Junior running back E.J. Taylor and sophomore wide receiver Johnny Harding both produced 100-yard games for the Hobart football team at Union Saturday afternoon. Despite the duos’ efforts, the Garnet Chargers prevailed 33-16 on Frank Bailey Field.
Taylor posted his fourth 100-yard game of the season and 13th of his career, running for a game-high 125 yards. His 7-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter pulled the Statesmen within striking distance of Union at 16-10.
Harding extended his game’s with a reception streak to 17, the eighth-longest streak in Hobart history. He finished with a game-high five receptions for a career and game-high 142 yards. It was his second career 100-yard game.
HOBART LEADERS
- Rushing: Taylor 21 carries, 125 yds, TD
- Passing: Jeremy Weiss 12-of-20 for 234 yds, TD
- Receiving: Harding 5 rec, 142 yds
- Tackles: Ryan Van Tassel, Jeron Atwater Jr. and Mike McGhee 8 apiece
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Union scored on the game’s opening possession on a 1-yard dive by quarterback Patch Flanagan.
- Hobart answered with a promising drive that advanced to the Union 27, only to see the Statesmen lose a fumble. It was their only possession of the opening quarter.
- Hobart started the second quarter with the ball, and again put together a promising drive that stalled out in the red zone. A 32-yard field goal attempt was blocked, preserving the home team’s 7-0 lead.
- The Garnet Chargers added to their lead when Flanagan scored his second rushing TD of the game, this time from 5 yards out.
- An illegal block in the back penalty against Hobart on the ensuing kickoff backed the Statesmen up at their own 5. Two plays later, a fumble in the end zone resulted in a safety and a 16-0 lead.
- Hobart cracked the scoring column with a 37-yard field goal by junior Luke Monteyne as time expired on the first half. Weiss and Harding teamed up for the big play on the drive, a 68-yard completion that moved the Statesmen from their own 18 to the Union 14.
- The Statesmen produced the only points of the third quarter, cutting the home team’s lead to 16-10 on Taylor’s TD with just 18 minutes left in the game.
- Union got two quick scores to start the fourth quarter to push the advantage to 26-10.
- Hobart closed to within 10 on a 43-yard touchdown pass from Weiss to junior wide receiver Marcus Peterson. The Statesmen opted to go for two, but couldn’t connect on the pass play.
- Flanagan scored his fourth rushing TD of the game with just under four minutes left to complete the day’s scoring. He was 11-of-15 passing for 197 yards and rushed for a team-high 116 yards.
Hobart outgained Union 390-370, but the Statesmen (1-5, 0-3) turned the ball over twice, while the Garnet Chargers (4-2, 3-0) did not commit a turnover.
Hobart will be back in action in two weeks, when the Statesmen host St. Lawrence (2-4, 1-2) at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25.
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