Box Score ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Ithaca College Bombers lived up to their 17th-ranked billing, as they handed the Hobart College Statesmen a 44-13 loss this afternoon in Division III football action. The win raises the Bombers record to 7-1, while the loss drops the Statesmen to 4-3.

Playing without four offensive starters, including both wide receivers, and two defensive starters, Hobart was handed its worst loss since falling to Buffalo State 33-0 in 1992. The injuries were especially noticed in the Statesmen's passing game, where Hobart had averaged nearly 200 yards per game over the last three contest, but managed just 86 yards today.

Ithaca jumped out to an early 14-0 lead on short, first quarter scoring runs by Tommy Giorgio. Hobart appeared ready to make a stand, keeping the Bombers out of the endzone over a 10-minute span in the first and second quarters. Senior Kevin DeWall (Waterloo/Waterloo, N.Y.) and junior Karl Knight (Southampton/Southampton, N.Y.) both posted interceptions on back-to-back Ithaca passes to temporarily halt the Bombers' offense.

The Bombers got back on track when Giorgio recorded his third touchdown at the 10:46 mark of the second quarter to take a 21-0 lead. Ithaca was credited with a safety to boost its lead to 23-0 when Hobart's punter brushed his knee against the turf attempting to field a low snap.

After the ensuing kickoff, the Bombers drove 68 yards in seven plays, capped by Giorgio's fourth touchdown of the day to take a 30-0 lead. Giorgio finished with 67 yards on 17 carries.

On their next possession, the Statesmen picked up just their second first down of the first half when junior quarterback Dan Birdsall (Southampton/Water Mill, N.Y.) connected with junior running back Keith Brandon (Northfield-Mt. Hermon/Jamaica, N.Y.) on a short dump pass into the flat. Brandon shed one would-be tackler and raced up the sideline for a 31-yard gain to the Hobart 49.

Brandon carried twice more for eight yards to move Hobart into Ithaca territory for the first time, but the Bombers erased the scoring threat with a 55-yard interception return for a touchdown to take a 37-0 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Brandon led all rushers with 96 yards on 21 carries.

Ithaca added the first TD of the second half early in the third quarter to take a commanding 44-0 lead.

The Statesmen finally caught a break midway through the third quarter, when a botched snap on a field goal attempt gave Hobart the ball on their own 44-yard line. On the first play of a three-play drive, Birdsall hit senior tight end Rich Ganci (Canisius/Buffalo, N.Y.) for a 14-yard pick up. A 30-yard run by first-year running back Jerome Brown (Chirstian Brothers Academy/Albany, N.Y.) gave the Statesmen a first down at the Ithaca 12. A fade pass by Birdsall and a finger-tip catch by junior fullback Kris Smith (Northfield-Mt. Hermon/Abington, Mass.) gave Hobart its first score of the game.

The touchdown pass moved Birdsall to within one of the Statesmen's single season record of 13 TD passes held by Greg Helmer '97.

The Statesmen added another touchdown late in the fourth quarter on a 4-play, 53-yard drive. Junior running back Travis Widrick (Lowville Academy/Lowville, N.Y.) carried the ball three times on the drive accounting for 49 yards, including a 42-yard jaunt that moved Hobart from its own 47 to the Ithaca 11.

Widrick finished with 85 yards on just nine carries, an average of 9.4 yards per carry.

The Statesmen return to action on Sat., Nov. 6, to host St. John Fisher. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

--HWS SPORTS--