The Hobart College football team rushed for a season-high 313 yards and got a stout performance from its defense to end the regular season with a 27-7 win over the University of Rochester on Saturday afternoon. The Statesmen won the Centennial Cup, the annual rivalry trophy awarded to the winner of the Hobart-Rocester game, for the 11th straight season.
Junior running back Tim Denham Jr. led the ground game, turning 20 carries into a season-high 175 yards and a touchdown. It’s his third 100-yard game of the season and the seventh of his career. Denham also caught two passes for 19 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown.
Junior running back Rayshawn Boswell also went over 100 yards on the day. He posted 140 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries. It was his first 100-yard game of the season and the fifth of his career.
Rochester came into the game averaging 215 yards rushing per game, second in the Liberty League and 28th in the nation. The Statesmen limited the Yellowjackets to 143 yards rushing and just 229 yards of total offense. Graduate student Jay McCoy led Hobart with a game and career-high 17 tackles. It’s the most tackles by a Statesman since Bryan Aguilar had 17 at Union in 2021.
Linebacker Anthony Romano also hit double digits in tackles, finishing with 12. Linebacker Jaimen Bliss added nine stops. Senior defensive back Blake Hansen made four tackles and an interception.
FIRST QUARTER
- Rochester took the early lead, using 11 plays to go 72 yards. Quarterback Ryan Rose connected on an 8-yard pass to J Kane for the touchdown.
- Hansen ended the Yellowjackets’ second drive with an interception near midfield. Six plays later, quarterback David Krewson hit Denham for a 12-yard TD to tie the game at 7.
SECOND QUARTER
- Going into the wind, Hobart couldn’t get anything going in the second quarter. The Statesmen’s three drives ended with an interception, a fumble and a 28-yard punt.
- Rochester didn’t fare much better. The Yellowjackets punted twice and missed field goals from 36 and 30-yards.
- The game remained tied at the half.
THIRD QUARTER
- Hobart took the lead late in the third quarter. Boswell took a direct snap and scored on a 5-yard run. Denham had a 40-yard run on the drive, the longest play of the game.
FOURTH QUARTER
- Boswell added a 25-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter, capping a six-play, 80-yard drive.
- On its final scoring drive, Hobart ran the ball four straight times out of the wildcat, with Denham breaking free for a 30-yard TD. The extra point gave the Statesmen a 27-7 lead with four minutes left.
STRANGE BUT TRUE
- Hobart finished the game minus-3 in turnover margin, but plus-7 in points off turnovers. The Statesmen lost two fumbles and were intercepted once, but Rochester wasn’t able to cash in on any of the takeaways.
IS ANYTHING NEXT?
- Following the NCAA selection show on Sunday night, the ECAC will select teams to compete in its bowl games. Those pairings will be announced on Monday. The Statesmen are bowl eligible.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].