November 3, 2001

GENEVA, N.Y.--The Hobart College football team closed out the home portion of its 2001 regular season this afternoon with a 28-18 victory over St. John Fisher College. The Statesmen improve to 6-2, while the Cardinals fall to 2-7.

Junior Gerald Dias (Greece Arcadia/Rochester, N.Y.) staked St. John Fisher to the early lead, returning the opening kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown. The Cardinals' failed to convert the PAT and led 6-0.

Hobart responded with a special teams touchdown of its own midway through the opening quarter. On fourth and nine from the St. John Fisher four, Hobart junior Tim Booth (Waterloo/Waterloo, N.Y.) blocked the Cardinals punt attempt and first-year Skip Grantling (Clyde-Savannah/Clyde, N.Y.) recovered in the end zone for his first collegiate touchdown. First-year Eric Ampuja (Brockton/Brockton, Mass.) converted the PAT to give the Statesmen the lead for good.

The Hobart offense built a 21-6 lead on touchdown runs of 1 and 3 yards by first-year offensive lineman Alex Bell (Wallkill/Modena, N.Y.) and first-year running back Ty Godinho (Lancaster/Lancaster, N.Y), respectively, late in the first and early in the second quarters.

Meanwhile, the Hobart defense adopted a bend-down-break philosophy. The Statesmen allowed the Cardinals to gain 332 yards in total offense, second only to Ithaca's production last week against Hobart in a 52-13 blowout, but unlike Ithaca, St. John Fisher struggled to find the end zone.

Booth led the charge, finishing with a game-high 10 tackles, including four for a loss, an interception and, of course, the blocked punt. Junior defensive end Matt Daley (Bridgeton Academy/Rutland, Vt.) also recorded 10 tackles.

The Cardinals finally broke through for their first offensive touchdown with 12:35 remaining in the second quarter on a 12-yard run by sophomore Jason Meyers (Alden/Alden, N.Y.). Meyers finished with a game-high 169 yards rushing on 23 carries (7.3 yds/carry).

Hobart led 21-12 at halftime.

The Statesmen registered their finest drive of the afternoon with the opening possession of the second half. Hobart went 81 yards in eight plays, taking a 28-12 lead on junior tight end Ryan Adams' (Rome Free Academy/Rome, N.Y.) 12-yard reception from sophomore quarterback Craig Swanson (Jamestown/Jamestown, N.Y.).

St. John Fisher pulled to within 10 points in the final minute on a 29-yard pass from sophomore Greg Roland (St. Joseph's Collegiate/N. Tonawanda, N.Y.) to junior wide receiver Ricky Fauth (Webster/Webster, N.Y.). Roland finished 9-of-32 for 114 yards and a touchdown, but was intercepted three times. Fauth caught five passes for 92 yards.

The Cardinals failed to convert the two-point try, and Hobart recovered the on-side kick attempt to seal the Statesmen's fifth straight win over St. John Fisher.

Hobart closes out the regular season on Nov. 10, at Rensselaer. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.