Hobart 19, WPI 14
Box
Score
Geneva, N.Y. -- The 18th-ranked Hobart College football team
improved to 4-0 with a 19-14 come-from-behind Liberty League win
over WPI on Boswell Field this afternoon. The Statesmen relied
heavily on their defense, which posted two red zone stands and two
interceptions in the victory.
Hobart (4-0, 2-0) was outgained 338-320, but came up with the key
plays when it mattered most.
The Engineers (2-2, 0-2) took their only lead of the game with
5:45 remaining on a 2-yard plunge by senior tailback
Garrett Vandette (North Attleboro, MA). The
four-play, 14-yard drive was set up by junior defensive back
Adam Haines' (Manchester, NH) 52-yard interception
return to the Hobart 14. Vandette finished with a team-high 53
yards rushing.
Seemingly unfazed by his third interception of the game, senior
quarterback Shawn Mizro (Newark, NY) led the
Statesmen on a 7-play, 67-yard drive that ended with senior running
back Doug Blakowski (Elma, NY) scoring from 1 yard
out with 3:14 remaining. Blakowski finished with 119 yards rushing
and three touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 49 yards.
Mizro was 12 of 24 for 138 yards. It is the seventh time in his
Hobart career that he has engineered a game-winning drive in the
fourth quarter or overtime.
The Statesmen looked to their defense to seal the victory. WPI
managed to move to the Hobart 23, but faced fourth and about a
foot. The Engineers dug into their back of tricks and had sophomore
tailback Alix Orton (Worcester, MA) throw a
halfback option pass. Hobart junior free safety Mike
Kaplun (Webster, NY) stayed with his assignment and
intercepted the offering in the end zone. Kaplun had seven tackles,
two pass break ups, and the interception.
The Statesmen got off to a good start, scoring on their first
drive. The 13-play, 62-yard march ate 7:20 off the clock and ended
on an 11-yard run over the left side by Blakowski. The key play on
the drive was a 15-yard roughing the punter penalty against WPI
that kept a sputtering drive alive.
Hobart added a second TD early in the second quarter when
Blakowski broke free for a 42-yard touchdown run, his longest of
the season. The extra point try was wide left, leaving Hobart a
13-0 lead.
The Statesmen defense came up with its first goal line stand late
in the second quarter. The Engineers moved to the Hobart 4, but
junior cornerback James Alexander (Beverly, MA)
batted down a pass into the end zone on third down and sophomore
tackle Ryan Aruck (Canandaigua, N.Y.) stopped the
WPI rush for no gain on fourth down. Aruck posted a team-high nine
tackles.
The Engineers cracked the scoring column with 8:43 remaining in
the third quarter. Junior fullback George Chyoghly
(Boylston, Mass.) capped an 80-yard drive with a 5-yard
scamper.
Hobart started the fourth quarter with another impressive
defensive stand. Facing fourth and one, WPI handed off to Chyoghly
who ran into Aruck at the line of scrimmage for no gain. The
Engineers' next drive was wiped out by a one-handed interception by
junior linebacker Jeff Sanders (Camden, N.Y.) in
advance of the dramatic finish.
Sophomore linebacker Matt Boudreau (Rensselaer,
N.Y.) led WPI with 13 tackles and an interception.
Release courtesy Hobart Sports Information
