Hobart football linebacker Mike McGhee (Germantown Academy/Jamison, Pa.) and wide receiver Johnny Harding (McQuaid Jesuit/Rochester, N.Y.) earned weekly awards from the Liberty League the conference office announced today. McGhee was named the Defensive Performer of the Week and Harding earned the Rookie of the Week award.
Additionally, running back E.J. Taylor (Salon/Salon, Ohio) earned a spot on the league’s weekly honor roll.
On Saturday, Hobart earned its fourth straight win, defeating Buffalo State 31-3.
A junior, McGhee recorded five tackles, including 2.5 for loss, and scored the first points of the game. He foiled the Bengals’ opening drive with an interception at the Hobart 33 that he returned 67 yards for a touchdown less than five minutes into the game. It’s the second year in a row that McGhee has scored a defensive touchdown against Buff State (he had a 31-yard fumble recovery for a TD in 2023). The Statesmen defense produced another goal line stand (it’s fourth of the season) with McGhee contributing a tackle for a 1-yard loss, pushing the Bengals back from the 1 to the 2 on second down. Hobart limited Buffalo State to just 172 yards, a mere eight first downs and just three points. It’s the second time this season Hobart has prevented its opponent from scoring a touchdown. The Statesmen only allowed the Bengals to convert on 3-of-11 third downs and none of their three fourth down tries.
Through six games, McGhee is third on the team in tackles with 31 and second in tackles for loss with 6.0. He’s tied for the team lead with two interceptions and three pass breakups. Hobart’s defense is sixth in the nation, allowing just 8.7 points per game and eighth in turnovers gained with 14.
A first-year, Harding caught a season-high seven passes for a game-high 83 yards and two touchdowns. Seventy percent of his yards came after the catch (58). He scored Hobart’s first offensive touchdown of the game on a 17-yard pass play and added a 40-yard TD in the fourth quarter. Harding’s seven receptions are the most by a Statesman this season.
Harding has been named the Rookie of the Week three times in the past four weeks. He leads Hobart and is fifth in the Liberty League in receptions with 24 and receiving yards with 325. Harding is tied for the Liberty League lead in receiving touchdowns with five.
A sophomore, Taylor produced a game-high 126 all-purpose yards. He had 17 carries for 95 yards, marking the fourth time this season that he’s rushed for 95 or more yards. Taylor’s longest run of the day was a 25-yard third-quarter run that was the longest run by either team and keyed a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. He also caught two passes for 31 yards, including a 21-yard touchdown that gave Hobart a 21-3 lead just shy of a minute into the fourth quarter.
Taylor ranks second in the Liberty League in rushing yards with 525. He’s fifth in the league in yards per carry (5.0) and rushing touchdowns (3).
Hobart is 5-1 overall, and 2-0 in the Liberty League. The Statesmen sit alone in first place in the conference standings.
Hobart will travel to St. Lawrence (2-3, 1-1) for its next game. The Saints and Statesmen will kick off at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 at Leckonby Stadium.
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