoffs. The Statesmen (12-0) were lead by JR RB Steven Webb with 130 rushing yards including a highlight reel worthy 57 yard scamper for the final of five rushing touchdowns (TDs) on the day. This is the first time in Hobart's 119 year history the team has won 12 games in a season and advanced to the National Quarterfinals.
The wintry and windy conditions caused both teams to struggle early in the game. Wittenberg (10-2) got on the board first after a Hobart penalty gave SR PK Sean Williams a second chance after missing a 35 yard FG attempt. The 30 yarder was good after the five yard penalty and the Tigers took a 3-0 lead with 4:35 to go in the first quarter.
The Statesmen would respond with a big 30 yard TD run by SR QB Nick Strang with 7:11 to play in the second quarter. The FY PK James Hull point after would be good and Hobart held a 7-3 lead, which would stand until halftime.
The second half saw both offenses come out firing with the Statesmen getting first blood. SO FB Dominque Ellis plunged in from one yard out to end a nine play, 63 yard march. The Hull point after gave Hobart a 14-3 lead.
Wittenberg's JR QB Reed Florence was kept in check for most of the first half but found SR WR Brendon Cunningham for 33 yards to set up the Tigers at the Statesmen three yard line. Tigers' RB JaVanh Sanders' three yard run would pull Wittenberg within four points, but Hobart would never look back.
Although Hull would have a 28 yard FG attempt blocked, SO DE Tyre Coleman would sack Florence and JR DT Corey Einbeck recovered a fumble to set up the Hobart offense with a short field. SR QB Kelly Olney would relieve Strang (who likely re-aggravated his sports hernia injury on the 30 yard TD run) and score on a 12 yard run to push Hobart's lead to 21-10 after another Hull extra point was true.
The Statesmen D forced a three and out to start the fourth quarter and Strang briefly returned to the game. The SR QB only needed to hand the ball off as the Hobart OL began to wear down the Wittenberg defense. Seven running plays later SR RB Bobby Doughtery tied the all time Hobart record for TDs in a season with his 19th on the year. The mark is now shared by Statesmen great Don ("A to Z") Aleksiewicz '74 and Dougherty.
A final Webb TD would ice the game and the Statesmen held on to win 35-10. JR CB Kevin Hearon punctuated the Statesmen's impressive defensive performance with an interception of Florence on a last ditch Tiger drive. Hobart held the vaunted Wittenberg offense to 26 yards rushing and only 109 passing yards. The Statesmen offense didn't pass much given the windy conditions, but ground out 286 rushing yards and held the ball for over 39 minutes in the contest.
With the St. Thomas University Tommies beating Elmhurst 24-17, Hobart will travel to Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN next weekend for a match up for a chance at the Final Four. Kickoff will be 1:00 PM ET (12:00 PM CT).
The wintry and windy conditions caused both teams to struggle early in the game. Wittenberg (10-2) got on the board first after a Hobart penalty gave SR PK Sean Williams a second chance after missing a 35 yard FG attempt. The 30 yarder was good after the five yard penalty and the Tigers took a 3-0 lead with 4:35 to go in the first quarter.
The Statesmen would respond with a big 30 yard TD run by SR QB Nick Strang with 7:11 to play in the second quarter. The FY PK James Hull point after would be good and Hobart held a 7-3 lead, which would stand until halftime.
The second half saw both offenses come out firing with the Statesmen getting first blood. SO FB Dominque Ellis plunged in from one yard out to end a nine play, 63 yard march. The Hull point after gave Hobart a 14-3 lead.
Wittenberg's JR QB Reed Florence was kept in check for most of the first half but found SR WR Brendon Cunningham for 33 yards to set up the Tigers at the Statesmen three yard line. Tigers' RB JaVanh Sanders' three yard run would pull Wittenberg within four points, but Hobart would never look back.
Although Hull would have a 28 yard FG attempt blocked, SO DE Tyre Coleman would sack Florence and JR DT Corey Einbeck recovered a fumble to set up the Hobart offense with a short field. SR QB Kelly Olney would relieve Strang (who likely re-aggravated his sports hernia injury on the 30 yard TD run) and score on a 12 yard run to push Hobart's lead to 21-10 after another Hull extra point was true.
The Statesmen D forced a three and out to start the fourth quarter and Strang briefly returned to the game. The SR QB only needed to hand the ball off as the Hobart OL began to wear down the Wittenberg defense. Seven running plays later SR RB Bobby Doughtery tied the all time Hobart record for TDs in a season with his 19th on the year. The mark is now shared by Statesmen great Don ("A to Z") Aleksiewicz '74 and Dougherty.
A final Webb TD would ice the game and the Statesmen held on to win 35-10. JR CB Kevin Hearon punctuated the Statesmen's impressive defensive performance with an interception of Florence on a last ditch Tiger drive. Hobart held the vaunted Wittenberg offense to 26 yards rushing and only 109 passing yards. The Statesmen offense didn't pass much given the windy conditions, but ground out 286 rushing yards and held the ball for over 39 minutes in the contest.
