Hobart Rolls Past Wittenberg To NCAA Quarters
By: Thad Brown
Updated: November 25, 2012
Seventh-ranked
Hobart College ran for 286 yards and five touchdowns while limiting No.
13/24 Wittenberg University to a season-low 135 yards of
total offense as the Statesmen advanced to the third round of the NCAA
Division III Football Championship by a score of 35-10 on Boswell Field
today.
Hobart is now 12-0 and will play a 13th game this season for the first time since 1902. It's the first time in school history the Statesmen have won ten games in a season.
In
blustery and at times snowy conditions, Hobart (12-0) kept the ball on
the ground and dominated time of possession (39:02-20:58). Junior
running back Steven Webb
produced his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season with 130 yards
on 19 carries. Senior tailback Bobby Dougherty added 85 yards on 20
carries. The Statesmen completed only five passes (on 11 attempts) for
75 yards. Senior wideout Junior Woodard had two
catches for 41 yards and sophomore tight end Mike Berkowitz caught two
passes for 38 yards.
On
defense, senior linebacker Andrew Klindera made a team-high eight
tackles and forced a fumble and sophomore defensive end Tyre Coleman
registered seven tackles,
including four for a loss with a pair of sacks.
The
Tigers (10-2) came into the game 21st in the nation in passing
efficiency, but managed just 109 yards through the air, less than half
of their season average (259.2
yds/g). Junior quarterback Reed Florence was 13-of-28 for 109 yards and
was picked off once and sacked three times. Junior wideout Desi Kirkman
was his top target with five receptions for 33 yards. Junior running
back JaVanh Sanders ran for 47 yards and a touchdown
and caught four passes for 35 yards.
A
low snap and short punt by Hobart set up the first scoring drive of the
game. Wittenberg took over at the Hobart 20. Four plays later, the
Tigers missed a 35-yard
field goal attempt into a strong wind, but a running into the kicker
penalty gave the visitors a do-over. This time Sean Williams' 30-yard
attempt was good for a 3-0 lead late in the first quarter.
Before
the end of the opening frame, the Statesmen found themselves in good
field position after sophomore Jacob Price blocked a Wittenberg punt
that Hobart recovered
at the Wittenberg 10. The Statesmen couldn't cash in however, fumbling a
handoff on the very next play.
The
Statesmen took the lead midway through the second quarter when Nick
Strang broke free for a 30-yard touchdown run that capped off a 6-play,
71-yard drive. First-year
James Hull's PAT gave Hobart a 7-3 lead that carried over into halftime.
The
Statesmen used a little razzle dazzle to open the second half. On the
first play from scrimmage, sophomore quarterback Patrick Conlan took a
pitch on a fake reverse
and completed a 30-yard pass to Woodard, who has caught at least one
pass in 32 consecutive games, matching the Hobart record. Eight plays
later, sophomore fullback Dominique Ellis bulled his way into the end
zone from 1-yard out for a 14-3 lead.
The
Tigers answered with a 6-play, 60-yard drive that Sanders finished off
with a 3-yard run. The extra point made it a 14-10 Hobart lead.
The
Statesmen were forced to punt on their next possession, but Wittenberg
muffed the return and junior Tom Elder dove on the loose ball to set
Hobart up at the Tigers'
23. Seven play later, the Statesmen attempted a 28-yard field goal, but a
bad snap gave the defense just enough time to break through the line
and block the kick.
Hobart
regained the momentum thanks to Coleman's second sack. As he closed in
on Florence on a third and 16 play, Coleman swatted the ball out of his
hand. Junior
defensive tackle Cory Einbeck recovered the fumble to set the offense up
at the Wittenberg 17.
Two
plays later, senior quarterback Kelly Olney scored on a 12-yard sweep
right, scoring on a dive at the pylon. Hull's extra point put the
Statesmen up 21-10.
The
Tigers scored 32-unanswered points in the first round of the playoffs
to wipe out a 22-point deficit and knock off Heidelberg, but there would
be no rally today.
Hobart's defense forced Wittenberg to go three and out on its first two
fourth quarter drives and junior corner back Kevin Hearon ended the
Tigers' final possession with an interception at the Statesmen 35 and a
16-yard return.
Meanwhile,
Hobart used a 7-play, 56-yard drive to go up 28-10 thanks to
Dougherty's 2-yard plunge. The touchdown was his 19th rushing TD of the
year, tying the Statesmen
season record set by Don Aleksiewicz '73 in 1971. Webb closed out the
day's scoring on the next Hobart drive with a spectacular 57-yard run
that went from sideline to sideline and included at least one would-be
tackler getting hurdled.
The
Statesmen will face St. Thomas in the third round at noon on Saturday,
Dec. 1. The fourth-ranked Tommies defeated No. 17 Elmhurst 24-17. The
NCAA Football Committee will announce the host teams for the third round Sunday.
