The Hobart College football team picked up its second win of the season with a 27-10 victory over Morrisville State College on Boswell Field this afternoon. The Statesmen defense forced the Mustangs into five turnovers, while the Hobart offense dominated time of possession with a punishing run game that produced 306 yards.
COACH’S CORNER
- “It’s great to see our defense start out fast, taking the ball away from their offense on the first few possessions, helping flip the field position and enabling the team to score early points. It appeared our offensive front played well and the running backs ran hard all game long. We made strides from last week’s competition, so I look forward to seeing continued growth this week in many areas.” – Hobart Head Coach Kevin DeWall ’00.
FOR THE RECORD
- Hobart (2-0)
- Morrisville (1-1)
KEY STATS
- Hobart’s defense forced turnovers on each of Morrisville’s first three possessions and four of their five first half drives. The Statesmen also ended the Mustang’s final possession of the game with a takeaway.
- Hobart produced four interceptions and recovered a Morrisville fumble. It’s the first time the Statesmen have had four or more interceptions in a game since picking off Buffalo State four times on Nov. 5, 2022.
- Junior linebacker Jaimen Bliss and sophomore linebacker Mike McGhee each recorded a pair of takeaways. Bliss notched two interceptions, a pass breakup and four tackles, while McGhee had a fumble recovery, an interception and two stops.
- Hobart outgained Morrisville State 378-222. The Statesmen ran the ball 54 times for 306 yards (5.7/carry). It the team’s most rushing yards since burning Rochester for 313 yards in last season’s regular season finale.
- Hobart’s commitment to the run led to a sizable advantage in time of possession (36:11-23:49).
- Senior running back Rayshawn Boswell finished the game with 147 yards rushing and two touchdowns. He raised his career totals to 1951 yards rushing (13th at Hobart) and 29 rushing touchdowns (8th). Add in four receiving TDs and three kick return TDs and he’s reached the end zone 36 times (6th).
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Hobart went three-and-out on its opening possession, the only time the Statesmen punted in the game.
- On Morrisville’s second play from scrimmage, quarterback Steven Frerichs hit an official with a pass over the middle. The ball deflected into the waiting hands of Bliss, who returned his first career pick 13 yards to the Morrisville State 13.
- Junior Tobias Wefering booted a 23-yard field goal to open the scoring.
- The Mustangs turned the ball over on the second play of their next drive too. This time senior defensive end Connor Gunn forced a fumble that sophomore linebacker Mike McGhee recovered to set the offense up at the Morrisville 28.
- The Statesmen tacked on a second Wefering field goal, this time from 22 yards to go up 6-0 midway through the opening frame.
- McGhee also halted the Mustang’s third drive, logging his first career interception on a diving pick at the Hobart 9.
- That led to an eight-play, 91-yard drive that ended with Boswell’s first TD run from 18 yards out, giving the Statesmen a 13-0 lead.
- Morrisville got on the board with a field goal early in the second quarter, a 41-yard kick by sophomore Owen Cole.
- Hobart answered with another touchdown drive with senior Tim Denham capping off a 14-play, 75-yard march with a 3-yard plunge into the end zone. It was his 27th career rushing TD, tied for ninth on Hobart’s all-time list.
- The Mustangs put together a promising drive late in the half, but Bliss picked off Frerichs in the end zone to quell the threat.
- The Statesmen carried a 20-3 lead into halftime.
- After a scoreless third quarter, Morrisville made it a 10-point game on a 5-yard TD pass from Frerichs to junior tight end Quamel Jarvis early in the final frame.
- Hobart countered with a 12-play, 77-yard drive that drained 5:52 off the game clock and ended with a 4-yard TD run by Boswell to cap the day’s scoring.
- Senior free safety Joe McCoy iced the win with his second interception in as many games, allowing the offense to run the final 2:54 off the clock.
UP NEXT
Hobart will have two weeks to prepare for its next opponent. The Statesmen will host Keystone College Sept. 23.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].