Box Score SCHENECTADY, N.Y.–-Senior quarterback Andrew Strom (Novato/Novato, Calif.) threw for three touchdowns and 210 yards and the Hobart defense held Union to 89 yards rushing in a 30-20 Liberty League victory at Frank Bailey Field Saturday. With the win, the Statesmen extend their winning streak to six games, while halting the Dutchmen's at five.
Strom raised his season passing yards total to 2,260, eclipsing the three-year-old record set by Shawn Mizro '07 by 7 yards, while his three TD passes gives him 25 for the season, five shy of Mizro's 2004 mark.
Junior running back Anthony Hobaica (Utica-Proctor/Utica, N.Y.) rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown for Hobart, while junior linebacker Justin Hager (Salamanca/Salamanca, N.Y.) recorded a game-high 11 tackles, including two for a loss. Sophomore linebacker Ryan Robinson (Johnson City/Johnson City, N.Y.) had eight tackles, including two for a loss. Junior tight end Matt Duliba (Forestville/Forestville, N.Y.) had six catches for 67 yards.
Union junior wide receiver Charles Kaliades had six catches for 72 yards for the Dutchmen, while quarterback Andrew Cattelier was 12 of 21 for 111 yards and Jared Gourrier was six of 11 for 46 yards. Defensively, linebackers senior Vito Pellerito and junior Joseph Catalano also registered 11 tackles.
Senior Dominick Ancona (Chaminade/Garden City, N.Y.) opened the scoring with a 33-yard field goal with 9:20 left in the first quarter. His Liberty League leading ninth field goal of the season moved him into sole possession of second place on the single season list behind Shawn Fazio's 1979 record of 11.
Union kicker Zach Epley tied it with a 25-yard field goal with 3:04 remaining in the first quarter.
Junior wideout Ryan LiDrazzah (Kent School/San Diego, Calif.) caught a 14-yard pass from Strom with 6:11 remaining in the second quarter to convert a 12-play, 80-yard drive. The kick was blocked, leaving Hobart a 9-3 lead. Epley nailed a 20-yard field goal with 1:11 left in the second quarter to pull the Dutchmen within three at 9-6.
Hobart (7-2, 5-1) responded with a quick strike, moving 65 yards in six plays, while taking just 44 seconds off the clock. Strom hit Tyler Vincent (C.W. Baker/Baldwinsville, N.Y.) with a 25-yard touchdown with only 20 seconds remaining in the half for a 16-6 Hobart lead.
The Dutchmen (5-3, 5-1) kicked off to start the second half, and Hobart faced a fourth and six from its own 39-yard line. Ancona’s punt was blocked by Union first-year Mike Clarke and senior Pat Sheridan recovered it and took it in 28 yards for the touchdown with 12:48 left, making it 16-13.
Unfazed, Hobart scored on its next drive, a nine-play, 61-yard march, capped by a Strom to senior wide receiver James Wright (Olean/Olean, N.Y.) pass for 8 yards and a touchdown, pushing the lead back to 10, 22-13. The TD catch was Wright's 11th of the season, tying him with Rick Pinero (2004) on the single season list, three behind Dan Suozzi's record.
Ancona's PAT made it 23-13. It was his 43rd extra point of the season, breaking the record set by Eric Ampuja in 2004.
Two plays later, senior James Alexander forced a Union fumble that junior linebacker Tony Siravo (Conestoga/Berwyn, Pa.). Alexander also recorded an interception in the game, his team-leading fifth, all in the last four games.
Six plays later, on fourth and one from the Union 41, Hobaica got the first down and more, posting a 41-yard touchdown run with 5:35 left in the quarter for a 30-13 lead.
The Dutchmen got back within 10 with 1:23 left in the third, but did not get any closer. Senior fullback Zach Tillo rushed in from 3 yards out to conclude an eight-play, 66-yard drive. Neither team scored in the fourth quarter.
Hobart will close out the regular season at Rochester on Nov. 10 for the 100th meeting in that series. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.
The Union sports information office contributed to this release.
