PITTSBURGH, Pa.—Led by first-year running back Steven Webb, the Hobart football team produced 469 yards of offense in a 35-21 victory at Carnegie Mellon today. Webb rushed for 120 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Statesmen.
Hobart's defense harassed the Tartans throughout the day. The Statesmen (2-0) produced 10 tackles for a loss, including eight sacks. First-year safety Devin Worthington (10 tkls) led the charge with four tackles for a loss, including three sacks. Senior end James Rayhill registered a game-high 11 tackles, including 2.5 sacks. Senior linebacker Kyle O'Laughlin and junior linebacker Reggie Robinson chipped in 10 tackles apiece.
The Tartans (1-2) took the opening drive 53 yards in 11 plays. Quarterback Rob Kalkstein (5-12-0, 50 yds, TD) found Chris Garcia (20 yds rush, 3 rec, 24 yds, TD) on a 10-yard strike to put the opening points on the board.
Hobart countered with an eight-play, 80-yard drive that Webb finished off with a 2-yard plunge to tie the game at 7-all.
The Statesmen defense forced CMU to go three and out. The offense marched 76 yards down the field in 15 plays, with Webb diving in from 1 yard out at the 13:31 mark of the second quarter.
On the ensuing kickoff, Hobart dipped into its bag of tricks, recovering an onside kick at the Tartan 49. On first down, junior quarterback Doug Vella (15-29-1, 274 yds, 2 TD) hooked up with junior wideout Garth Muratori (3 rec, 65 yds, TD) on a 49-yard catch and run for a touchdown and a 21-7 lead that Hobart took into halftime.
After the teams traded punts to start the second half, the Statesmen returned to the big play for another score. Webb broke away down the right sideline for a 73-yard touchdown run and a 28-7 lead with 9:56 left in the third quarter.
Hobart extended its lead to 35-7 when senior wideout Mike Lazore (3 rec, 86 yds, TD) pulled in a 23-yard Vella pass with 9:39 left in the game. The play capped a five-play, 79-yard drive.
Carnegie Mellon's Jared Delello scored on a pair of 1-yard dives in the final 7:14 to make things interesting, but the game ended with the Tartans stalled at the Hobart 10.
Ray Johnson made a team-high nine tackles to pace CMU's defense.
The Statesmen will be back in action on Sept. 25, when they host St. John Fisher. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Boswell Field at the Caird Center for Sports and Recreation.