GENEVA, N.Y. — The Hobart College football team opened its
2010 season at the new Boswell Field at the Caird Center for Sports
and Recreation with a 38-7 win over visiting Dickinson College.
Special teams played a big role in Hobart's victory, setting
up the offense's first touchdown of the day and producing two
more scores.
First-year running back Steven Webb led all rushers with 58 yards
and two touchdowns in his first game as a Statesman. He also
returned the opening kickoff of the second half 90 yards for a
touchdown. Eleven Hobart rushers combined for 133 yards on the
ground.
First-year linebacker Devin Worthington also impressed in his
Hobart debut, producing a game-high 10 tackles, including three for
loss, a sack and a blocked punt that was returned by junior
cornerback Drake Woodard for a touchdown. Junior linebacker Reggie
Robinson and senior linebacker Kyle O'Laughlin added nine
tackles each, while Robinson also recorded his first career
interception that set up the day's first scoring drive.
On Hobart's second possession, first-year Yosh Karbownicz
ran for 17 yards on a fake punt that gave the Statesmen a first
down at the Dickinson 28. Six plays later, Webb scored from 1 yard
out to give the Statesmen their first touchdown and lead of
2010.
Junior kicker Conor Callahan added a 30-yard field goal in the
middle fo the second quarter to give the Statesmen a 10-0. With
less than four minutes remaining before halftime, Worthington beat
the Dickinson punt protection, blocking a Gordon Craig kick at the
Red Devils' 33. Woodard scooped up the loose ball at the 12
and ran untouched into the end zone. Hobart took that 17-point lead
into halftime.
Hobart scored three touchdowns in the third quarter, beginning
with Webb's kickoff return. Junior quarterback Doug Vella
(8-14-0, 65 yds, TD) found junior tight end Gregory Clifford on a
5-yard strike to put Hobart up by 31. The score was
Clifford's first as a Statesman. Webb rounded out the
Statesmen scoring with 30-yard touchdown run that gave Hobart a
38-0 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Dickinson quarterback Ricky Martz scored on a 1 yard plunge with
10:20 left in the game to make the final score 38-7. It was the
first touchdown allowed by the Hobart defense at Boswell Field
since St. Lawrence scored on the Statesmen last season, snapping a
streak of 11 quarters (175:81) without surrendering a touchdown to
the visitors.
First-year running back Evan Fink rushed for 29 yards to pace 10
ball carriers for the Red Devils. Junior quarterback Jordan Kaufman
completed 6 of 13 passes for a game-high 79 yards. Junior wideout
Cam Difede recorded a game-high 53 yards receiving on three
catches.
Junior linebacker Bobby Marraffa added a sack and a forced fumble
for Hobart. Senior safety Fernando Jones and first-year safety
Austin DiMarco each recovered a fumble. First-year safety Jolyon
Davis made his first interception with 2:38 left in the game. It
was the fourth takeaway of the afternoon for the Hobart D.
The game was broadcast live on Time Warner Cable Sports in the
Syracuse market. It will be shown in the Rochester market (Ch. 26)
on Sunday, Sept. 12, at 8 p.m. It will also be available on the
Time Warner Cable Sports On-Demand Channel.
Next week the Statesmen will travel to Pittsburgh, Pa., to take on
the Carnegie Mellon Tartans at 12 p.m.