With the St. Thomas University Tommies beating Elmhurst 24-17, Hobart will travel to Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN next weekend for a match up for a chance at the Final Four. Kickoff will be 1:00 PM ET (12:00 PM CT).
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Wittenberg / NCAA Rd 2 Game Preview
The seventh ranked Hobart Statesmen (11-0) will face their stiffest test of the season this Saturday when they host the Wittenberg University Tigers (10-1) in the second round of the NCAA DIII Football Playoffs. Wittenberg, which is based in Springfield, OH, is the champion of the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC). Their only blemish on the 2012 season was a 27-24 defeat at the hands of conference rival Wabash (8-2, 5-2).
The Tigers are currently ranked number 24 in the D3football.com poll but are being given a strong vote of confidence by the pollsters based on their past playoff successes (20-12 all time vs. Hobart’s 5-8) and the impressive 52-38 comeback and defeat of former number 12 Heidelberg (9-2) last Saturday on the road.
Wittenberg has a very balanced offense that is ranked 13th in the nation in scoring offense, averaging an impressive 40.18 PPG. The Tigers are lead on offense by JR QB Reed Florence who has gone 186 of 298 (62.4 completion %) while passing for 2710 yards and 28 touchdowns (TDs) compared to only 10 interceptions (INTs). Florence ranks 12th in the nation in passing efficiency (163.1) and 25th in total offense (294.1 YPG). A mobile QB, Florence has rushed for seven TDs and 502 yards on the season.
Florence’s primary target is JR WR Brendon Cunningham (59 catches for 875 yards and 10 TDs). Desi Kirkman is also a key target, hauling in 41 passes for 542 yards and six scores. Kirkman also handles both punt (8.6 YPR) and kick return (19.2 YPR) duties as well for the Tigers. JR Stephen Zumdick, All-NCAC First Team TE, may be a big target at 6’ 4” 245 lbs, but appears to be primarily a blocker only having caught only eight passes for 132 yards and a TD.
FY RB Jimmy Dehnke was named the NCAC “Newcomer of the Year” after rushing for 827 yards and 11 TDs. He has also caught 11 passes for 155 yards and a TD. Overall the FY is second only to Florence in total offense for the Tigers.
Defensively, Wittenberg is lead by JR LB Spencer Leno with 109 tackles, including five TFL, a half sack, one interception return (of 54 yards) and two forced fumbles. SR DL Jon Daniels (58 tackles, six and a half TFL and one interception) and SR DB Jamaal Everett (50 tackles, two interceptions, eight pass break ups and 10 passes defended) were All-NCAC First Team nominees. JR DB Heath Eby leads the team with four INTs, one returned for a TD, to go along with a fumble recovery for a TD and 40 tackles.
On special teams the Tigers have a strong kicker in SR PK Sean Williams who has converted 11 of 13 FG attempts (84.6%) with a long of 41 yards. Williams has also successfully made 51 of 54 point after attempts (94.44%). Wittenberg’s punter is SO LB Nick Gibson who averages 35.7 YPP. Florence has done a couple of quick kicks himself this season, kicking twice for 61 yards and a long of 47 yards.
Keys to the game:
1. Let it snow: A tale of the tape (which you can find here):
http://static.psbin.com/1/3/4bozhe4pz852tq/hobart.pdf
shows a Hobart team that is a strong rushing offense (241.5 YPG) vs. a tough Wittenberg rushing defense (113.45 YPG allowed). The Tigers are an excellent passing team (259.2 YPG) against a strong Statesmen passing defense (136.82 YPG allowed). Hobart’s most untested unit is the defensive secondary and the size (Cunningham is 6’3” 220 lbs) and speed of the Tiger receivers is a concern.
On the flip side, Wittenberg has little in ways of a pass rush (averaging less than two sacks per game) whereas it’s one of Hobart’s biggest strengths (sixth in the nation in sacks per game) lead by SO DE Tyre Coleman.
The Tigers and Florence had their vaunted passing attack shut down to the tune of only 92 yards in their loss to Wabash, but that was nearly two months ago now. Still, I expect a Hobart to show Florence a few different looks and potentially drop JR OLB Devin Worthington back into coverage from time to time like they did against RPI and SR QB Mike Hermann earlier in the season. Then again, passing the ball may go completely out the window for both teams because of “Jack Frost”. The high for Saturday is scheduled to be 33 with a 50% chance of snow with winds as high as 21 MPH. Hobart won a "snow bowl" in the playoffs vs. then MAC champion Lycoming 33-15 back in 2008.
2. YAC – Assuming Wittenberg stacks eight in the box to stop the likes of SR RB Bobby Dougherty, JR RB Steven Webb, SO FB Dominque Ellis and FY FB Christopher Holoman, SR QB Nick Strang will need a receiver other than SR WR Junior Woodard (who needs one more catch to tie Dan Suozzi ’05 to tie the all time record for consecutive games with a reception) to step up and have a big game. That other receiver could be one of many – JR WR Yosh Karboniczak, SO TE Mike Berkowitz, SO WR Elvin Souffrant, etc. As a friend of mine said, “I think this will be a test of our speed. Sure the OL can physically impose their will at times, but I think this is going to be about our speed rush on D and [the] ability [of players like] Woodard, Yosh, Cronze, Souffrant and Webb to make plays on the perimeter and downfield; as opposed to last week, where we [mostly] played in between the tackles.” While the weather may put a damper on both teams ability to make plays on the perimeter, a slip on the snow here or there could result in a short run becoming a long one.
