GENEVA, N.Y.—Nationally-ranked Hobart College led for only 12.4 seconds in its NCAA Division III Football Championship First Round game against Ithaca College today, but it was the final 12.4 seconds of the game, as the Statesmen pulled out a 22-15 win over the Bombers.
Senior quarterback Patrick Conlan led the Statesmen on two 72-yard scoring drives in the fourth quarter, overcoming what he called in the postgame press conference, "possibly the worst first half of my career."
After Garrett Nicholson's third field goal of the day gave the Bombers (7-4) a 15-7 lead with 14:52 remaining in the fourth quarter, Conlan directed an 11-play, 72-yard march that saw him complete 3-of-5 passes for 37 yards and pick up 31 yards on the ground. He capped the drive with a 2-yard TD run and a two-point conversion quarterback draw up the middle to tie the game with 10:22 left.
Ithaca went three-and-out on its next possession, thanks in part to senior defensive Tyre Coleman's sack for a loss of 7 on first down. It was the 49th of his career, moving him into a tie for second place in NCAA Division III history.
Hobart took over at midfield and moved to the Ithaca 31, but failed to convert a fake punt on a fourth and nine play. But, the Bombers again went three-and-out.
Hobart took over at its own 28 with 5:15 remaining in the game. After an incompletion on first down, Conlan threw a 9-yard completion to senior wideout John Fasano on the next play. On third down, Conlan picked up 2 yards on a keeper, but landed awkwardly on the football. He came off the field for three plays, yielding to junior quarterback Parker Thelander.
Consecutive 3-yard gains by junior running back Conner Hartigan set up a third-and-four at the Hobart 45. Thelander completed his first pass since September, finding sophomore wideout Jack Pfohl for 6 yards and a first down. With his wind back, Conlan returned under center, completing a 33-yard pass to first-year tight end Chris Cyr to put the Statesmen in the red zone. Three plays later, Hartigan picked up 5 yards and a first down, moving Hobart to the 1 and forcing Ithaca to take a timeout with 1:08 remaining. Conlan's keeper on first and goal, was marked down at the half yard line and the Bomber spent their final timeout at 1:02. Conlan was again rebuffed on a second down keeper. The third time was indeed a charm, as the senior notched his second TD run of the day, putting the Statesmen up 21-15 with 12.4 seconds left. First-year Will McCool's extra-point made it 22-15.
After a 9-yard kickoff return, Ithaca had time for one, possibly two plays, to move 78 yards. Instead, sophomore linebacker Marcus Jemison sacked senior quarterback Tom Dempsey on first down and time ran out on the Bombers.
In the fourth quarter, Conlan was 7-of-10 for 90 yards and rushed six times for 24 yards and two TDs. He finished the day 18-of-30 for 207 yards and rushed a game-high 20 times for a game-high 62 yards, despite his first half struggles. Fasano made a game-high five catches for 58 yards and finished the day with 175 all-purpose yards (7 rushing/58 receiving/110 kick return).
In the first half, Conlan fumbled on Hobart's second play from scrimmage. Ithaca didn't take advantage of the miscue, missing a 38-yard field goal attempt. Conlan was intercepted by Sam Carney on the Statesmen's second drive. He returned the pick 33 yards to the Hobart 20. Two plays later, Dempsey hit senior wideout Chris Bauer for 21 yards and a touchdown. The extra point was off the mark, leaving the Bombers a 6-0 lead.
Early in the second quarter, Conlan was intercepted by junior defensive back Malik Morris at the Hobart 26. Four plays into the drive, Dempsey hit senior wideout Vito Boffoli for 14 yards, setting up first and goal from the 1. The Statesmen defense turned back the Bombers' first down run for a loss of 1. Under pressure from Coleman, Dempsey's second down pass was incomplete. On third down, Jemison sacked Dempsey for a loss of 8, forcing the visitors to settle for a 27-yard Nicholson field goal and a 9-0 lead.
Hobart went three-and-out on its ensuing drive and Ithaca countered with a 5-play, 51-yard drive that ended with a 31-yard field goal by Nicholson.
The Statesmen got a 46-yard kick return from Fasano to give the offense the ball near midfield with 2:19 remaining in the half. However, Hobart was unable to cash in, as Carney intercepted Conlan at the Ithaca 21. The Bombers took a 12-0 lead into halftime.
The Statesmen missed a 31-yard field goal try on the first possession of the second half, but the defense forced another Ithaca punt and this time Hobart was able to put together a scoring march that covered 49 yards in nine plays. Junior running back Alex Furtado capped the drive with a 1-yard plunge. McCool's extra point made it a 12-7 game. Conlan was 4-for-5 passing for 51 yards on the drive.
Hobart's bend-don't-break defense was led by junior linebacker Jacob Stanley's 10 tackles. Jemison contributed eight stops, including 2.5 sacks. Coleman added six tackles, including two for a loss. He now has 87.5 career tackles for loss, tied for fourth in NCAA Division III history.
The Statesmen defense completely contained the Bombers in the fourth quarter, as Ithaca had minus 15 yards in the final 15 minutes.
Ithaca's defense got a game-high 13 tackles from both senior linebacker Marc Recio and first-year linebacker Kenneth Bradley. Senior defensive lineman Joe Ricotta added 12 tackles, including two sacks.
Dempsey was 16-of-31 passing for 178 yards and a TD. He was sacked four times. Bauer was his top target, pulling in four passes for a game-high 78 yards.
Hobart (11-0) will play Johns Hopkins (11-0) in the second round at noon on Saturday, Nov. 29. The NCAA Championship Committee will announce the hosts of the second round games on Sunday, Nov. 23.