The Hobart football team limited St. Lawrence to just 164 yards of total offense while piling up 390 yards on its side of the ledger in a 39-3 win over the Saints. At the midpoint of the Liberty League schedule, the Statesmen sit alone atop the standings with an unblemished 3-0 league record.
Senior linebacker Jaimen Bliss made a team-high seven tackles, including a sack, for the Statesmen. Senior linebacker Vincent Giordano and sophomore defensive end DonJuan McGee each contributed three tackles and a sack. Hobart benefited from three takeaways on the day. Cornerback Chris Ntumba and Corey Rock each had an interception, while linebacker Ian Harder recovered a fumble in the St. Lawrence end zone for a touchdown.
On offense, senior quarterback Johnny Colombi returned to the lineup after missing the last six quarters with an injury. He was 14-of-22 passing for 226 yards and two touchdowns. First-year wide receiver Tristan Reynolds caught a team-high four passes for 29 yards and classmate Johnny Harding pulled in three passes for a game-high 81 yards, including a 42-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Sophomore running back E.J. Taylor picked up 79 yards, scoring on a 1-yard plunge late in the first quarter.
On special teams, senior Tobias Wefering broke the Hobart record for field goals made in a game, going 4-for-4. He connected on 3-pointers from 29, 25, 41, and 31 yards. Wefering raised his career total to 29, two shy of the Hobart record of 31 set by Kyle Hackett ’21.
FOR THE RECORD
- Hobart won its fifth straight to improve to 6-1 overall.
- St. Lawrence dropped to 2-4 overall, 1-2 in the Liberty League.
SETTING THE TONE
- On the third play from scrimmage, Ntumba intercepted SLU quarterback Daniel Lawther and returned it 36 yards to Saints 42.
- The Statesmen’s first possession stalled inside the red zone and the visitors had to settle for a 29-yard Wefering field goal.
- After the Hobart defense forced a three-and-out, the offense went back to work and this time punched it into the end zone. Taylor carried the ball for 25 of the 50-yard scoring drive, taking it across the goal line for this fourth touchdown of the season.
- The Saints were saddled with another three-and-out followed by another Hobart scoring drive to start the second quarter. Wefering connected from 25 yards this time to give the visitors a 13-0 lead.
KICK FOR KICK
- St. Lawrence got on the board midway through the second quarter. Lawther completed a 66-yard pass to Shea Goodwin to move the Saints to the Hobart 10.
- Hobart’s defense stiffened in the shadow of the goalposts and forced the Saints to settle for a 22-yard field goal by Clayton Folger.
- The Statesmen answered with a 12-play, 48-yard drive that ended with a 41-yard Wefering field goal.
- The kick matched his longest of the season and sent Hobart into halftime with a 16-3 lead.
QUICK RESTART
- Hobart padded its lead by scoring on its first two possessions of the second half.
- On the first drive of the third quarter, Colombi connected with junior Ahmad Crowell on a 40-yard touchdown pass, capping a 4-play, 70-yard drive.
- The Statesmen defense forced another three-and-out on the Saints first possession, and Hobart scored on a another long-pass play.
- This time Colombi connected with Harding for 42 yards.
- Crowell and Harding share the Liberty League lead with six touchdown receptions apiece.
RECORD BREAKER
- Wefering’s record-breaking fourth field goal of the game was from 31 yards away, 56 seconds into the fourth quarter.
SPECIAL TEAMS, DEFENSE PROVIDE THE COUP DE GRACE
- Midway through the final frame, punter Vicente Lyon launched a 44-yard punt that was downed at the SLU 3.
- A short gain on first down was followed by back-to-back false start penalties against the Saints that backed them up to their own 1.
- The third time wasn’t a charm for St. Lawrence. On their third try at a second down play, Trey Dillabough blocked the Saints’ left guard into running back James Gescheidle, jarring the ball out of his grip. Harder recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown. It was Hobart’s third defensive touchdown of the season.
COACH’S CORNER
“It was very good to see our team jump out to a strong start on the road. Our defense set the tone with a takeaway on the first possession and was able to keep their offense at bay all game. Our offense was able to score on four of our first five possessions, and credit to Tobias and our field goal unit covering all four field goal attempts on the day.” – Head Coach Kevin DeWall ’00
SERIES NOTES
- Hobart defeated St. Lawrence for the 13th consecutive time and 31st time in the past 32 meetings.
- Overall, the Statesmen lead the series against the Saints 57-36-2.
STATS OF NOTE
- The Statesmen defense limited the Saints to just one first down in each of the first three quarters. SLU managed just seven for the game.
- St. Lawrence was just 1-of-10 on third down and 0-for-2 on fourth down.
- Hobart dominated time of possession, holding on to the ball for 35:22. It’s the most possession for the Statesmen in a game this season.
- Hobart’s five-game winning streak is the program’s longest winning since winning eight straight spanning the 2019 and 2021 seasons.
- The five-game win streak marks the first time Hobart has won five in a row in a season since opening the 2016 season with five consecutive wins.
HOME SWEET HOME
- Hobart will return to Urick Stadium to host Union (2-4, 1-1) next week. The Statesmen and Garnet Chargers are scheduled to kick off on Boswell Field at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26.
- The game will be Hobart’s annual Tackles & Touchdowns for Ability Partners game. The Ability Partners Foundation supports several area non-profits, including Happiness House in Geneva.
