July 5 , 2006

Running back Doug Blakowski and the Hobart football team are 12th in the Street & Smith's preseason rankings. (Photo by Kevin Colton)

GENEVA, N.Y.—The Hobart football team holds down the No. 12 spot in the Division III preseason rankings in the 2006 Street & Smith’s College Football Yearbook. Street & Smith’s is the second publication to pick the Statesmen in the top 25. USA TODAY Sports Weekly College Football Preview ranked Hobart at No. 21.

The Statesmen begin their 113th varsity season on Sept. 9, when the Dickinson Red Devils visit Boswell Field. Hobart will open its Liberty League schedule on Sept. 23, at Rensselaer. The Purple and Orange will face another of Street & Smith’s top 25 on Nov. 4, when No. 14 Union comes to Geneva. [complete schedule]

Under the direction of 12th-year Head Coach Mike Cragg, the Hobart football program has risen to national prominence. The Statesmen 73-37 under his leadership, including an 18-4 mark over the past two seasons. Hobart earned NCAA Tournament berths in four of the past six years, advancing to the regional semifinal round three times. The Statesmen have won three of the past four Liberty League titles and boast five first place finishes since 1998.

Offensively, Hobart returns 10 starters, including five that were singled out by Street & Smith’s. Senior running back Doug Blakowski (Iroquois/Elma, N.Y.), senior quarterback Shawn Mizro (Newark/Newark, N.Y.), and offensive linemen senior Mike DePersis (Johnson City/Johnson City, N.Y.), senior Nino Giambrone (Pioneer/Delevan, N.Y.), and junior Phill Perkins (Andover/Andover, Mass.) were highlighted by the magazine.

On the other side of the ball, the Statesmen return five starters. Street & Smith’s predicts senior end Andy Purdie (Victor/Farmington, N.Y.) and junior linebacker Jeff Sanders (Camden/Camden, N.Y.) will lead the defense. In 2005, Hobart paced the Liberty League in rushing defense (111.9 yds/g), pass defense efficiency (101.6 PER), and scoring defense (16.5 points allowed/gm).

The 2006 Street & Smith’s College Football Yearbook is on newsstands now.

2006 Street & Smith’s College Football Yearbook Division III Top 25

1. Mount Union
2. Rowan
3. Wis.-Whitewater
4. Delaware Valley
5. St. John’s (Minn.)
6. Wesley
7. Washington & Jefferson
8. Mary Hardin-Baylor
9. Wilkes
10. Linfield
11. SUNY Cortland
12. Hobart
13. Hardin-Simmons
14. Union
15. Ithaca
16. Trinity (Texas)
17. Occidental
18. Central (Iowa)
19. Bridgewater (Va.)
20. Adrian
21. Wabash
22. Monmouth
23. Augustana
24. St. John Fisher
25. Capital