Box Score SELINSGROVE, Pa.—The Hobart football team outgained Susquehanna this afternoon, but the Statesmen were flagged for eight penalties and fell to the Crusaders 20-10 in the Liberty League opener for both squads.

Hobart gained 364 yards of total offense, including 262 passing, but gave back 57 yards on penalties. Susquehanna picked up 331 yards (188 rushing) and committed only two penalties for 20 yards.

Statesmen sophomore quarterback Doug Vella was 17-of-38 for a career-high 245 yards, but was picked off twice. He also rushed for 34 yards and a touchdown. Senior Tyler Vincent and sophomore Garth Muratori both caught four passes for 84 and 81 yards, respectively. Junior Andrew Marlier led the Hobart ground game with 57 yards on 13 carries (4.4 yds/att).

Crusaders tailback Dave Paveletz carried 37 times for 161 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Rich Palazzi was 7-of-11 for 133 yards and a touchdown. J.J. Moran made four catches for 58 yards, while Mike Ritter had two receptions for 68 yards and a TD.

Junior linebacker Kyle O'Laughlin logged a game-high 10 tackles, including nine solo, for the Statesmen, while Ken Schetroma made a team-high eight stops for Susquehanna.

The game's first three drives put points on the board. The Crusaders struck first thanks to Bobby Eppleman's 44-yard field goal. Hobart countered with a nine-play, 63-yard drive capped by Vella's 4-yard keeper into the end zone. Sophomore Conor Callahan's extra point put the Statesmen in front 7-3.

Susquehanna (3-1, 1-0) regained the lead for good with a 12-play, 67-yard drive. Paveletz finished it off with an 8-yard run six seconds into the second quarter. Eppleman's extra point gave the Crusaders a 10-7 lead.

Susquehanna's defense made the first stop of the day, forcing Hobart (1-2, 0-1) to go three and out on its second drive. The Crusaders turned to Eppleman for a field goal, this one from 32 yards out, to stretch their lead to 13-7.

On the ensuing drive, Vella threw his first interception to Jalon Scott near midfield. Susquehanna returned the favor with a fumble into the end zone that Hobart recovered for a touchback with 2:04 left in the first half.

Vella executed the two-minute drill, moving the Statesmen from their own 20 to the SU 5. Callahan closed out the first half scoring with a 22-yard field goal, cutting Hobart's deficit to 13-10 at halftime.

In the third quarter, SU's defense forced Hobart to punt three times and turn the ball over on downs on a fourth drive. The Crusaders punted twice as well, but broke through for the only points of the second half on a 56-yard pass play from Palazzi to Ritter midway through the frame.

The Statesmen's final three drives of the day resulted in an interception (by Scott), turnover on downs, and a missed 41-yard field goal with 40 seconds remaining.

Hobart will be back in action on Oct. 3, when the Statesmen host St. Lawrence. The Liberty League contest is schedule to kickoff at Boswell Field at noon.