January 25, 2007

GENEVA, N.Y.—Nine Hobart College football student-athletes were named to the 2006 Don Hansen’s Football Gazette NCAA Division III East All-Region Team this week. Senior Doug Blakowski (Iroquois/Elma, N.Y.) and junior Dominick Ancona (Chaminade/Garden City, N.Y.) both earned second-team praise, while seniors Mike DePersis (Johnson City/Johnson City, N.Y.), Nino Giambrone (Pioneer/Delevan, N.Y.), Andy Purdie (Victor/Farmington, N.Y.), and Evan Hoffman (Fairfield Prep/Fairfield, Conn.) were named to the third team. Classmates Shawn Mizro (Newark/Newark, N.Y.) and Nolan Robinson (Johnson City/Johnson City, N.Y.), and sophomore Ryan Aruck (Canandaigua Academy/Canandaigua, N.Y.) were tabbed honorable mention.

A running back and two-time ECAC Upstate Player of the Week, Blakowski led the team in scoring with 14 rushing touchdowns. He totaled 1,054 rushing yards on 243 tries, and wrapped up his four-year career with 32 touchdowns in 38 games played.

Ancona led the Liberty League with an average of 41.3 yards per punt and 51.8 yards per kickoff. Ancona received many honors this season, including the ECAC Northwest All-Star Team and D3Football.com’s All-America Team and All-Region Team.

Linemen DePersis and Giambrone anchored an offensive line that allowed quarterback Mizro to throw for 1,690 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2006. Both played in all 10 games and were named to the D3Football.com All-Region Team.

A three-year starter, Mizro ended his career holding numerous program-records, including career pass attempts (826), completions (455), passing yards (6,097), and passing touchdowns (61).

On defense, Aruck, Robinson, Purdie, and Hoffman combined for 144 solo tackles. Aruck tallied 65 take-downs, including 18 solo, at the defensive tackle position. Linebackers Hoffman (52 solo) and Robinson (48 solo) led the team in tackles, each with 79, while Purdie, a defensive end, registered 49 tackles on the season (26 solo). Purdie also was recognized by D3Football.com as All-Region, while he and Hoffman were both tabbed ECAC Northwest All-Stars.

Hobart closed out its 10th-straight winning season with an 8-2 overall record and its third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. The Statesmen also earned a share of the 2006 Liberty League Championship.