June 28 , 2006

Quarterback Shawn Mizro and the Statesmen will begin the 2006 season ranked 21st. (Photo by Kevin Colton)

GENEVA, N.Y.—The Hobart football team will begin the 2006 season ranked 21st in the nation according to the USA TODAY Sports Weekly College Football Preview.

Hobart, which was ranked as high as 11th in the 2005 AFCA Coaches Polls, returns 15 starters from the 2005 squad that tied the school record with nine wins, earned the program’s fourth NCAA Tournament bid since 2000, and reached the regional semifinals with a 23-22 win over Cortland State.

On offense, the Statesmen will welcome back 10 starters, including senior quarterback Shawn Mizro (Newark/Newark, N.Y.) and senior running back Doug Blakowski (Iroquois/Elma, N.Y.). Mizro, a two-time first-team All-Liberty League pick, threw for 2,143 yards and 17 touchdown last season, while Blakowski, an All-American (Don Hansen’s Football Gazette and D3football.com) rushed for 1,364 yards and 17 touchdowns, averaging a Liberty League best 5.8 yards per carry.

Defensively, linebackers senior Nolan Robinson (Johnson City/Johnson City, N.Y.) and junior Jeff Sanders (Camden/Camden, N.Y.) will lead Hobart. The all-star caliber duo combined for 102 tackles in 2005. Robinson added 2.5 sacks and returned an interception 67 yards for a touchdown at Rochester.

Led by 12th-year Head Coach Mike Cragg, Hobart opens the 2006 season on Sept. 9 when the Dickinson Red Devils visit Boswell Field. Cragg is the College’s all-time leader in wins, boasting a 73-37 career record. The Statesmen have three additional home dates: WPI (Sept. 30), No. 7 Union (Nov. 4), and Rochester (Nov. 11). Hobart will hit the road to face William Paterson (Sept. 16), No. 25 Rensselaer (Sept. 23), Merchant Marine (Oct. 14), St. Lawrence (Oct. 21), and Alfred (Oct. 28).

Defending national champion, Mount Union the top pick followed by runner-up Wisconsin-Whitewater. Rowan, St. John’s and Capital round out the top five. The special edition covers Divisions I-A, I-AA, II and III football and is on newsstands through July 31.

2006 USA TODAY Sports Weekly College Football Preview Division III Top 25

1. Mount Union
2. UW-Whitewater
3. Rowan
4. St. John’s
5. Capital
6. Wesley
7. Union
8. Mary Hardin-Baylor
9. Concordia-Moorhead
10. Linfield
11. Occidental
12. Delaware Valley
13. Bridgewater (Va.)
14. Ohio Northern
15. Augustana
16. Central
17. Washington & Jefferson
18. Hardin-Simmons
19. North Central
20. Coe
21. Hobart
22. Wabash
23. Trinity (Texas)
24. Cortland State
25. RPI