October 1 , 2005

Doug Blakowski rushed for 172 yards and two touchdowns against the top run defense in the Liberty League. (Photo by K. Colton/SportsPics.net)

WORCESTER, Mass.--Hobart junior running back Doug Blakowski (Iroquois/Elma, N.Y.) rushed for a career-high 172 yards and two touchdowns against the Liberty League's top rushing defense this afternoon, leading the Statesmen to a 24-7 victory at WPI. The 19th-ranked Hobart football team improves to 4-0 overall, 2-0 in the Liberty League, while the Engineers fall to 3-1, 1-1.

WPI came into the contest allowing just 59.3 yards rushing per game, but the Statesmen posted 216 yards on the ground, en route to 357 yards of total offense.

Hobart got on the board first, taking its first possession of the game 57 yards on 13 plays, capped by a 24-yard field goal by first-year Kevin Olson (Mohawk/Mohawk, N.Y.). The trifecta proved to be the only points of the first quarter.

The Statesmen misfired on a 26-yard field goal attempt early in the second quarter, leaving the door open for WPI. The Engineers scored their only touchdown of the contest with 2:27 left in the half on a 1-yard dive by Billy Orfalea.

WPI led 7-3 at halftime. It is the first time this season, the Statesmen have trailed at the break.

Hobart reclaimed the lead with the first possession of the second half, compliments of a 57-yard touchdown run by Blakowski. It is the fourth time this season that he has broken off a TD run of 25-yards or more.

The Statesmen added to their lead later in the frame thanks to the defensive efforts of cornerback Jamie Anderson (Canandaigua/Canandaigua, N.Y.). The senior logged his first interception of the season late in the third frame, giving Hobart possession at the WPI 36.

One pass from the arm of quarterback Shawn Mizro (Newark/Newark, N.Y.) to the hands of first-year wide receiver Ryan LiDrazzah (Kent School/San Diego, Calif.) gobbled up those 36 yards for the Statesmen's second touchdown of the day and a 17-7 lead. Mizro finished the day 11-of-23 for 141 yards. Eight different players caught passes from the junior and no one caught more than two.

Anderson's pick was the second of three consecutive drives by the Engineers that ended in a interception. Senior free safety Ryan Smith (Tonawanda/Tonawanda, N.Y.) recorded the other two INTs. Hobart also recovered a WPI fumble and finished the day plus-two.

In the fourth quarter, the Statesmen padded their lead with a nine-play, 69-yard drive that Blakowski finished off with a 5-yard run for his ninth rushing touchdown of the year.

The Engineers' offense never reached the red zone in the second half, coming the closest on their final drive that died at the Hobart 24 when the game clock expired.

Sophomore linebacker Jeff Sanders (Camden/Camden, N.Y.) led the Statesmen with six tackles, while junior defensive end Andy Purdie (Victor/Farmington, N.Y.) registered two of Hobart's three sacks on the day.

The Statesmen, who have won 10 in a row against Liberty League opponents, return to action at noon on Oct. 8, at confernce foe Coast Guard.