The Hobart football team rallied for 10 points in the fourth quarter to escape the season opener with a 10-7 victory over Alfred on Boswell Field tonight. The Statesmen got 159 yards rushing from sophomore running back E.J. Taylor and key fourth-quarter takeaways from its defense to post its 14th consecutive victory over the Saxons.
The first three quarters featured two weather delays—one before the game even started and one in the middle of the third quarter—choppy offense from both Hobart and Alfred and just one touchdown. Trailing 7-3 late in the fourth quarter, the Statesmen got a fortuitous bounce that changed the course of the game.
Hobart (1-0) was forced to punt with under four minutes remaining, but Vicente Lyon’s kick bounced near the Alfred 25-yard line and ricocheted off Saxon Neil Peters. Hobart senior Chris Ntumba was there to recover the ball at the 26. Four plays later, quarterback Johnny Colombi scored on an 8-yard keeper to give the Statesmen the lead.
Hobart held on for a 10-7 win over the Saxons (0-1) with junior linebacker Mike McGhee sealing the deal with an interception at the Hobart 1.
The Statesmen rushed for 212 yards on the day. In addition to Taylor’s career-high, Colombi added 44 yards. He also completed 11-of-22 passes for 116 yards. First-year Johnny Harding made a team-high four catches for 35 yards.
Senior linebacker Jaimen Bliss and first-year defensive tackle Billy Brosko logged eight and seven tackles, respectively, to pace the Hobart defense.
Alfred sophomore wide receiver Dion Anderson caught eight passes for a game-high 134 yards and a touchdown. The Saxons got double digit stops from sophomore linebacker Landon Spencer and graduate student linebacker Joe Copp. Spencer posted a game-high 13, while Copp had 10, including a sack.
After a scoreless first quarter, Hobart tried a 34-yard field goal midway through the second frame, but the kick missed wide left. Alfred answered with a 5-play, 80-yard drive that ended on a 15-yard touchdown pass from junior quarter Chris Kelly to Anderson. It proved to be the only points of the first half.
The third quarter took well over an hour to play thanks to a lengthy lightning delay, but ultimately, it was a scoreless as the first quarter.
Alfred missed a 37-yard field goal on the third play of the fourth quarter and Hobart responded with its first scoring drive of the game. Taylor highlighted the 6-play, 71-yard drive with the longest play from scrimmage by either team, a 72-yard run that got the Statesmen inside the Saxon 10. Four plays later, Hobart settled for a 26-yard field goal by senior Tobias Wefering.
The Saxons went three-and-out on their ensuing possession and the Statesmen stalled near midfield following a false start penalty and a sack on third down, setting the stage for the muffed punt and Hobart’s new life from 26 yards out and 3:40 remaining.
Alfred’s final drive started with 1:52 left in the game, but the Saxons were able to move the ball with their hurry up offense. On second and 6 from the Hobart 26, Kelly threw to the left corner of the end zone, but McGhee made a spectacular interception, just getting a foot in bounds at the 1. Two keepers up the gut by Colombi ran out the clock for the Statesmen triumph.
Hobart will face a stiff test on the road next week. The Statesmen will visit 2023 NCAA semifinalist Randolph-Macon (1-0) at noon on Saturday, Sept. 14.
