September 12, 2001

GENEVA, N.Y.–The Hobart College football team held on to the No. 4 spot in the Upstate New York Division III weekly poll. The Statesmen posted a season opening 6-2 victory at Dickinson on Sept. 8.

Against the Red Devils, stifling defense and the foot of first-year kicker Eric Ampuja (Brockton/Brockton, Mass.) made all the difference for Hobart. The Statesmen defense only allowed 191 total yards, including just 78 in the air. Junior linebackers Tim Booth (Waterloo/Waterloo, N.Y.) and Everton McLean (Bishop Maginn/Albany, N.Y.) led Hobart with 10 tackles apiece and combined for seven tackles for a loss of 45 yards. Ampuja accounted for all of the Statesmen's points with field goals of 37 and 44 yards in his first collegiate game.

Hobart shares the top five with No. 1 Union, No. 2 Ithaca, No. 3 Brockport and No. 5 Buffalo State. The Statesmen are off this weekend, but will host Union College in their home opener on Sept. 22, at 1 p.m. Hobart edged Union 13-12 in Schenectady last season.

Upstate New York Division III Football is an association of the 14 colleges and universities in the Upstate region that sponsor DIII football. The association's web site, which features scores, statistics and more, can be found at: web.hws.edu/statesmen/football/upstate.