3. TOP – A big reason for Wittenberg’s loss to Wabash was a nine-plus minute Little Giant drive in the fourth quarter to put the game away. Hobart has averaged more than four and a half more minutes of possession in games than the Tigers. I expect OC Kevin DeWall to look to shorten the game by long, methodical drives that will capitalize on the Statesmen’s size advantage on the OL. To be fair, Wittenberg has some big guys on the DL such as 6’ 2” 280 lbs JR DLmen Josh Montgomery and 6’ 3” 245 lbs Justin Bartlett. Still, the Hobart offense have found ways to grind out long drives all season and I expect them to do so again Saturday.
4. Make / avoid the big play – If the Statesmen defense can avoid quick, deep TD passes (see last season’s playoff game vs. Shane McSweeny and Wesley) and the offense hangs onto (i.e., doesn't turnover) the ball, Hobart will have a good chance to win the game.
5. Beat the Underdog By Being the Underdog - There's a perception, and one that's been backed up for several years now in D3, that the "East" simply isn't good enough to compete with (the better) teams from the Midwest. A win by Hobart, while expected on one hand due to their #2 bracket seeding and higher overall national ranking, would be big for the Statesmen and by extension teams from the "East Region." Wittenberg has a strong playoff and national pedigree. A win over the Tigers and would be quite a notch in the Hobart belt if they beat them Saturday.
Prediction:
D3football.com tabbed this as a “very winnable” game for Wittenberg. A subsequent article on the same site indicated how the Tigers have effectively gone into “playoff mode” football since the loss to Wabash back in early October. The formula has worked so far for Wittenberg, scoring no less than 35 points a game and showing a ton of heart in coming back down 21-3 and then again down 31-13 against higher ranked Heidelberg last weekend. The Tigers have proven to be “road warriors” as well going 7-0 on the season away from Springfield, OH.
The Statesmen have the opportunity to make history in advancing to the National Quarterfinals for the first time in program history (not to mention a historic 12th win). The Tigers advanced to the “Sweet 16” back in 2009. Hobart has yet to lose a home playoff game since 2002 but they have never hosted a second round game there yet either. The Statesmen should be ready but the home field advantage may be somewhat mitigated by the fact its Thanksgiving weekend and students are on break.
Overall I think the long bus ride (473 miles); snow and a brand new opponent (that has a great defense) will slow down the Tigers just enough to give Hobart a chance to move on. I’ll take the Statesmen in a hard fought battle, 35-31, to advance to the National Quarterfinals.
Regardless of the outcome, we’ll recap Saturday’s game at 7:30 PM on www.inthehuddlle.com. Go ‘Bart!
The Tigers are currently ranked number 24 in the D3football.com poll but are being given a strong vote of confidence by the pollsters based on their past playoff successes (20-12 all time vs. Hobart’s 5-8) and the impressive 52-38 comeback and defeat of former number 12 Heidelberg (9-2) last Saturday on the road.
Wittenberg has a very balanced offense that is ranked 13th in the nation in scoring offense, averaging an impressive 40.18 PPG. The Tigers are lead on offense by JR QB Reed Florence who has gone 186 of 298 (62.4 completion %) while passing for 2710 yards and 28 touchdowns (TDs) compared to only 10 interceptions (INTs). Florence ranks 12th in the nation in passing efficiency (163.1) and 25th in total offense (294.1 YPG). A mobile QB, Florence has rushed for seven TDs and 502 yards on the season.
Florence’s primary target is JR WR Brendon Cunningham (59 catches for 875 yards and 10 TDs). Desi Kirkman is also a key target, hauling in 41 passes for 542 yards and six scores. Kirkman also handles both punt (8.6 YPR) and kick return (19.2 YPR) duties as well for the Tigers. JR Stephen Zumdick, All-NCAC First Team TE, may be a big target at 6’ 4” 245 lbs, but appears to be primarily a blocker only having caught only eight passes for 132 yards and a TD.
FY RB Jimmy Dehnke was named the NCAC “Newcomer of the Year” after rushing for 827 yards and 11 TDs. He has also caught 11 passes for 155 yards and a TD. Overall the FY is second only to Florence in total offense for the Tigers.
Defensively, Wittenberg is lead by JR LB Spencer Leno with 109 tackles, including five TFL, a half sack, one interception return (of 54 yards) and two forced fumbles. SR DL Jon Daniels (58 tackles, six and a half TFL and one interception) and SR DB Jamaal Everett (50 tackles, two interceptions, eight pass break ups and 10 passes defended) were All-NCAC First Team nominees. JR DB Heath Eby leads the team with four INTs, one returned for a TD, to go along with a fumble recovery for a TD and 40 tackles.
