September 27 , 2004

Nolan Robinson

Eric Ampuja

GENEVA, N.Y.—Two Hobart football players were named Liberty League Players of the Week after the Statesmen topped Rensselaer 54-13 on Saturday. Senior kicker Eric Ampuja (Brockton/Brockton, Mass.) earned a share of the League’s Special Teams Player of the Week Award, while sophomore linebacker Nolan Robinson (Johnson City/Johnson City, N.Y.) garnered Defensive Player of the Week accolades.

The right foot of Ampuja nearly outscored RPI by itself, booting six extra points and two field goals for 12 points, a Hobart single game record for a kicker.

Robinson posted a game-high 13 tackles (5 solo) to lead the swarming Hobart defense. Robinson and the Statesmen allowed just one touchdown by the Engineers (the other RPI score was a fumble return by the defense), while limiting the hosts to just 93 yards rushing. Hobart was especially effective on third down, stopping 11 of 16 conversion attempts.

Trailing the home standing Engineers 13-0 less than three minutes into the contest, Hobart (2-1, 1-0 Liberty) exploded for 54 unanswered points. The dominating performance grabbed the attention of many pollsters, as the Statesmen moved up to fourth in the latest Upstate New York Division III Football poll and joined the ranks of “Others Receiving Votes” in the D3Football.com weekly top-25.

Hobart returns to action at 1 p.m., on Oct. 2, when the WPI Engineers (3-1, 0-1) visit Boswell Field. The game will be the first meeting between the two programs.

Tickets for the Parents Weekend contest can be purchased at the gate for $3 for adults and $1 for children under 12.