Junior running back E.J. Taylor (Salon/Salon, Ohio) and first-year linebacker Jeron Atwater Jr. (Benjamin School/Port St. Lucie, Fla.) were named the Liberty League Football Offensive Performer of the Week and Rookie of the Week, respectively. Additionally, senior punter Vicente Lyon (Yorktown/Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) earned a spot on the Liberty League Weekly Honor Roll for his efforts in Hobart’s 28-21 overtime win at Rochester Saturday.
Taylor produced 203 total yards and scored a touchdown against the Yellowjackets. UR came into the game allowing 134.4 yards rushing per game, but Taylor turned 28 carries into a career-high 196 yards, averaging 7.0 yards per attempt. He also caught a pass for seven yards. Taylor scored the game’s opening touchdown on a 1-yard plunge and added a 50-yard run to set up Hobart’s second touchdown of the game.
Taylor’s 196 yards rushing are 17th on Hobart’s single-game list and the most by a Liberty League player this season. The Liberty League rushing leader has 211 more yards on the ground (861) than any other player in the conference.
In 30 career games, Taylor has 2,390 rushing yards (11th on Hobart’s all-time list) and 25 touchdowns (11th) as well as 33 receptions for 258 yards and three TDs.
Atwater made six tackles, including one for a loss, and broke up three passes at Rochester. He made his biggest play of the game on the final play of the game, breaking up the Yellowjackets’ fourth and 2 pass into the end zone to secure the Statesmen’s 14th consecutive win over UR.
Atwater has played in seven games this season, recording 30 tackles, 4.5 for loss, 2.5 sacks and six pass breakups.
Lyon averaged 45.3 yards per punt against the Yellowjackets. He punted six times for 272 yards with a long of 50 yards. Lyon leads the league in punting average (42.7), punts inside the 20 (11), and punts of 50+ yards (6).
Hobart (3-5, 2-3 Liberty) will play its final road game of the regular season when it visits Hilbert (0-8, 0-6) on Saturday, Nov. 8. Kickoff at St. Francis High School in Hamburg is set for noon.
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