Oct 20, 2012
The Hobart College football team ran for a season-high 334 yards and contained Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's high-powered offense to post a 35-7 Liberty League victory at ECAV Stadium in Troy, N.Y. Junior running back Steven Webb ran for a game-high 130 yards and caught a screen pass for 17 yards and a touchdown to lead the Statesmen.
Hobart's offense dominated time of possession (41:19-18:41), picked up 24 first downs, and converted 7-of-15 third downs. The Statesmen, ranked 11th in the D3football.com Top 25, improved to 7-0, 4-0 in the conference.
Senior running back Bobby Dougherty added 98 yards rushing and two TDs and sophomore fullback Dominique Ellis ran for a career-high 69 yards on 10 carries. Senior quarterback Nick Strang was an efficient 9-of-13 for 137 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for 3 yards and two TDs. Senior wide receiver Junior Woodard extended his games with a catch streak to 27 games, recording a team-high three catches for 35 yards. Junior wideout Yosh Karbowniczak added two receptions for 52 yards.
Rensselaer (5-2, 3-2) came into the contest leading the Liberty League in passing (302.2 yds/g) and total offense (454.3 yds/g), but Hobart's defense, which ranks second in the nation in total defense (190.5 yds/g), made sure the Engineers fell well short of their averages. RPI managed a season-low 12 yards rushing and just 230 yards passing, it second lowest total, for a season-low 242 yards of total offense.
Senior linebacker Andrew Klindera recorded a team-high nine tackles, including eight solo. Junior linebacker Devin Worthington had two interceptions and a 12-yard sack.
Hobart held a 21-0 lead at halftime thanks to two rushing touchdowns and a scoring pass from Strang. He finished the Statesmen's first drive, which covered 79 yards in 12 plays, with a 4-yard run for a 7-0 first quarter lead. The big plays of the series were a 46-yard pass from Strang to Karbowniczak and an RPI personal foul penalty on what would have been a third-down stop.
Strang put the visitors ahead by two scores when he plunged in from one yard out at 10:56 of the second quarter. The highlight of that drive, which covered 13 plays and 80 yards, was a 30-yard reception by Woodard.
Strang then connected with Webb, who avoided a couple of tackles and scored with only 22 seconds left in the first half. The eight-play, 56-yard drive was set up by Worthington's first interception. He pulled in a pass that was batted up in the air by senior defensive tackle Nick Auriemma.
After a slow start by both teams to open the second half, Dougherty put the Statesmen ahead by five scores with a pair of fourth quarter touchdown runs. The first, a 19-yard scamper, came at 13:40 and the second just 53 seconds later when he rushed in from 20 yards after taking the snap from the center. The second TD was set up by Worthington's second pick of the day.
RPI made its lone trip into the end zone with 8:34 left in the fourth quarter when senior quarterback Mike Hermann connected with classmate Nick Weber from 25 yards out. Hermann finished the game with 230 yards passing, connecting on 16 of 33 passes with two interceptions. Weber had game-highs of five catches and 75 yards.
Hobart will return to Boswell Field to face Union on Saturday, Oct. 27. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.