September 9, 2006

Shawn Mizro

Evan Hoffman

GENEVA, N.Y.—Hobart quarterback Shawn Mizro (Newark/Newark, N.Y.) threw for 237 yards and two touchdowns to lead the 18th-ranked football team to a 31-28 victory over Dickinson College on Boswell Field this afternoon. The senior broke the Hobart career record for touchdown passes and marched the Statesmen down the field on the game-winning drive in the final two minutes.

A back and forth affair, Hobart’s season opener saw the lead change hands seven times, the final change coming with just 1:06 remaining.

Trailing 28-24 with 2:45 remaining, Mizro engineered a nine-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a spectacular leaping 12-yard catch in the end zone by sophomore wide receiver Ryan LiDrazzah (Kent School/San Diego, Calif.). Mizro was 6 of 9 on the drive, hitting LiDrazzah twice for 36 yards and senior running back Doug Blakowski (Iroquois/Elma, N.Y.) twice for 26 yards.

LiDrazzah finished the day with four receptions for 51 yards. He also set up two Hobart touchdowns with long kick returns, averaging 29.7 yards on three returns. Blakowski produced 121 yards of offense (61 rushing, 60 receiving). Junior wide receiver James Wright (Olean/Olean, N.Y.) made a team-high six catches for 80 yards.

The Statesmen defense, which allowed 21 points in the first half, was stifling in the fourth quarter, forcing a punt, a missed 36-yard field goal, and two fumbles, both of which Hobart recovered. Senior linebacker Evan Hoffman (Fairfield Prep/Fairfield, Conn.) led the charge with a game-high 11 tackles and a forced fumble, while senior linebacker Nolan Robinson (Johnson City/Johnson City, N.Y.) added nine stops.

Mizro, who entered the season tied with Craig Swanson ’04 for the career touchdown record, took sole possession of first place on the first drive of the second half. He completed a 9-yard toss to junior wide receiver Steve Sorhaindo (Yorktown/Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) for the 48th touchdown pass of his career, giving Hobart a 24-21 lead.

The advantage did not last the quarter.

After the Statesmen failed to convert on fourth down from their own 26-yard line, Dickinson (1-1) marched 35 yards in seven plays. Senior running back Ryne Cantwell (Washington Township/Sewell, N.J.) capped the short drive with a 15-yard scamper up the middle, setting up the drama of Hobart’s late drive. Cantwell rushed for a game-high 71 yards.

The first half momentum leaned slightly to the visitors as senior quarterback Matt Torchia (Kinnelon/Kinnelon, N.J.) threw three touchdowns to send Dickinson into halftime with a 21-17 lead. He completed 21 of 31 for 227 yards, but was intercepted once by junior corner back Corey Cage (Henninger/Syracuse, N.Y.).

Junior wide receiver Chris McInerney (Chestnut Hill Academy/Philadelphia, Pa.) caught a game-high seven passes for 91 yards and two first half touchdowns.

Junior linebacker Eric Dube (Eastern/Vorhees, N.J.) led the Red Devils with nine tackles, while senior tackle Zac Reding (Darien/Darien, Conn.) recorded seven stops, including two and a half sacks.

Hobart is back in action at 1 p.m. on Sept. 16, when the Statesmen travel to William Paterson University.