November 5, 2002

GENEVA, N.Y.—The Hobart College football team earned its first national ranking in the American Football Coaches Association poll, debuting at No. 25. At 7-0, the Statesmen are off to their best start since 1954.

Hobart entered Saturday’s game against then-No. 21 Ithaca as one of only 17 undefeated teams in Division III. The Statesmen received little recognition from voters in last week’s poll, garnering just seven points. Hobart’s 17-6 victory over the Bombers made a statement the voters acknowledged this week. The Statesmen picked up 100 additional points in the latest poll to crack the top-25.

Offensively, Hobart has beaten opponents on the ground and through the air. Junior quarterback Craig Swanson (Jamestown/Jamestown, N.Y.) has rewritten the school’s passing records, breaking nine single game records and the season touchdown pass record. He’s also on pace to break nine other season marks. This season, Swanson has completed 134-of-214 passes (62.6 percent) for 1,765 yards and 17 touchdowns for a pass efficiency rating of 151.57.

Eleven different receivers have caught passes for the Statesmen this season, led by sophomore wide receiver Dan Suozzi (New Hampton/New Canaan, Conn.). Lost for the season with a foot injury, he had 40 receptions for 629 yards and four touchdowns in Hobart’s first six games. Five other Statesmen have caught at least 10 passes this season, while seven have caught at least one touchdown pass.

On the ground, sophomore running back Ty Godinho (Lancaster/Lancaster, N.Y.) has gained 596 yards on 145 carries (4.1 yds/att). He’s rushed for more than 100 yards in a game three times this season, including a season high 134 yards against Ithaca. Godinho has scored a team leading 10 touchdowns (8 rush, 2 pass).

Defensively, junior linebacker David Szentesy (Lackawanna/Lackawanna, N.Y.) leads Hobart with 59 tackles, including 3.5 sacks. The Statesmen defense turned in its finest performance of the season against the Bombers. After Ithaca scored on its opening drive, the Bombers advanced to the Hobart 20-yard line just once, missing a 37-yard field goal. In the second half, Ithaca gained only 27 yards and a single first down, advancing into Hobart territory just once on six possessions.

The Statesmen will attempt to match the 1954 squad’s 8-0 record on Nov. 9, when they travel to St. John Fisher College (4-4). Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.