Chris Purtell '05

Dan Suozzi '05

October 6, 2003

GENEVA, N.Y.—Two Hobart College football players received weekly accolades from the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association this afternoon. Junior defensive end Chris Purtell (Pioneer/Sardinia, N.Y.) was named the league’s defensive player of the week, while classmate Dan Suozzi (New Hampton/New Canaan, Conn.) received the special teams player of the week award. On Oct. 4, the Statesmen defeated UCAA rival St. Lawrence University, in Canton, N.Y., 28-10.

One of Hobart’s tri-captains, Purtell led the Statesmen in tackles with 10 stops, including five solo. He also recovered a fumble, one of three turnovers Hobart gained to maintain their Division III leading turnover margin (+3.0/gm). The fumble recovery also set up the Statesmen’s final touchdown of the afternoon.

Suozzi averaged 36 yds/punt on Saturday, pinning the Saints inside their own 20-yard line twice. His longest punt of the day was a 47-yarder. The Statesmen not only benefited from his long punts—St. Lawrence had an average starting field position of its own 28-yard line—but also from the hang time on his punts. His final punt of the day was a 42-yard boomer that hung in the air long enough for the coverage team to get down field and recover the muffed catch by the Saints’ return man.

Suozzi also aided Hobart’s cause with two punt returns for 17 yards (8.5 yds/ret), and two kick returns for 43 yards (21.5 yds/ret). His returns helped Hobart to an average starting field position of their own 39.

A jack-of-all-trades, Suozzi also caught four passes for 68 yards, including a 49-yard touchdown catch. He leads the UCAA in all purpose yards (125.3 yds/gm) and punt return average (11.2 yds/ret), while the Statesmen lead the league in net punting yards (34.0/p), limiting opponents to just 0.4 yards per return.

The Statesmen return to Boswell Field for their next game, hosting the University of Rochester at 1 p.m., on Oct. 11.