November 15 , 2005

Two-time Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year Tony Clemente (Photo by Ken DeBolt)

14 Statesmen selected to All-Conference teams

GENEVA, N.Y.—Hobart senior linebacker Tony Clemente (Troy/Troy, N.Y.) was named the Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year today in a vote of the League’s coaches. The Statesmen also earned 14 spots on the All-Liberty League teams.

Senior defensive tackle Rick Eicheldinger (Lancaster/Lancaster, N.Y.), junior quarterback Shawn Mizro (Newark/Newark, N.Y.), junior running back Doug Blakowski (Iroquois/Elma, N.Y.), and junior offensive tackle Mike DePersis (Johnson City/Johnson City, N.Y.) joined Clemente on the first-team. Senior linebacker Jimmy Gradis (Elwood John Glenn/Greenlawn, N.Y.), senior cornerback Jamie Anderson (Canandaigua/Canandaigua, N.Y.), senior free safety Ryan Smith (Tonawanda/Tonawanda, N.Y.), and junior guard Nino Giambrone (Pioneer/Delevan, N.Y.) earned second-team recognition, while senior cornerback Dyshawn Washington (Kent School/Piscataway, N.J.), junior defensive tackle Andy Purdie (Victor/Farmington, N.Y.), sophomore offensive tackle Phill Perkins (Andover/Andover, Mass.), and sophomore linebacker Jeff Sanders (Camden/Camden, N.Y.) received honorable mention. Anderson also received honorable mention as a return specialist.

Clemente leads a balanced Hobart defense that was first in the Liberty League in scoring defense (15.4), rushing defense (95.2), and total defense (299.1) and ranked second in pass defense efficiency (99.6), opponent first downs (150), opponent third down conversion (22.1), and sacks (28). Now a three-time Liberty League first-team selection, Clemente was also the Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year in 2003. He recorded a team-high nine tackles at Rochester this past Saturday. Clemente finished the regular season with 50 tackles, including seven for a loss and two sacks. For his career, he has 211 tackles, 15 for a loss, nine forced fumbles, five sacks, and two interceptions.

Eicheldinger leads Hobart in tackles for a loss (10.5) and is tied for the team lead in sacks (5.0). He has 35 tackles this year, including a season-high five stops twice (at Dickinson and at Union). Eicheldinger also recorded his first career interception against the Dutchmen.

A two-time All-Liberty League pick, Mizro has completed 58.8 percent of his passes this season for 1,769 yards and 16 touchdowns. He leads the Liberty League in passing yards per attempt (7.8) and ranks second in pass efficiency (142.15), yards per completion (13.2), and touchdown-to-interception ratio (3.75). Mizro completed a Hobart record 31 passes for 428 yards (second most in Hobart history) against Union, the top ranked pass efficiency defense. He completed a Hobart record 89.5 percent of his passes (17-19) and broke the record for pass efficiency (246.8) in a win at Coast Guard, the top ranked pass defense. Mizro tied his own game record with five TD passes in an overtime win against RPI. He ranks second in career passing TDs (45), and third in passing yards (4,033) and completions (292) at Hobart.

Blakowski’s 16 rushing touchdowns are the second most in a season by a Hobart player, while his 1,227 rushing yards are fourth on the all-time list. He led the Liberty League in yards per carry, was second in rushing touchdowns, and third in rushing yards per game (136.3). He rushed for at least 116 yards in eight of nine games this season. Blakowski has 12 carries this season that have gone for 20 yards or more, including a long of 80 yards against Kings Point. He gained a season-high 198 yards at Coast Guard.

DePersis and fellow linemen Giambrone and Perkins created running room for Hobart’s Liberty League leading rushing attack (207.7 yds/g). They helped the Statesmen run for at least 150 yards in eight out of nine games. Hobart’s ground game picked up a season-high 397 yards at Coast Guard.

A four-time All-Liberty League pick, Gradis leads Hobart in solo tackles (35) and total tackles (54) and tied for third in tackles for a loss (6.5). He recorded a season-high 10 tackles against Kings Point, earning Liberty League Defensive Performer of the Week honors. Gradis has played in all 39 games for the Statesmen over the past four seasons, accumulating 227 tackles, including 21 tackles for a loss and four sacks, six interceptions, five fumble recoveries, and three forced fumbles.

A three-time All-Liberty League selection, Anderson has 36 tackles, six pass break ups, two interceptions, and a fumble return for a touchdown this season. He ranks sixth on the team in tackles, and posted a season-high seven stops against Union. Anderson also returned punts for the Statesmen this season, leading the Liberty League in punt return average (12.1 yds/ret). He was named the Liberty League Special Teams Player of the Week, after averaging 16.8 yards on five punt returns against WPI. As a Statesman, Anderson has notched 118 tackles, 21 pass break ups, and 13 interceptions.

Smith leads Hobart and is tied for second in the Liberty League in interceptions with four. He recorded two picks against both WPI and St. Lawrence. Smith made a season-high six tackles against Union and has 28 this season. Over the past four seasons, he has logged 108 tackles, 16 pass break ups, nine interceptions, and three sacks.

A three-time All-Liberty League pick, Washington leads Hobart and is tied for fifth in the Liberty League in passes defended with nine. He sports 30 tackles and two interceptions this year. He posted a season-high six tackles against St. Lawrence. In 36 career games, Washington has 121 tackles, 36 pass break ups, and eight interceptions. As a first-year, he broke the Hobart record for longest kickoff return, taking the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown against St. Lawrence.

Purdie, who has 32 total tackles, is third on the team in sacks (4.5) and fifth in tackles for a loss (6.0). He opened the season with seven tackles, including 1.5 sacks, against Dickinson. Purdie matched that performance with seven stops against St. Lawrence. In three seasons, he has registered 79 tackles, including 11.5 for a loss and 7.5 sacks.

A two-time All-Liberty League selection, Sanders is second on the team in tackles with 53. He recorded a season-high 10 tackles against Rensselaer, made nine stops against Kings Point, and eight against both WPI and St. Lawrence. In just two seasons on campus, Sanders has logged 113 tackles.

Hobart is back in action at noon on Nov. 19, when the Statesmen host SUNY Cortland in the first round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs. General admission tickets are $8. Students from Hobart and William Smith and Cortland with a valid ID will be admitted for $4.