November 11, 2006

Evan Hoffman posted a game-high 14 tackles. (Photo by Kevin Colton)

GENEVA, N.Y.—The 22nd-ranked Hobart football team shut out visiting University of Rochester in the second half to post a 31-21 Liberty League victory. The regular season finale for both teams saw the Statesmen improve to 8-1 overall, 5-1 in the conference, while the Yellowjackets fall to 7-3, 4-2.

Tied at 21-all at halftime, Hobart’s defense did not allow a single point after the break. Senior linebacker Evan Hoffman (Fairfield Prep/Fairfield, Conn.) led the way with a career-high 14 tackles, including two sacks, and forced a fumble. Classmate Tyler Mason (Stillwater/Stillwater, N.Y.) also recorded two sacks as the Statesmen brought down Rochester senior quarterback Aaron Molisani (Canandaigua/Canandaigua, N.Y.) eight times, including five in the second half. Senior linebacker Nolan Robinson (Johnson City/Johnson City, N.Y.) and junior linebacker Jeff Sanders (Camden/Camden, N.Y.) also posted double digit stops with 11 and 10, respectively.

The defense’s dominance set the offense up with great field position. Hobart’s average starting field position in the second half was its own 41. First-year kicker Denis Avdic (Utica Proctor/Utica, N.Y.) scored the only points of the third quarter, booting a 33-yard field goal to cap the Statesmen’s first drive. He missed from 40 yards out early in the fourth quarter, setting up the final points of the day.

Rochester took over on its own 23 yard line. Junior running back Matt Bielecki (Burnt Hills/Albany, N.Y.) gained 5 yards on first down. Following a second down incompletion, Mason sacked Molisani for a loss of 9 yards to bring up fourth and 14 from the Yellowjackets 19. The Rochester coaching staff called for a fake punt, but Hobart was all over the trickery, dropping first-year punter Griffin Moar (Pittsford Sutherland/Pittsford, N.Y.) for a 9-yard loss.

Hobart needed one play to expand its lead, as senior quarterback Shawn Mizro (Newark/Newark, N.Y.) hit sophomore tight end Matt Duliba (Forrestville/Forrestville, N.Y.) on a 10-yard touchdown pass. The reception was the first of Duliba’s career, while the TD toss was the 60th of Mizro’s record-setting stay on campus. He finished the day 12-of-23 for 149 yards and no interceptions. Mizro’s career passing yards record stands at 5,947.

The Yellowjackets moved into Hobart territory with all three of their remaining possessions in the game, but saw them end on a punt, a missed 35-yard field goal, and the expiration of the game clock.

The first half shaped up like a track meet, with both offenses moving up and down the field with ease. Hobart and Rochester both scored on their first two possessions and three of their first five.

Senior running back Doug Blakowski (Iroquois/Elma, N.Y.) scored from 19 yards out to put the Statesmen up 7-0. He finished with 118 yards rushing to raise his season total to 1,003, making him the first Hobart back to gain 1,000 yards rushing in consecutive seasons since Keith Brandon ’01 (1998-99).

Five minutes later, Molisani answered from 2 yards away to forge the first of three ties. Hobart ended the first quarter with a 14-7 lead thanks to junior running back Don Gilardi’s (Eastridge/Rochester, N.Y.) 18-yard scamper.

Not to be outdone, Bielecki tied the game with a 21-yard run early in the second frame. He gained a game-high 132 yards on the ground.

The Statesmen looked headed to a 21-14 halftime lead when Blakowski dove in from 1 yard out with 47 seconds left, but Molisani’s Hail Mary as the clock expired was caught by junior wide receiver Jay Jay Vanderstyne (Victor/Victor, N.Y.) for a 38-yard touchdown and a tie game. Vanderstyne finished with 10 catches for 119 yards.

Sophomore defensive back Matt Stack (Monroe-Woodbury/Monroe, N.Y.) led Rochester with eight tackles.

The win, coupled with Union’s loss at RPI, earned a share of the Liberty League Championship for the Statesmen. The Dutchmen get the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament by virtue of their 31-14 win at Hobart last weekend. The Statesmen will have to wait until tomorrow at 2 p.m. when the NCAA Playoff pairings are announced on ESPNews to find out if their season will continue. Hobart has earned a spot in the NCAA fray in four of the past six season, including 2004 and 2005.