GENEVA, N.Y.—The Hobart College football team returns to Boswell Field on Saturday, Oct. 22, to host Springfield College in a Liberty League showdown scheduled to kickoff at noon. The contest will also be the seventh annual Tackles and Touchdowns for Happiness House game.
 
Proceeds from the football team's fundraiser support Happiness House, which provides educational and health services to children and adults with and without special needs. Next week, members of the football team will visit Happiness House to play with and read to the children in the preschool program.
 
Tackles and Touchdowns was started by Jarrid Blades '12. The former offensive lineman was inspired to help Happiness House achieve its goals by a relative who has Down Snydrome. For the past seven years, fans have pledged donations for every Hobart touchdown and/or every Statesman tackle. Since 2010, Tackles and Touchdowns has raised more than $30,000 for Happiness House.
 
On the field, the Statesmen (5-1, 2-1) enter the game ranked 24th in the latest AFCA Coaches' Poll. Hobart was off last week and suffered its first loss of the year two weeks ago at Rensselaer 21-17.
 
Junior quarterback Shane Sweeney leads the Liberty League's top passing offense, averaging 336.0 yards per game (9th in the nation). He is also sixth in the nation in passing touchdowns with 20. Classmate Brandon Shed is his top receiver with 41 receptions for 664 yards and 10 touchdowns. He's fifth in the nation in receiving TDs and 20th in receiving yards. Senior Jack Pfohl adds 28 catches for 348 yards and four TDs. Sophomore Tynard Barfield is Hobart's top rusher, averaging 4.9 yards per carry.
 
On the other side of the ball, the Statesmen are second in the league in total defense, allowing 303.3 yards per game. The Hobart pass defense is especially potent, limiting opponents to 124.8 yards through the air (5th in the nation). Junior linebacker Almamy Conde has a team-high 53 tackles with first-year linebacker Jedh Downey right behind him with 51.
 
Springfield (4-3, 3-1) features a triple option offense that is second in the conference and eighth in the nation in rushing (305.0 yds/g). Junior fullback Jordan Wilcox leads the conference in yards per carry (6.05) and is sixth in total rushing yards (442). Sophomore running back Joshua Thomas is close behind with 408 rushing yards. In last week's 70-47 blowout of Rochester, the Pride had four backs gain more than 100 yards on the ground.
 
Springfield's defense is third in the league in total defense (320.0 yds/g) and rushing defense (132.1). Senior linebacker Kenny Calaj and junior linebacker Dominic Traversa share the team lead with 49 tackles.
 
Hobart leads the series with Springfield 3-1, but the Pride prevailed last season 35-13 in Springfield.
 
Tomorrow's game will be broadcast by WEOS-FM (89.5/90.3 in Geneva). Fans can also follow the action online with All-Access Video and Live Stats.