October 11, 2003

GENEVA, N.Y.—The Hobart defense forced eight turnovers and senior quarterback Craig Swanson (Jamestown/Jamestown, N.Y.) became the College’s all-time leading passer, but it was the University of Rochester that secured the victory, 17-13. The loss drops the Statesmen to 2-2 overall, 2-1 in the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association, while the Yellowjackets improve to 2-3, 2-1.

A sloppy game for both offenses, Rochester sophomore quarterback Aaron Molisani (Canandaigua/Canandaigua, N.Y.) was intercepted five times and the Yellowjackets lost three fumbles, but a one-yard Molisani keeper with 10:54 remaining in the fourth quarter proved to be the only second half points and the margin of victory.

From that point on, Hobart took just one drive deep into Rochester territory. The Statesmen took over on the Yellowjacket’s 49 with 3:14 remaining. Five plays later, Swanson completed a 16-yard pass to junior wide receiver Dan Suozzi (New Hampton/New Canaan, Conn.) to break the school’s career passing record.

Swanson finished with 99 yards passing to raise his career total to 4,520, 19 more than the previous record-holder Greg Helmer ’97.

Facing fourth and one with under a minute remaining, Hobart ran a screen pass to the left that junior defensive tackle Matt Kelley (Skaneateles/Skaneateles, N.Y.) sniffed out and stopped for a six-yard loss. From there Molisani only had to take a knee to secure the win.

Rochester opened the scoring 28 seconds into the second quarter with a 26-yard field goal by senior Chris Johnston (Hanover/Hanover, Pa.).

Hobart answered right back, punting after three plays but recovering the muffed fair catch at the Rochester 22. Eight plays later, junior wide receiver Rick Piñero (Smithtown/Happauge, N.Y.) pulled in a three-yard TD pass from Swanson.

The Yellowjackets responded with the longest drive of the half, marching 65 yards in 12 plays to take a 10-7 lead on a 10-yard Molisani to sophomore wide receiver David Ferris (St. Francis/Hamburg, N.Y.) pass. Molisani finished 18-of-42 for 200 yards.

Not to be denied a lead at the half, Hobart took advantage of a poor Rochester punt on the final drive of the opening 30 minutes, moving 36 yards in nine plays, capped by a nine-yard Swanson to Suozzi strike. The extra point was blocked by sophomore linebacker Matt Simon (W. West Seneca/West Seneca, N.Y.) and the Statesmen led 13-10.

Rochester’s game-winning drive covered 79 yards in 12-plays. The Statesmen twice appeared to have stopped the Yellowjackets with pass breakups on third down, but both times Hobart was whistled for 15-yard personal fouls—the first with Rochester near midfield for a helmet to helmet hit and the other that moved the ball to the Hobart 21 on an early late hit.

Defensively, Simon led all tacklers with nine stops, while sophomore linebacker Carmine Casale (Troy/Troy, N.Y.) added eight tackles, including 1½ sacks.

For Hobart, sophomore defensive back Jimmy Gradis (Elwood John Glenn/Greenlawn, N.Y.), senior linebacker David Szentesy (Lackawanna/Lackawanna, N.Y.), and junior defensive tackle Walt Bennett (Waterloo/Waterloo, N.Y.) each made eight tackles. Gradis and sophomore defensive back Ryan Smith (Tonowanda/Tonowanda, N.Y.) each recorded a pair of interceptions.

Molisani’s final interception of the afternoon was to his former high school teammate, Hobart sophomore defensive back Jamie Anderson (Canandaigua/Canandaigua, N.Y.).

Hobart returns to action at 1 p.m., on Oct. 11, at Boswell Field, when the Franklin & Marshall Diplomats visit Geneva.