On special teams the Tigers have a strong kicker in SR PK Sean Williams who has converted 11 of 13 FG attempts (84.6%) with a long of 41 yards. Williams has also successfully made 51 of 54 point after attempts (94.44%). Wittenberg’s punter is SO LB Nick Gibson who averages 35.7 YPP. Florence has done a couple of quick kicks himself this season, kicking twice for 61 yards and a long of 47 yards.
Keys to the game:
1. Let it snow: A tale of the tape (which you can find here):
http://static.psbin.com/1/3/4bozhe4pz852tq/hobart.pdf
shows a Hobart team that is a strong rushing offense (241.5 YPG) vs. a tough Wittenberg rushing defense (113.45 YPG allowed). The Tigers are an excellent passing team (259.2 YPG) against a strong Statesmen passing defense (136.82 YPG allowed). Hobart’s most untested unit is the defensive secondary and the size (Cunningham is 6’3” 220 lbs) and speed of the Tiger receivers is a concern.
On the flip side, Wittenberg has little in ways of a pass rush (averaging less than two sacks per game) whereas it’s one of Hobart’s biggest strengths (sixth in the nation in sacks per game) lead by SO DE Tyre Coleman.
The Tigers and Florence had their vaunted passing attack shut down to the tune of only 92 yards in their loss to Wabash, but that was nearly two months ago now. Still, I expect a Hobart to show Florence a few different looks and potentially drop JR OLB Devin Worthington back into coverage from time to time like they did against RPI and SR QB Mike Hermann earlier in the season. Then again, passing the ball may go completely out the window for both teams because of “Jack Frost”. The high for Saturday is scheduled to be 33 with a 50% chance of snow with winds as high as 21 MPH. Hobart won a "snow bowl" in the playoffs vs. then MAC champion Lycoming 33-15 back in 2008.
2. YAC – Assuming Wittenberg stacks eight in the box to stop the likes of SR RB Bobby Dougherty, JR RB Steven Webb, SO FB Dominque Ellis and FY FB Christopher Holoman, SR QB Nick Strang will need a receiver other than SR WR Junior Woodard (who needs one more catch to tie Dan Suozzi ’05 to tie the all time record for consecutive games with a reception) to step up and have a big game. That other receiver could be one of many – JR WR Yosh Karboniczak, SO TE Mike Berkowitz, SO WR Elvin Souffrant, etc. As a friend of mine said, “I think this will be a test of our speed. Sure the OL can physically impose their will at times, but I think this is going to be about our speed rush on D and [the] ability [of players like] Woodard, Yosh, Cronze, Souffrant and Webb to make plays on the perimeter and downfield; as opposed to last week, where we [mostly] played in between the tackles.” While the weather may put a damper on both teams ability to make plays on the perimeter, a slip on the snow here or there could result in a short run becoming a long one.
3. TOP – A big reason for Wittenberg’s loss to Wabash was a nine-plus minute Little Giant drive in the fourth quarter to put the game away. Hobart has averaged more than four and a half more minutes of possession in games than the Tigers. I expect OC Kevin DeWall to look to shorten the game by long, methodical drives that will capitalize on the Statesmen’s size advantage on the OL. To be fair, Wittenberg has some big guys on the DL such as 6’ 2” 280 lbs JR DLmen Josh Montgomery and 6’ 3” 245 lbs Justin Bartlett. Still, the Hobart offense have found ways to grind out long drives all season and I expect them to do so again Saturday.
4. Make / avoid the big play – If the Statesmen defense can avoid quick, deep TD passes (see last season’s playoff game vs. Shane McSweeny and Wesley) and the offense hangs onto (i.e., doesn't turnover) the ball, Hobart will have a good chance to win the game.
5. Beat the Underdog By Being the Underdog - There's a perception, and one that's been backed up for several years now in D3, that the "East" simply isn't good enough to compete with (the better) teams from the Midwest. A win by Hobart, while expected on one hand due to their #2 bracket seeding and higher overall national ranking, would be big for the Statesmen and by extension teams from the "East Region." Wittenberg has a strong playoff and national pedigree. A win over the Tigers and would be quite a notch in the Hobart belt if they beat them Saturday.
Prediction:
D3football.com tabbed this as a “very winnable” game for Wittenberg. A subsequent article on the same site indicated how the Tigers have effectively gone into “playoff mode” football since the loss to Wabash back in early October. The formula has worked so far for Wittenberg, scoring no less than 35 points a game and showing a ton of heart in coming back down 21-3 and then again down 31-13 against higher ranked Heidelberg last weekend. The Tigers have proven to be “road warriors” as well going 7-0 on the season away from Springfield, OH.
The Statesmen have the opportunity to make history in advancing to the National Quarterfinals for the first time in program history (not to mention a historic 12th win). The Tigers advanced to the “Sweet 16” back in 2009. Hobart has yet to lose a home playoff game since 2002 but they have never hosted a second round game there yet either. The Statesmen should be ready but the home field advantage may be somewhat mitigated by the fact its Thanksgiving weekend and students are on break.
