GENEVA, N.Y.—The Hobart College football team went 650 days between games, waiting out a global pandemic, but tonight the Statesmen made a triumphant return to the gridiron, defeating Alfred University 35-3. Hobart has now won five in a row including four wins to close out the 2019 slate.
It's the fewest points allowed by Hobart in its season opener since shutting out Dickinson 31-0 to start the 2012 season. It's the most points put up by the Statesmen in their first game of the year since scoring 41 at Brockport in 2016.
Hobart outgained the Saxons 386 yards to 240 yards. The Statesmen also won the turnover battle, finishing plus-3 thanks to four interceptions by the defense. Linebacker Emmett Forde led the way with five tackles, including two for loss, and an interception. Defensive backs Joe McCoy and James Mahoney and linebacker Anthony Romano also picked off the Saxons.
On the other side of the ball, Hobart rushed 45 times for 237 yards and all five of its touchdowns. Running back Tim Denham Jr. produced his first 100-yard rushing game, breaking loose for 115 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries (7.7 yds/rush). Running back Rayshawn Boswell added 89 yards and two TDs on 14 carries.
Quarterback David Krewson was 10-of-13 passing for 149 yards. Wide receiver Shahkyle Matthews caught two passes for a game-high 53 yards.
Forde made his presence known on the very first drive. He stuffed Alfred's first running play for no gain and two plays later, intercepted Blake Von Woert and returned it eight yards to the Saxon 27. That Hobart's first score of the season, a 17-yard touchdown run by Boswell.
The Saxons countered with a 10-play, 53-yard drive that stalled out in the red zone. Alfred had to settle for a 31-yard Dustin McCaslin field goal.
It remained a 7-3 game until late in the second quarter when Hobart used an 8-play, 63-yard drive to tack on its second touchdown. Denham accounted for 42 yards on the drive, taking the ball across the goal line on a 1-yard plunge. After the defense forced the Saxons to punt, the Statesmen went back to work, engineering an eight-play, 72-yard scoring drive. Krewson hit Matthews for a 28-yard game on the first play and Denham capped it off with a 6-yard TD run with 48 seconds left in the half.
Alfred threatened to get the seven points back with a good kick return and a 36-yard pass on first down, but McCoy intercepted Van Woert in the end zone to quell the threat. Hobart led 21-3 at the half.
Denham had 81 yards rushing in the first half. Alfred was limited to 43 total yards.
The Statesmen kept their foot on the gas, scoring on the opening drive of the second half. Boswell accounted for 53 yards on the 62-yard march, including a 7-yard TD run.
Mahoney's interception early in the fourth quarter set up the night's final scoring drive. Running back Drew Walsh's 1-yard dive into the end zone capped a four-play, 34-yard drive.
Van Woert finished 9-of-21 passing for 101 yards with three interceptions. Zuke Smith was 4-of-10 for 51 yards with a pick. Darren Miller caught one pass for a team-high 36 yards. Kevin Bragaglia led Alfred's ground game with 47 yards on nine carries.
The Statesmen now leads the all-time series with the Saxons 40-35-4, including 11 in a row.
Hobart will play its home opener on Saturday, Sept. 11, hosting Morrisville State. Kickoff at Boswell Field is set for 1 p.m.
Hobart football makes triumphant return to gridiron
/seasons/2021/boxscores/20210903_vsbo.xml
2021
Hobart
35
Alfred
3
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart (1-0) | 7 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
| Alfred (0-1) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Sep 03, 2021