September 23, 2006

Doug Blakowski

Nolan Robinson

Evan Hoffman

TROY, N.Y.—The 19th-ranked Hobart football team built a 24-3 lead over No. 24 Rensselaer and held off a late charge for a 24-17 victory at Class of ’86 Field. All three of Hobart’s rushing touchdowns were set up by RPI fumbles.

The Engineers outgained the Statesmen, picking up 322 yards of offense to Hobart’s 262, but Rensselaer finished the day minus three in turnover margin, losing all four of its fumbles.

The Statesmen (3-0, 1-0 Liberty League) got on the board first when senior running back Doug Blakowski (Iroquois/Elma, N.Y.) scored from 27 yards out. First-year Dennis Avdic (Utica-Proctor/Utica, N.Y.) made the point after try to give Hobart a 7-0 first quarter lead. The four-play, 45-yard drive was set up by senior linebacker Evan Hoffman (Fairfield Prep/Fairfield, Conn.) who forced a fumble by tight end Jon Branche. Junior cornerback Corey Cage (Henninger/Syracuse, N.Y.) made the recovery.

The Engineers (2-1, 0-1) got their first score courtesy of a turnover as well, when senior quarterback Shawn Mizro (Newark/Newark, N.Y.) was intercepted for the first time this season. RPI moved close enough for Drew Taranto to hit a 37-yard field goal with 9:01 remaining in the second quarter. Mizro finished the day 11 of 18 for 115 yards.

Hobart got the three points back later in the frame when Avdic hit from 20 yards out to make it a 10-3 game and close out the first half scoring.

The Engineers had more trouble hanging on to the football in the third quarter. RPI had four drives in the period, three ended on fumbles and the fourth was a three-and-out.

The Statesmen converted on the second, a fumble on a punt return, when Blakowski dove in from a yard away. Blakowski finished with 88 yards rushing and two touchdowns. The PAT gave Hobart a 17-3 lead.

Junior running back Don Gilardi (Eastridge/Rochester, N.Y.) scored what proved to be the winning touchdown early in the fourth quarter on another Hobart possession that began with an RPI fumble. Gilardi scored from four yards out and gained 53 yards on nine carries for the game.

The Engineers made a game of it late in the final quarter, scoring a rushing TD with 6:29 remaining and striking through the air with 2:20 left. However, RPI didn’t attempt an onside kick and the Statesmen were able to run out the clock, although not without some drama.

On fourth and one from the RPI 46 with just over a minute remaining, Hobart kept punter Dominick Ancona (Chaminade/Garden City, N.Y.) on the sideline and handed off to Blakowski instead. The senior’s two yard gain meant the Statesmen just needed to take a knee twice to earn its fifth consecutive win over the Engineers.

Senior linebacker Nolan Robinson (Johnson City/Johnson City, N.Y.) recorded a team-high 11 tackles. Hoffman added nine stops, while junior defensive end Jim Drury (Barrington/Barrington Hills, Ill.) posted six tackles, including one and a half sacks, and recovered two fumbles.

Hobart returns to Boswell Field on Sept. 30, when the Statesmen host WPI in another Liberty League contest. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.