December 19 , 2005

All-American Doug Blakowski (Photo by Kevin Colton)

GENEVA, N.Y.—Hobart junior Doug Blakowski (Iroquois/Elma, N.Y.) was one of eight running backs named to the D3football.com All-America teams on Saturday. The first-year starter earned a spot on the honorable mention squad after compiling more than 1,300 yards rushing.

“This is a well deserved award,” Hobart Head Coach Mike Cragg said. “Doug patiently waited two years for his chance to be the featured back and when he got it this season, he exceeded our expectations, helping to carry us to the second round of the NCAA Playoffs.”

A big-play back, Blakowski had eight scoring plays of 50 yards or more this season on his way to 1,364 yards rushing, 171 yards receiving, and 18 touchdowns. His 17 rushing touchdowns are the second highest single-season total by a Statesman, while his rushing yardage ranks third on Hobart’s season list. Blakowski averaged a Liberty League best 5.8 yards per carry on his way to first-team all-conference honors. He ranked in the top-25 in the nation in rushing (21st, 124.0 yds/g), all purpose yards (22nd, 154.6 yds/g), and scoring (24th, 10.0 ppg).

Blakowski rushed for 100 yards or more in each of his first seven games and compiled nine afternoons above the century mark this season, tying the Hobart record established by Ed Cooney ’80 in 1977. Blakowski gained a season-high 198 yards, including scoring runs of 66 and 77 yards, at Coast Guard on Oct. 8.

Hobart finished the campaign with a 9-2 record, tying the program benchmark for wins in a season. The Statesmen finished second in the Liberty League with a 6-1 record and received an at-large bid to the NCAA Playoffs, the fourth invitation for Hobart since 2000. The Statesmen held off Cortland in the first round, 23-22, to reach the regional semifinals before losing a heart-breaker, 21-14, at Delaware Valley.

Blakowski is just the fourth Statesman to earn a spot on the D3football.com teams since the Web site began its All-America program in 1999. Alex Bell ’05 (first team in 2004, third team in ’03), Tim Booth ’03 (honorable mention in ’00 and ’02), and Rob Gould ’01 (honorable mention in ’00) are the other three.