Ty Godinho '05 was named the MVP of the ECAC North Atlantic Bowl following a career-high 203-yard rushing effort. (photo by k. colton/SPORTSPICS.net)

November 22, 2003

GENEVA, N.Y.—Junior running back Ty Godinho (Lancaster/Lancaster, N.Y.) rushed for a career-high 203 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Hobart College football team to a 34-18 win over Norwich University in the ECAC North Atlantic Bowl. His efforts, which also included two catches for 29 yards and a touchdown, earned him the Bowl’s Most Valuable Player award.

The Statesmen (6-4) rushed for a season-high 315 yards, the largest ground gain by Hobart since Oct. 13, 2001 (321 yds. vs. Franklin & Marshall). Following the most prolific postseason rushing performance by a Statesmen, Godinho credited the outstanding blocking of the offensive line.

“We’ve been banged up at times this season and we’re fairly young up front, but today they showed what they’re capable of when everyone’s healthy,” Godinho said. “There were some pretty big holes out there today.”

Godinho, who finished the season with 1,077 yards, the most by a Statesman since Keith Brandon ’01 rushed for 1,369 yards in 1998, opened the scoring with at the 5:45 mark of the first quarter, hauling in a 19-yard toss from senior quarterback Craig Swanson (Jamestown/Jamestown, N.Y.). The two-point conversion failed and Hobart led 6-0.

The Cadets (6-5) halved their deficit 15 minutes later, thanks to a 31-yard field goal by junior Rhett Soltas (Brandon/Brandon, Fla.).

Hobart countered with a 14-play, 69-yard drive that ate 4:52 off the game clock and ended with a five-yard fade pass to the corner of the end zone by Swanson to junior wide out Rick Piñero (Smithtown/Hauppauge, N.Y.). Junior Eric Ampuja (Brockton/Brockton, Mass.) knocked home the extra point for a 13-3 halftime lead.

Norwich posted the only point of the third quarter on a 32-yard Soltas field goal at the 9:25 mark. The two successful three-pointers added to Soltas’ NCAA Division III leading field goals per game average.

The Cadets tried a little trickery on the ensuing kick off, pooching a floater just beyond Hobart’s first line of blockers that Norwich junior Josh Clark (Skowhegan/Skowhegan, Maine) fielded at the Hobart 48-yard line. The Cadets moved to the Hobart 24 before senior safety Patrick Lester (Williamsville South/Williamsville, N.Y.) quelled the threat with his first interception of the season at the Hobart nine-yard line.

Senior quarterback Ben Clark (Skowhegan/Skowhegan, Maine) completed 16 of 32 for 246 yards and two touchdowns, connecting with his brother Josh on four catches for a game-high 117 yards.

In the fourth quarter, both offenses came to life, combining for 306 yards and 33 points. Godinho posted both of his rushing TDs in the quarter, and classmate Dan Suozzi (New Hampton/New Canaan, Conn.) pulled in a five-yard offering from Swanson.

Suozzi made a game-high seven catches for 47 yards. He finished the season with 63 receptions, breaking the Hobart single season mark previously held by Nico Karagosian ’97 (61 in 1996). Swanson completed 16 of 24 passes for 143 yards and three touchdowns.

Hobart’s all-time passing leader, Swanson graduates with the Statesmen career marks for attempts (802), completions (454), passing yards (5,678), passing touchdowns (47), completion percentage (56.6), and pass efficiency rating (129.7).

Norwich never got closer than its eight point deficit at the 12:17 mark, but Suozzi’s TD catch at the 9:30 mark put Hobart back in front by two scores for good.

Defensively, senior linebacker David Szentesy (Lackawanna/Lackawanna, N.Y.) led the Statesmen with nine stops, while sophomore linebacker Jimmy Gradis (Elwood John Glenn/Greenlawn, N.Y.) added seven stops. Hobart’s run defense limited the Cadets to just 105 yards rushing, completing the season without allowing an individual 100-yard rusher.

First-year linebacker Greg Abell (Northeast/Jacksonville, Fla.) and sophomore safety Roy Rose (John Marshall/San Antonio, Texas) paced the Cadets with nine tackles apiece.