November 14, 2006

Mike DePersis	Andy Purdie
Nino Giambrone	Dominick Ancona
Evan Hoffman	James Alexander

GENEVA, N.Y.—The 19th-ranked Hobart College football team placed 12 players on the All-Liberty League teams, which were announced today. The honors are voted on by the League’s coaches.

Seniors Mike DePersis (Johnson City/Johnson City, N.Y.), Nino Giambrone (Pioneer/Delevan, N.Y.), Evan Hoffman (Fairfield Prep/Fairfield, Conn.), and Andy Purdie (Victor/Farmington, N.Y.) and juniors Dominick Ancona (Chaminade/Garden City, N.Y.) and James Alexander (St. John’s Prep/Beverly, Mass.) earned a spot on the first team. Seniors Doug Blakowski (Iroquois/Elma, N.Y.) and Nolan Robinson (Johnson City/Johnson City, N.Y.), junior Mike Kaplun (Webster Schroeder/Webster, N.Y.), and sophomore Ryan Aruck (Canandaigua/Canandaigua, N.Y.) were second-team selections, while senior Brian Ohman (West Genesee/Camillus, N.Y.) and first-year Denis Avdic (Utica-Proctor/Utica, N.Y.) received honorable mention.

Offensive linemen DePersis and Giambrone are both making their second consecutive appearance on the All-Liberty League teams, while Ohman is a first-time honoree. The trio help pave the way for Hobart’s offense, which is averaging 336.4 yards per game this season, including 152.2 yards per game on the ground.

A linebacker, Hoffman is second on the team in tackles with 69 (46 solo), in tackles for a loss (9) and sacks (6). He leads the nation in forced fumbles with six. Hoffman recorded a career-high 14 tackles, including two sacks, in Hobart’s regular season finale against Rochester.

A defensive end, Purdie has 46 tackles (24 solo) this season, including a team-leading 10.5 tackles for a loss. His 7.5 sacks also lead the team and rank fourth in the conference. Purdie had a career-high 3.5 sacks at Merchant Marine on Oct. 14. He received All-Liberty League honorable mention last season. Over the past four seasons, Purdie has collected 130 tackles, 22.5 tackles for a loss, and 15 sacks.

Ancona leads the Liberty League in punting, averaging 41.0 yards per kick. He has dropped 12 punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line and boomed nine punts 50 yards or more, including a League-long 65-yarder on Nov. 4. Ancona has been named the Liberty League Special Teams Performer of the Week three times this season.

A cornerback, Alexander has 28 tackles (23 solo), five pass break ups, and an interception. The first-year is making his first appearance on the All-Liberty League teams. Alexander had a season-high seven tackles against WPI on Sept. 30 and again vs. Union on Nov. 4. He has 81 career tackles, 16 pass break ups, and two interceptions.

One of the top running backs in the nation, Blakowski ranked in the top 30 in the nation in scoring, all purpose yards, and rushing yards (through games of Nov. 4). The 2005 first-team selection rushed for 118 yards in Hobart’s regular season finale, raising his season total to 1,003 yards. He is the first Statesman to post consecutive 1,000-yard seasons since 1999. Blakowski is second in the conference in scoring, boasting 14 touchdowns this year. The conference’s top receiving threat out of the backfield, he also has 26 receptions for 311 yards.

A linebacker, Robinson leads Hobart with 71 tackles (43 solo). He has posted double digit tackles three times this season, including 11 at Rensselaer and at home vs. Rochester. Robinson is the only active Statesman with more than 200 career tackles (242). The two-time All-Liberty League pick was the conference’s Rookie of the Year in 2003.

A free safety, Kaplun has 46 tackles (33 solo), three pass break ups, and is tied for the League lead in interceptions with three. He had a season-high nine tackles, all solo, and an interception in Hobart’s 21-14 win at Alfred on Oct. 28.

A defensive tackle, Aruck is third on the team in tackles this year with 58. He also has four tackles for a loss, a half sack, a pass break up and a blocked field goal attempt. Aruck had a season-high nine tackles twice, vs. WPI and at Alfred. He was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week after stuffing a pair of fourth-down runs by the Engineers inside the red zone.

Hobart’s place kicker, Avdic was 20 of 25 on extra points and five of eight on field goals. His first collegiate field goal, a 39-yarder in the season-opening win over Dickinson, proved to be his longest of the season. Avdic twice received Liberty League weekly awards.

The Statesmen were 8-1 during the regular season. Hobart posted a 6-1 mark in the Liberty League, earning a share of the conference title. The Statesmen received an at-large bid to the NCAA Playoffs, and will travel to Rowan University at noon on Nov. 18 in a first round match up.

The game will air live on WEOS-FM (89.7/90.3 in Geneva, 88.1 in Ithaca). WEOS’s broadcast also can be heard online at www.weos.org.