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Hobart and William Smith Colleges Athletics

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E.J. Taylor runs around end against Ithaca.
PETE LAMBOS '18/Finger Lakes Times
28
Winner Hobart HOB 3-5 , 2-3
21
Rochester ROC 5-3 , 2-3
Winner
Hobart HOB
3-5 , 2-3
28
Final
21
Rochester ROC
5-3 , 2-3
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT F
HOB Hobart 14 7 0 0 7 28
ROC Rochester 0 0 7 14 0 21

Game Recap: Hobart Football | | Ken DeBolt

Hobart retains Centennial Cup with OT win at Rochester

ROCHESTER, N.Y.—The Hobart football team won the Centennial Cup rivalry game against Rochester, pulling off a 28-21 overtime victory at Fauver Stadium this afternoon. It was Hobart's 14th consecutive victory and the 17th time in 18 games the Statesmen have secured the Cup, which was commissioned in honor of the 100th meeting between the programs in 2007.
 
QUICK HITS
  • Hobart improved to 3-5 overall, 2-3 in the Liberty League.
  • The Statesmen went over 200 yards rushing for the second game in a row, gaining a season-high 227 yards against the Yellowjackets.
  • Hobart raced out to a 21-0 halftime lead only to see UR turn the tables in the second half, forcing overtime.
  • In OT, the Statesmen got the ball first and reclaimed the lead on a 15-yard TD pass from junior Tru Styles to junior wide receiver Marcus Peterson. Styles, who saw time early in the game and played all of the fourth quarter and OT, was 2-of-3 passing for 18 yards with 24 yards rushing.
  • On Rochester ensuing possession, the Yellowjackets ran four plays inside the 5, but Hobart was able to celebrate after first-year linebacker Jeron Atwater Jr. broke up a pass into the end zone on fourth-and-goal.
  • The Yellowjackets slip to 5-3, 2-3.
 
COACH'S COMMENTS

"The team played well in the first half showing offensive balance and finishing off scoring drives with touchdowns complimented by the defense getting stops and holding our opponent scoreless. After some costly mistakes and momentum changing in the second half, it was good to see the team stay together and make a few key plays late to earn the victory." – Hobart Head Coach Kevin DeWall '00

 
TAYLOR MADE
  • Junior running back E.J. Taylor rushed for a career-high 196 yards and a touchdown to lead the Statesmen.
  • The Liberty League rushing leader was at his best in the first quarter, breaking loose for 130 yards.
  • Taylor raised his career rushing total to 2,390 yards, passing Rayshawn Boswell and Jerry Hanley to take over 11th place on the program's all-time list.
 
HOMETOWN HERO
  • Sophomore wide receiver Johnny Harding, who hails from Rochester, caught a career-high matching seven passes for 133 yards and a touchdown.
  • It was his third career 100-yard game.
  • Harding has at least one catch in every game of his collegiate career, 19 straight games. It's the seventh longest streak in Hobart history.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Hobart's defense forced a three-and-out on the game's opening possession.
  • The Statesmen offense responded with an eight-play, 60-yard scoring drive. Taylor accounted for 57 rushing yards on the march, including the final yard into the end zone.
  • Hobart third drive started just short of midfield and moved into the red zone in the blink of an eye. Taylor took the first play 50 yards to the Rochester 2.
  • On fourth-and-goal, sophomore quarterback Jeremy Weiss completed a 2-yard pass to Harding for the touchdown.
  • The Statesmen added a third scoring drive late in the second quarter, capped off by a 6-yard TD pass from Weiss to senior tight end Luke Hescock.
  • Back-to-back plays in the third quarter had a big impact on the game. On the first, a late hit on Weiss knocked him out of the game. He finished 10-of-15 passing for 150 yards and two TDs.
  • On the following play, Hobart fumbled and UR returned the loose ball for a touchdown.
  • In the fourth quarter, Rochester put together two scoring drives
  • The Yellowjackets made it a one-scoring game on Shawn Bellenger's 1-yard run with more than 12 minutes left in regulation. They missed the extra point, leaving Hobart a 21-13 lead.
  • With under five minutes to go, Cole Raux scored on a 5-yard run. Bellenger completed the 2-point pass to Aidan Papantonis to tie the game.
  • Hobart missed a 50-yard field goal attempt as time expired, sending the game to OT.
 
HOBART IN OT
  • This was the 10th game in Hobart football history to go to overtime and the first since Sept. 14, 2024.
  • The Statesmen are 6-4 in overtime games.
  • This was Hobart's first overtime win on the road. The Statesmen were 0-3 in road OT games prior to today.
 
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
  • The Statesmen will play their final road game of the regular season when they travel to Hilbert (0-8, 0-6) on Saturday, Nov. 8. Kickoff against the Liberty League newcomer is scheduled for noon.
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