December 2 , 2004

Chris Purtell

Alex Bell

Eric Ampuja

Dan Suozzi

Jamie Anderson

GENEVA, N.Y.—The Hobart football team placed five players on the Football Gazette All-East teams, including senior defensive end Chris Purtell (Pioneer/Sardinia, N.Y.) who was named the 2004 East Region Defensive Player of the Year. Senior offensive lineman Alex Bell (Wallkill/Modena, N.Y.) joined Purtell on the first-team, while senior kicker Eric Ampuja (Brockton/Brockton, Mass.), senior wide receiver Dan Suozzi (New Hampton/New Canaan, Conn.), and junior defensive back Jamie Anderson (Canandaigua/Canandaigua, N.Y.) garnered third-team honors.

The Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year, Purtell shared the team lead with 71 tackles despite missing the Statesmen’s two NCAA playoff games due to illness. He started all nine games he played in this season, recording 14½ tackles for a loss, including 4½ sacks. Purtell was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week three times this season. He completed his career at Hobart with 155 tackles (74 solo), 24½ sacks, eight tackles for a loss, three forced fumbles, and recovered five fumbles. With Purtell in the lineup, Hobart did not allow a 100-yard rusher this season, leading the Liberty League in rushing defense (109.8 yds/g).

A four-time All-Liberty League selection, Bell is making his second straight appearance on the Football Gazette teams following second-team praise in 2003. The 6-foot-3, 317-pounder is an imposing figure and the keystone in Hobart’s record-breaking offensive success. The Statesmen led the Liberty League in scoring offense (33.1 ppg), rushing offense (199.9 yds/g), pass efficiency (149.9), first downs (217), and red zone offense (86.7%). Hobart broke team season records for passing yards (2,302), touchdown passes (31), total offense (4,501), touchdowns (50), PAT kicks made (42), and points (364). Named to two All-America teams in 2003, Bell is certain to improve on that this season.

A three-time All-Liberty League pick, Ampuja completely rewrote the Hobart record book over the past four seasons. He converted 42-of-43 PAT kicks (both records, as is his 97.7 conversion percentage) this season, while booting six field goals to lead Liberty League kickers with 60 points (another record). Ampuja will graduate with Hobart’s career records for PATs made kicking (123), PATs attempted kicking (136), field goals made (19, shared with Shawn Fazio ’81), field goals attempted (38), and points by a kicker (180). He also converted a Hobart record 40 consecutive PATs by kick, spanning the 2003 and 2004 seasons.

Like his classmate, Suozzi also inked his name in the Hobart records. He led Hobart with 57 receptions for 994 yards and a single season record 14 touchdowns. Suozzi completed his career with at least one reception in a Hobart record 32 consecutive games. He holds the Statesmen career records for catches (181), receiving yards (2,843), and receiving touchdowns (26). Prior to Suozzi’s spectacular career, no Hobart receiver had ever had more than 1,899 career yards. He also handled the punting (34.4 career yds/p) and returned punts (10.4) and kicks (21.4) for the Statesmen. Suozzi was a nine-time All-Liberty League selection (three times each at receiver, punter, and return specialist).

A two-time All-Liberty League selection, Anderson led the conference with six interceptions. He was seventh on the team with 41 tackles (27 solo), including two for a loss. For his career, Anderson has 82 tackles (57 solo), 15 pass break ups, and 11 interceptions.

Hobart finished the season with a 9-2 record, matching the program record for wins. With a perfect 7-0 record, the Statesmen won the Liberty League for the third straight year, earning the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Hobart reached the regional semifinals with a 35-16 win over Curry College, before falling to the region’s top seeded team, Rowan University.