Box Score Box Score

CANTON, N.Y.—The Hobart football team was flagged six times for 70 yards and committed five turnovers in a 24-21 Liberty League setback at St. Lawrence this afternoon. The loss drops the Statesmen to 2-2, 0-1 in the conference, while the Saints improve to 2-3, 2-0.

The teams exchanged long touchdown completions in the first quarter. Junior quarterback Doug Vella directed a six-play, 67-yard drive on Hobart's first possession. He found senior wide receiver Mike Lazore for a 26-yard TD only 3:43 into the game.

St. Lawrence, which went three-and-out on the game's first drive, saw its second possession end with junior cornerback Drake Woodard's first interception of the year. Unfortunately, the Statesmen weren't able to capitalize.

When the Saints got the ball for the third time, they needed just four plays to tie the game. On 4th and 10, JP Kearney hit Alcee Walker, who caught his first career touchdown pass from 33 yards out tying the game at 7-7.

St. Lawrence missed its first chance to take the lead, missing a 41-yard field early in the second quarter, but forced Hobart to punt on its first drive of the frame. The Saints went back to Walker on first down. This time he went 61 yards to put St. Lawrence on top 14-6 with 8:22 remaining in the half.

Bobby Dougherty returned the ensuing kickoff 22 yards to the Hobart 43. The Statesmen worked their way down the field to the SLU 36, but turned the ball over on downs. Hobart forced the Saints to punt with 11 seconds left in the half and went into the locker room down 14-7.

The Statesmen controlled the clock in the third quarter, holding onto the ball for 12:47 and running 23 offensive plays to St. Lawrence's three. Vella was intercepted by Ben Cryts at the Saints 4 halting the half's opening drive. The Statesmen defense forced SLU to punt.

Hobart was able to tie the game with its ensuing possession. Vella capped a seven-play, 44-ytard drive with an 18-yard completion pass to Junior Woodard with 5:04 remaining in the third quarter. The Statesmen kept possession with an onside kick which Conor Callahan recovered himself. A sack on third and 12 from the Saints' 16, forced a 44-yard field goal try that missed wide left.

St. Lawrence regained the lead with 4:56 remaining in regulation thanks to a 33-yard field goal by Matt Dodge that capped a 12-play, 57-yard drive.

After the team's traded punts, Hobart took over near midfield. First-year Juan O'Farrill broke a screen pass for 22 yards on first down and first-year Steven Webb got to the outside on a rush and took it to the end zone from 26 yards out. Callahan's extra point made it 21-17 with 2:05 left in the game.

St. Lawrence junior Trevor Saunders took the kickoff 33 yards to midfield and a personal foul penalty on the Statesmen move the ball to the Hobart 35. Facing third-and-8 from the 33, Kearney connected with Ethan Sutton for the game-winning touchdown with 1:42 left to play.

Vella was intercepted twice in the final 102 seconds.

Hobart's Kyle O'Laughlin closed with at team-high nine tackles. Webb led the offense with 85 yards rushing and a touchdown. Vella completed 16-of-34 passes for 187 yards and a pair of scores, but was undone by the four interceptions.

For St. Lawrence, junior tailback Marcus Washington turned in a 115-yard performance on the ground, while Kearney finished 8-of-21 for 171 yards and three touchdowns. Defensively, senior Ben Cryts hauled in a three interceptions to go with 10 tackles. First-year linebacker Andrew Cox made a game-high 14 stops.

Hobart will return to Boswell Field on Saturday, Oct. 9, to host Union. The Liberty League showdown is slated to kick off at noon.