Overall I think the long bus ride (473 miles); snow and a brand new opponent (that has a great defense) will slow down the Tigers just enough to give Hobart a chance to move on. I’ll take the Statesmen in a hard fought battle, 35-31, to advance to the National Quarterfinals.
Regardless of the outcome, we’ll recap Saturday’s game at 7:30 PM on www.inthehuddlle.com. Go ‘Bart!
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Darien's Gesualdi Chooses Hobart
We'll take a short break from the NCAA playoff reports to discuss the first "official signing" of the Statesmen Football Class of 2017.
LaxLessons.com reports that Darien HS SR Peter Gesualdi has given his intention to enroll at Hobart in 2013. According to the report (see link below), Gesualdi played RB and FS for Darien and is also a standout midfielder.
http://www.laxlessons.com/2012/11/15/peter-gesualdi-lacrosse/
While I am not sure of Gesualdi's "lax prowess" given he was looking at mostly DIII schools and programs, I do like the sound of his size (6' 1") and speed, especially if he ends up playing FS for the Statesmen.
Although it wasn't mentioned in the report, I believe it's safe to assume Gesualdi has applied Early Decision I (with a November 15 deadline), as nearly 50% of last year's class applied Early Decision and seems to be a growing trend at HWS.
Let us be the first to welcome Peter to the Statesmen Football and Lacrosse families. Happy Thanksgiving and Go 'Bart!
LaxLessons.com reports that Darien HS SR Peter Gesualdi has given his intention to enroll at Hobart in 2013. According to the report (see link below), Gesualdi played RB and FS for Darien and is also a standout midfielder.
http://www.laxlessons.com/2012/11/15/peter-gesualdi-lacrosse/
While I am not sure of Gesualdi's "lax prowess" given he was looking at mostly DIII schools and programs, I do like the sound of his size (6' 1") and speed, especially if he ends up playing FS for the Statesmen.
Although it wasn't mentioned in the report, I believe it's safe to assume Gesualdi has applied Early Decision I (with a November 15 deadline), as nearly 50% of last year's class applied Early Decision and seems to be a growing trend at HWS.
Let us be the first to welcome Peter to the Statesmen Football and Lacrosse families. Happy Thanksgiving and Go 'Bart!
Monday, November 19, 2012
W&L Game Recap
The seventh ranked and undefeated Hobart Statesmen hosted the Old Dominion Athletic Conference champion Washington and Lee Saturday at Boswell Field. The 8-2 Generals looked nothing like an underdog, going toe to toe with the Statesmen for most of the first half. The Generals got on the board first, taking their opening drive 70 yards in 11 plays, capping it with a two yard SR RB Luke Heinsohn touchdown run. Heinsohn would add the point after and Washington and Lee took an early 7-0 lead.
The Liberty League champions would respond with a similar effort, travelling 66 yards, capping their first drive with a JR RB Steven Webb one yard rush for a touchdown. The FY PK James Hull point after was good and the Statesmen tied the game 7-7 with 3:09 to play in the first quarter. Hobart would take their first lead thanks to a key third down stop by LL Defensive Player of the Year SO DE Tyre Coleman. Coleman tackled Generals JR QB Nick Lombardo for a five yard loss and a 24 yard Jake Helton punt set up SR QB Nick Strang and the Statesmen offense at their own 44 yard line.
A key play would be Strang finding SR WR Junior Woodard for 16 yards to the Washington and Lee 37 yard line. Hobart would call six consecutive running plays until another pass to Woodard gave the Statesmen the ball at the General five yard line. Webb would pick up the first down on third and two setting up the go ahead touchdown by SR RB Bobby Dougherty.
The Hull extra point was good and Hobart took a 14-7 advantage. This lead would be short lived however as the Washington and Lee’s number one ranked rushing offense got back to work. The Generals marched 49 yards until they called a timeout with 5:46 to play in the half. Washington and Lee's Brett Murray broke off a 26 yard run, giving the Generals a first and goal from the Hobart seven yard line. Two plays later Lombardo called his own number capping the 73 yard drive with a touchdown. The Heinsohn point after was good and the game was tied with 4:32 to play in first half.
Hobart would get a final possession before halftime and they made the most of the opportunity. Webb and Strang ripped off runs of 15 and 17 yards before reverting to short pass and run plays as the Generals' defense tighened. Still, the Statesmen found themselves with a big decision on fourth and one on the Washington and Lee six yard line. Coming out of a timeout with only 27 seconds to go, Head Coach Mike Cragg lived up to his “riverboat gambler” nickname calling a quarterback sneak which was good for the first down at the General four yard line.
Strang’s first down pass intended for Woodard would fall incomplete and on second down he’d carry the ball to the Washington and Lee one yard line setting up a third and goal. Washington and Lee called a time out with 13 seconds to go after seeing the Statesmen’s offensive formation. Strang tried Woodard a second time but against missed his mark. Cragg decided to go for it and Webb had his second TD of the game. The Hull point after would be good giving Hobart a 21-14 halftime lead.
