Box Score WORCESTER, Mass.—The Hobart College football team scored on five straight first half possessions and kept WPI at arm’s length throughout the second half as the Statesmen posted a 45-35 Liberty League win. The loss was the first of the season for the Engineers (4-1, 1-1), who were celebrating homecoming.

Hobart (2-2, 1-1) amassed 469 yards of total offense, including a season-high 285 through the air. Senior quarterback Andrew Strom (Novato/Novato, Calif.) completed 25 of 37 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Classmate James Wright (Olean/Olean, N.Y.) was his top target, hauling in nine passes for 141 yards and a touchdown.

The Statesmen defense held WPI 11 points below its season average and limited the Engineer offense to 352 yards, 176 below its average. Sophomore end Kwame Lovell (Schenectady/Schenectady, N.Y.) led the charge with a team-high seven tackles. Four of his tackles were for a loss, including three sacks.

WPI got on the board first when Manny Cambra ran 75 yards for a touchdown on the Engineers’ first play from scrimmage. Cambra finished with 145 yards rushing and three touchdowns.

Hobart answered with a 10-play, 66-yard scoring drive that ended with a 1-yard plunge by first-year running back Andrew Marlier (Lake Forest/Lake Forest, Ill.). After the defense forced WPI to go three and out, Strom directed another scoring drive, this one ending on a 32-yard completion to Wright for a 14-7 lead.

Once again, the defense forced WPI to punt after three plays and Hobart went on another scoring drive. This one spanned the first and second quarters, ate 4:51 off the clock, and covered 67 yards in 11 plays. Strom again went to the air for the final play, connecting with junior Ryan LiDrazzah (Kent School/San Diego, Calif.) from 8 yards out. Senior Dominick Ancona (Chaminade/Garden City, N.Y.) booted the extra point for a 21-7 Statesmen lead. Ancona was 6-for-6 on PATs to remain perfect on the season (16-16).

For a third straight time, Hobart’s D made the Engineers go three and out. The big play was a sack by Lovell on third down and six that sent the home team back to its own 15-yard line. The Statesmen began a short scoring drive from the WPI 38, taking a 28-7 lead on 6-yard completion from Strom to sophomore tight end David Degan (Lockport/Lockport, N.Y.). Degan’s first collegiate reception came with 10:08 remaining in the second quarter.

With their next possession, the Engineers snapped out of their offensive funk scoring on a 5-yard pass from Justin Wells to wideout Matt Burger. The extra point cut Hobart’s lead to 28-14.

WPI’s defense also stiffened, if only marginally, forcing the Statesmen to settle for a 23-yard field goal by Ancona on their ensuing drive. He has kicked six field goals already this season, more than halfway to the Hobart single season record set by Shawn Fazio ’81 (11 in 1979).

The Engineers played beat the clock with their final drive of the opening half, going 77 yards in 11 plays and scoring on a 10-yard Wells to tight end Mike Butler pass play with four ticks remaining.

The teams traded touchdowns in the second half with junior running back Anthony Hobaica (Utica-Proctor/Utica, N.Y.) scoring twice for the Statesmen, both times from 5-yards out. He finished with 71 yards rushing. Strom led Hobart’s ground game with 80 yards.

The Statesmen are back in action on Oct. 6, when they travel to Liberty League newcomer Susquehanna (1-4, 0-2). Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.