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Passing game, dominant D lead #9 Hobart to win at WPI

More news about: Hobart
WORCESTER, Mass.—Senior quarterback Patrick Conlan threw for a career-high 257 yards and three touchdowns to lead the ninth-ranked Hobart College football team to a 28-14 Liberty League victory at WPI today. The undefeated Statesmen (5-0, 2-0) jumped out to 28-0 lead on the way to its 25th consecutive regular season victory.
 
The Engineers (1-4, 0-2) packed the box all day, daring Hobart to throw the ball. Conlan completed 22-of-38 passes, both career highs, without an interception. Senior wide receiverElvin Souffrant had a team-high six catches for a game-high 83 yards.
 
Hobart's defensive starters contained the WPI offense in the first three quarters. The Engineers had just 66 yards of total offense (16 rush, 50 pass) entering the fourth quarter. Junior linebackers Jacob Stanley and Trayvon Toney shared team-high honors with six tackles apiece. Junior defensive tackle Tucker Gumkowski came up with the game's only turnover, intercepting a pass that batted up in the air at the line. The Statesmen also blocked a third quarter punt thanks to junior linebacker Marcus Jemison's speed off the edge. Jemison had three tackles, including one for a loss.
 
WPI finished the day with 205 yards of offense thanks to its fourth quarter surge.
 
The Statesmen got on the board on their second possession of the game. On fourth down and 3, sophomore wide receiver Sean Cunningham turned a short completion from Conlan into a 31-yard touchdown, the first TD catch of his career. The eight-play drive covered 52 yards.
 
Hobart returned to the end zone six seconds into the second quarter. Junior running back Conner Hartigan punched it in on fourth and goal from the 1, capping a 12-play, 56-yard drive.
 
After the defense forced a three-and-out, the Statesmen came back with a six-play, 65-yard drive that Conlan capped with a 4-yard TD pass to senior wide receiver John Fasano. Hobart carried a 21-0 lead into halftime.
 
The Statesmen outgained the Engineers 221-52 in the opening 30 minutes.
 
With 3:05 left in the third quarter, Hobart stretched its lead to 28-0 on a 4-yard pass from Conlan to senior tight end Mike Berkowitz, finishing off a nine-play, 65-yard march.
 
WPI broke up the shutout with 9:31 remaining in the game. Quarterback Dan Eckler completed a 13-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Eccher. The seven-play, 70-yard drive featured more Engineer first downs (4) than the team had on its first 11 drives combined (3).
 
WPI added a second score with 43.9 seconds remaining on a 10-yard pass from Eckler to Eccher, ending a seven-play, 58-yard drive. Eckler finished the day 20-of-42 for 179 yards. Eccher made six catches for 42 yards.
 
Hobart heads home to host Springfield (4-1, 2-0) on Saturday, Oct. 11. Kickoff at Boswell Field is scheduled for noon.


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