The Statesmen would extend their lead on a 25 yard Hull field goal to open the second half. The drive would stall at the General eight yard line but it would consume seven and a half minutes and give Hobart a two possession lead.
Washington and Lee would look to respond but Hobart JR and SO OLBs Devin Worthington and Nolan Toran would stop Murray on fourth down giving the Statesmen offense the ball at their own 47 yard line. Hobart made the most of the opportunity driving 53 yards in 18 plays, capping the drive with this Webb’s third TD of the game and, after the Hull point after, give the Statesmen a commanding 31-14 lead with 14:31 to play in the game. The Generals would respond with a touchdown off a nine yard Lombardo pass to Eli Chester with 10:20 to go but the point after would fail, cutting Hobart’s lead to 31-20 with 10:20 to go.
Strang would be stopped on fourth and three from the Washington and Lee 15 yard line, giving the visitors another chance. The General rally would be short lived however as Tolan came up with an interception to halt the Washington and Lee drive.
The Statesmen would look to ice the game taking over at the General 24 yard line but the Generals' defense would hold once again, forcing Coach Cragg to make another fourth and one decision. Not surprisingly, Cragg went for it yet again, this time with a better result; a 15 yard Strang TD run capped a seven play, 24 yard drive and pushed Hobart’s lead to 38-20 with 3:08 to go. The Statesmen defense would hold, and the offense would kneel on the ball to capture a hard fought 38-20 playoff victory, Hobart’s fifth consecutive home playoff win.
The Statesmen were lead by Webb with 99 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Defensively the Statesmen held the Generals’ number one rushing attack to a season low 188 yards and were lead by SR LB Andrew Klindera with 11 tackles, a season high for the Hobart co-captain.
Washington and Lee was lead by Heinsohn with a team high 85 rushing yards and a touchdown. The Generals were lead on defense by linebackers Stephen Peck and Jake Pelton with a game high 19 tackles a piece.
With the win Hobart improves to 11-0 and will host North Coast Athletic Conference Champion Wittenberg who came back down 18 points, twice and on the road no less, to defeat Heidlelberg 52-38 in the first round. The loss drops the Generals to 8-3 in their second playoff appearance in the last three seasons.
The Liberty League champions would respond with a similar effort, travelling 66 yards, capping their first drive with a JR RB Steven Webb one yard rush for a touchdown. The FY PK James Hull point after was good and the Statesmen tied the game 7-7 with 3:09 to play in the first quarter. Hobart would take their first lead thanks to a key third down stop by LL Defensive Player of the Year SO DE Tyre Coleman. Coleman tackled Generals JR QB Nick Lombardo for a five yard loss and a 24 yard Jake Helton punt set up SR QB Nick Strang and the Statesmen offense at their own 44 yard line.
A key play would be Strang finding SR WR Junior Woodard for 16 yards to the Washington and Lee 37 yard line. Hobart would call six consecutive running plays until another pass to Woodard gave the Statesmen the ball at the General five yard line. Webb would pick up the first down on third and two setting up the go ahead touchdown by SR RB Bobby Dougherty.
The Hull extra point was good and Hobart took a 14-7 advantage. This lead would be short lived however as the Washington and Lee’s number one ranked rushing offense got back to work. The Generals marched 49 yards until they called a timeout with 5:46 to play in the half. Washington and Lee's Brett Murray broke off a 26 yard run, giving the Generals a first and goal from the Hobart seven yard line. Two plays later Lombardo called his own number capping the 73 yard drive with a touchdown. The Heinsohn point after was good and the game was tied with 4:32 to play in first half.
Hobart would get a final possession before halftime and they made the most of the opportunity. Webb and Strang ripped off runs of 15 and 17 yards before reverting to short pass and run plays as the Generals' defense tighened. Still, the Statesmen found themselves with a big decision on fourth and one on the Washington and Lee six yard line. Coming out of a timeout with only 27 seconds to go, Head Coach Mike Cragg lived up to his “riverboat gambler” nickname calling a quarterback sneak which was good for the first down at the General four yard line.
Strang’s first down pass intended for Woodard would fall incomplete and on second down he’d carry the ball to the Washington and Lee one yard line setting up a third and goal. Washington and Lee called a time out with 13 seconds to go after seeing the Statesmen’s offensive formation. Strang tried Woodard a second time but against missed his mark. Cragg decided to go for it and Webb had his second TD of the game. The Hull point after would be good giving Hobart a 21-14 halftime lead.
The Statesmen would extend their lead on a 25 yard Hull field goal to open the second half. The drive would stall at the General eight yard line but it would consume seven and a half minutes and give Hobart a two possession lead.
Washington and Lee would look to respond but Hobart JR and SO OLBs Devin Worthington and Nolan Toran would stop Murray on fourth down giving the Statesmen offense the ball at their own 47 yard line. Hobart made the most of the opportunity driving 53 yards in 18 plays, capping the drive with this Webb’s third TD of the game and, after the Hull point after, give the Statesmen a commanding 31-14 lead with 14:31 to play in the game. The Generals would respond with a touchdown off a nine yard Lombardo pass to Eli Chester with 10:20 to go but the point after would fail, cutting Hobart’s lead to 31-20 with 10:20 to go.
