Box Score GENEVA, N.Y. -- The Hobart College defense only allowed two points this afternoon against Union College, but the Dutchmen still managed to post a 20-14 victory in Division III football action this afternoon at Boswell Field. The Statesmen fall to 0-2, 0-1 in the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association, while the Dutchmen improve to 2-1, 2-0.

The Hobart scored first just two and a half minutes into the game when junior Rich Barlette (Wyoming Seminary/Latham, N.Y.) blocked Brian Slekes' (Rochester, N.Y.) punt attempt. Junior Eric Newsome (Albion/Albion, N.Y.) recovered the loose ball and scrambled 17 yards for a touchdown.

Union answered with a defensive touchdown of its own five minutes later. Hobart junior quarterback Dan Birdsall (Southampton/Water Mill, N.Y.) fumbled when senior Mike Thompson (Westboro, Mass.) sacked him. Michale Rosenthal (Walpole, Mass.) collected the ball and ran 53 yards untouched for a touchdown. The Dutchmen missed the extra point and leaving the Statesmen a 7-6 lead.

Birdsall finished 12-for-29 for 127 yards and a touchdown, but was picked off three times and lost a fumble.

Sophomore George Kandirakis (White Plains, N.Y.) gave Union the lead midway through the second quarter, returning an interception 30 yards for a score. The Dutchmen's two-point conversion failed, giving Union a 12-7 lead.

The Dutchmen forced Hobart to punt on the opening drive of the second half. A low snap that squirted through the hands of sophomore punter Rob Crisafulli (Phillips Academy/Garden City, N.Y.) and into the end zone where sophomore Joshua Stinehour (Rochester, N.Y.) fell on it for another Union defense touchdown. This time the Dutchmen converted the two-point play for a 20-7 lead.

On its final drive of the third quarter, Hobart accounted for the only offensive touchdown of the game, when Birdsall hit a wide open Andy Pirozzolo (Elmira Free Academy/Elmira, N.Y.) for a 36-yard touchdown strike.

Junior Rob Gould (Western Reserve/Aurora, N.Y.) and Barlette led the Hobart defense. Gould posted 11 tackles, including four for minus 17 yards and three sacks, while Barlette recorded nine tackles, including four for minus 25 yards and three sacks. Union got nine tackles from both senior Jason Orkwis (Niskayuna, N.Y.) and Thompson.

The Statesmen take to the road for their next game a 1:30 p.m., kickoff at St. Lawrence University.

--HWS SPORTS--