Box Score GENEVA, N.Y.--The Hobart College football team cruised past visiting St. Lawrence University this afternoon, by a score of 41-7. Senior running back Travis Widrick (Lowville Academy/Lowville, N.Y.) led Hobart on the ground, rushing for 122 yards and two touchdowns on just 15 carries, while senior quarterback Dan Birdsall (Southampton/Water Mill, N.Y.) directed the air attack, completing 17 of 32 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns.
The Statesmen (3-1, 2-1 UCAA) set the tone early when first-year Dyshaun Washington (Kent School/Kent, Conn.) returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. Both offenses bogged down in the early going, but Hobart started to heat up in the second quarter.
Bridsall, who had struggled in the Statesmen’s last two outings, threw his first touchdown of the season 31 seconds into the second frame, a 32-yard strike to senior wide receiver Andy Pirozzolo (Elmira Free Academy/Elmira, N.Y.). Hobart’s next drive was its most impressive of the afternoon.
After St. Lawrence (0-4, 0-3) punted for the fifth (out of 12) time, the Statesmen took over at their own 20. Birdsall led Hobart on an 11-play, 80-yard drive that ate 4:02 off the game clock and ended with a 7-yard touchdown run by Widrick. The Statesmen led 21-0 heading into halftime.
After the break, Hobart posted three third quarter touchdowns to take a commanding 41-0 lead. Senior wide receiver Jamie Breslin (Mountain Lakes/Mountain Lakes, N.J.) scored the first on a 37-yard reception from Birdsall. Widrick followed with a 59-yard sprint, less than three minutes later, and first-year wide receiver Henry Leeper (Jamestown/Jamestown, N.Y.) closed out the Statesmen scoring with a 38-yard catch off the arm of first-year Craig Swanson (Jamestown/Jamestown, N.Y.).
Hobart’s three third quarter scores came just 6 minutes and 21 seconds apart. The Statesmen racked up 456 yards of total offense, including 290 through the air.
Breslin led the receiving corps with four catches for 75 yards, while senior wide receiver Scott Yoder (Wyoming Seminary/Kutztown, Pa.) caught two passes for 20 yards, extending his games-with-a-catch streak to 23 games, three shy of the record.
While the offense posted its best numbers of the season, the defense was once again smothering. The Saints were limited to just 120 yards of total offense, 43 on the ground, 77 through the air, averaging just 1.7 yards per play.
The Statesmen registered seven sacks, including two by senior end Rob Gould (Western Reserve/East Aurora, N.Y.). Gould, who became Hobart’s career leader in tackles for a loss this afternoon, led the Statesmen with nine tackles (5 solo). Junior defensive back Peter Beatrice (Northfield-Mt. Hermon/Swampscott, Mass.) posted four solo tackles and his first two collegiate interceptions.
First-year fullback Bren Hayes (Tupper Lake, N.Y.) scored the Saints only touchdown, a 1-yard plunge with 9:36 remaining.
Hobart returns to action on Sat., Oct. 14, when it travels to Franklin & Marshall College for a 1 p.m., kickoff.
—HWS SPORTS—