Strang would be stopped on fourth and three from the Washington and Lee 15 yard line, giving the visitors another chance. The General rally would be short lived however as Tolan came up with an interception to halt the Washington and Lee drive.
The Statesmen would look to ice the game taking over at the General 24 yard line but the Generals' defense would hold once again, forcing Coach Cragg to make another fourth and one decision. Not surprisingly, Cragg went for it yet again, this time with a better result; a 15 yard Strang TD run capped a seven play, 24 yard drive and pushed Hobart’s lead to 38-20 with 3:08 to go. The Statesmen defense would hold, and the offense would kneel on the ball to capture a hard fought 38-20 playoff victory, Hobart’s fifth consecutive home playoff win.
The Statesmen were lead by Webb with 99 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Defensively the Statesmen held the Generals’ number one rushing attack to a season low 188 yards and were lead by SR LB Andrew Klindera with 11 tackles, a season high for the Hobart co-captain.
Washington and Lee was lead by Heinsohn with a team high 85 rushing yards and a touchdown. The Generals were lead on defense by linebackers Stephen Peck and Jake Pelton with a game high 19 tackles a piece.
With the win Hobart improves to 11-0 and will host North Coast Athletic Conference Champion Wittenberg who came back down 18 points, twice and on the road no less, to defeat Heidlelberg 52-38 in the first round. The loss drops the Generals to 8-3 in their second playoff appearance in the last three seasons.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
W&L NCAA First Round Playoff Preview
The seventh ranked Hobart Statesmen (10-0, 7-0) will host the Washington and Lee Generals (8-2, 6-1) of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) this Saturday at Boswell Field in the first round of the Division III NCAA Football Playoffs.
This battle of conference champions effectively pits teams with well defined strengths. For W&L, they bring the number one ranked rushing offense (381 YPG) in the country to Geneva to face the fifth ranked Hobart defense (229.8 YPG allowed). The Generals are the fourth option offense (third "pure" triple option team) that the Statesmen will have faced this season. Hobart has had success stopping the triple option, especially against Springfield (who came into the game averaging 321 YPG but were held to 150 rushing yards by the Statesmen D) and WPI (held to only 55 rushing yards in a 61-8 loss). Overall the Statesmen are 14th in the nation in rushing defense allowing only 84.3 YPG to opposing offenses.
This is the second trip to playoffs in three seasons for W&L. The Generals' rushing attack is lead by a trio of SR RBs including Luke Heinsohn (116.8 YPG, second in the nation in scoring with 18 PPG), Brett Murray (73.3 YPG), and Sasha Vandalov (63.22 YPG). JR QB Nick Lombardo (164.8 YPG in total offense) is in his first year running the offense which is typically run from a pistol formation or true shotgun snap from center. Like most option teams, W&L rarely passes (69.3 YPG) so I expect Hobart to “put eight in the box.”
The W&L defense is a “bend but don't break” type of unit allowing 366.4 YPG and 23 PPG. Although the Generals are an option squad, most of the ODAC teams are “pass happy offenses,” and two of W&L's three non-conference foes (F&M and Centre) played heavy pass or at least balanced offensive attacks. Point being, the Generals' defense is well acquainted with more traditional offenses (like Hobart’s).
Overall the Generals are a tough and disciplined team (i.e., not heavily penalized and rarely turnover the ball). W&L is a better home than road team. In the last 3 years they have dropped only one home game, the 2010 season opener, but have gone 5-4 on the road the last two years. That said the magic number for the Statesmen in this contest is “400.” Since the 2010 season, W&L is undefeated in games when they have amassed 400 or more yards of rushing offense, scoring at or over 50 PPG in these contests.
Keys to the Game:
1. Go airborne – Kind of ironic that I harped on running the ball during the regular season and am changing my tune for the playoffs, right? Well, W&L’s pass defense is average at best, allowing 210.1 YPG through the air. Although we won’t likely know the status of SR QB Nick Strang (ranked ninth in the nation in passing efficiency with a 167.77 rating) prior to this weekend, I am confident that SR QB Kelly Olney could equally have a good passing performance against the Generals' secondary. It will be cold in Geneva (around 40 degrees) but also clear which are good conditions for playoff (and passing the) football. Although Coach Cragg often likes to run the ball to shorten games, I could see Coach DeWall looking to hit a few long passes early on to loosen up the Generals' and get them to back off the line of scrimmage.
2. TFL – The W&L OL rarely allows sacks, partially due to the option but also due to solid play on the LOS. You’ll know that Hobart is winning the game if SO DE and LL Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) Tyre Coleman is wreaking havoc in the Generals' backfield. The Statesmen average over eight TFL per game.
3. TOP – The best way to beat a triple option offense is to win time of possession. Hobart averages 34:37 in TOP and a similar number in Saturday’s contest should help the Statesmen come out with a win.
