Hobart College running back
Bradley Burns' hurdle over a defender on the way to a touchdown against Endicott was voted the 2015 GEICO Play of the Year. The play was the fan favorite as announced by CBS reporter Allie LaForce during GEICO's Best of College Football 2015 on Nov. 27.
In addition to recognizing the season's top plays, the one-hour CBS special relived the football season's greatest moments, players and traditions. The show also marked the culmination of the GEICO "Best of 2015" Football Tour, an interactive fan experience that visited 30 marquee games throughout the season.
Each week for five weeks, four incredible college football plays were nominated as the Play of the Year on the GEICO Best of College Football Facebook page. The five weekly winners faced off in a week of finals voting from Nov. 9 through Nov. 16 to determine the 2015 GEICO Play of the Year.
In the game against Endicott, on Sept. 12, Burns hurdled a defender on the way to the end zone in Hobart's 28-17 victory. The junior took a pitch to the left and got to the outside thanks to a seal block by tight end
Chris Cyr. With downfield blocks by wide receivers
Brandon Shed and
Stephen Rogers, only Endicott's Mike Romanelli stood between Burns and the end zone. When the safety dropped his head to make a low tackle, Burns leaped over him and was hit in midair by linebacker William Rivera. The hit bounced Burns to the outside and he tip-toed the sideline for a 36-yard touchdown. The play was also named the D3football.com Play of the Week.
In the GEICO weekly voting, Burns' hurdle beat out three other plays from Liberty League rival Union, Johns Hopkins, and Wisconsin-Platteville. In the end of year voting, the play topped finalists from St. Norbert, Norwich, Muhlenberg, and Hiram.
Among Hobart running backs with at least three carries per game, Burns averaged a team-best 4.4 yards per carry. He was second on the team in rushing yards (217) and rushing touchdowns (3). Burns finished the Endicott game with a season-high 57 rushing yards on five carries. He has appeared in 33 career games for Hobart, gaining 832 yards on the ground with eight rushing touchdowns.
Hobart finished the season with a 7-3 overall record, including a thrilling, last-second upset of then No. 25 St. Lawrence. The Statesmen went 5-2 in league play and finished just a game out of first place.