Prediction:
I meant to do a separate entry on this earlier in the week but events conspired against it, so I’ll have to mention it here. The Statesmen cleaned up the LL conference awards placing nine players on the first team offense and defense as well as 11 others on the second and honorable mention squads. The coaching staff was similarly recognized for the best regular season in Hobart history and their first 7-0 conference mark since 2004.
Needless to say, this is a special Statesmen team and one which deserves its number two seed in this year’s NCAA playoff bracket. The Generals are not an easy draw, but they run a system Hobart has had a lot of success against this year and in prior seasons. Ultimately, regardless of who starts at QB for the Statesmen Saturday, I like Hobart to win this one 35-21 and advance to the second round hosting the winner of Saturday’s Heidelberg vs. Wittenberg game.
This battle of conference champions effectively pits teams with well defined strengths. For W&L, they bring the number one ranked rushing offense (381 YPG) in the country to Geneva to face the fifth ranked Hobart defense (229.8 YPG allowed). The Generals are the fourth option offense (third "pure" triple option team) that the Statesmen will have faced this season. Hobart has had success stopping the triple option, especially against Springfield (who came into the game averaging 321 YPG but were held to 150 rushing yards by the Statesmen D) and WPI (held to only 55 rushing yards in a 61-8 loss). Overall the Statesmen are 14th in the nation in rushing defense allowing only 84.3 YPG to opposing offenses.
This is the second trip to playoffs in three seasons for W&L. The Generals' rushing attack is lead by a trio of SR RBs including Luke Heinsohn (116.8 YPG, second in the nation in scoring with 18 PPG), Brett Murray (73.3 YPG), and Sasha Vandalov (63.22 YPG). JR QB Nick Lombardo (164.8 YPG in total offense) is in his first year running the offense which is typically run from a pistol formation or true shotgun snap from center. Like most option teams, W&L rarely passes (69.3 YPG) so I expect Hobart to “put eight in the box.”
The W&L defense is a “bend but don't break” type of unit allowing 366.4 YPG and 23 PPG. Although the Generals are an option squad, most of the ODAC teams are “pass happy offenses,” and two of W&L's three non-conference foes (F&M and Centre) played heavy pass or at least balanced offensive attacks. Point being, the Generals' defense is well acquainted with more traditional offenses (like Hobart’s).
Overall the Generals are a tough and disciplined team (i.e., not heavily penalized and rarely turnover the ball). W&L is a better home than road team. In the last 3 years they have dropped only one home game, the 2010 season opener, but have gone 5-4 on the road the last two years. That said the magic number for the Statesmen in this contest is “400.” Since the 2010 season, W&L is undefeated in games when they have amassed 400 or more yards of rushing offense, scoring at or over 50 PPG in these contests.
Keys to the Game:
1. Go airborne – Kind of ironic that I harped on running the ball during the regular season and am changing my tune for the playoffs, right? Well, W&L’s pass defense is average at best, allowing 210.1 YPG through the air. Although we won’t likely know the status of SR QB Nick Strang (ranked ninth in the nation in passing efficiency with a 167.77 rating) prior to this weekend, I am confident that SR QB Kelly Olney could equally have a good passing performance against the Generals' secondary. It will be cold in Geneva (around 40 degrees) but also clear which are good conditions for playoff (and passing the) football. Although Coach Cragg often likes to run the ball to shorten games, I could see Coach DeWall looking to hit a few long passes early on to loosen up the Generals' and get them to back off the line of scrimmage.
2. TFL – The W&L OL rarely allows sacks, partially due to the option but also due to solid play on the LOS. You’ll know that Hobart is winning the game if SO DE and LL Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) Tyre Coleman is wreaking havoc in the Generals' backfield. The Statesmen average over eight TFL per game.
3. TOP – The best way to beat a triple option offense is to win time of possession. Hobart averages 34:37 in TOP and a similar number in Saturday’s contest should help the Statesmen come out with a win.
Prediction:
I meant to do a separate entry on this earlier in the week but events conspired against it, so I’ll have to mention it here. The Statesmen cleaned up the LL conference awards placing nine players on the first team offense and defense as well as 11 others on the second and honorable mention squads. The coaching staff was similarly recognized for the best regular season in Hobart history and their first 7-0 conference mark since 2004.
Needless to say, this is a special Statesmen team and one which deserves its number two seed in this year’s NCAA playoff bracket. The Generals are not an easy draw, but they run a system Hobart has had a lot of success against this year and in prior seasons. Ultimately, regardless of who starts at QB for the Statesmen Saturday, I like Hobart to win this one 35-21 and advance to the second round hosting the winner of Saturday’s Heidelberg vs. Wittenberg game.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Hobart to Host Washington & Lee in the First Round of the NCAAs
Hobart was named the second seed in the "St. Thomas Bracket" (which will be confirmed tonight on ITH with D3FB Tournament Selection Chair Brad Bankston) and will face off against Washington & Lee (8-2) in the first round of the NCAA's Saturday at Boswell Field. All game times typically have a 12 pm kickoff. More on this selection, W&L and the bracket in the coming week. Go 'Bart!
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