GENEVA, N.Y.—The Hobart football team produced a season-high 504 yards of offense while limiting the University of Rochester to just 180 yards on the way to a 38-7 Liberty League victory on Saturday. The Statesmen captured the Centennial Cup, the trophy presented to the winner of the annual rivalry game, for the 15th straight time and 18th time in the past 19 meetings.
The Hobart defense was led by first-year linebacker
Tyler Cumming's 10 tackles. The Statesmen had Rochester under pressure all game long, finishing the game with five sacks and two interceptions. Senior linebacker
Jack Ligarzewski led the charge into the backfield with two sacks, while senior defensive tackle
Hunter Vos and first-year defensive tackle
Mason Mania each had one sack. Senior cornerback
Zeshan Dixon ended the Yellowjackets' first drive with his league-leading fifth interception of the season. Sophomore cornerback
Bryce Davis added his first collegiate interception, a brilliant diving catch, to kill the visitors' final drive of the first quarter.
On offense, the Statesmen rushed for a season-high 284 yards, including a season-high 169 yards and three touchdowns by senior running back
E.J. Taylor. Junior running back
Tristan Reynolds added 77 yards and two touchdowns. Through the air, sophomore quarterback
Aidan Conrath was 17-of-23 passing for 220 yards. Junior wide receiver
Johnny Harding produced game-highs with seven receptions for 93 yards. He extended his games with a catch streak to 29, the second longest in program history and three shy of the record.
COACH'S CORNER
FIRST QUARTER
- The Yellowjackets returned the opening kickoff 53 yards into Statesmen territory, but Dixon intercepted Shawn Bellenger at the Statesmen 17 and returned it 38 yards to the Yellowjackets' 45.
- Hobart was unable to score on its first possession, turning the ball over on downs deep in Rochester territory, but the defense forced a three-and-out to give the ball back to the offense.
- The Statesmen drove 51 yards in seven plays, with Conrath completing three passes on the series before Taylor scored on a 7-yard run at 5:04. First-year Owen McNulty's PAT made it 7-0.
- Davis' interception came two minutes later, and the Statesmen kept the ensuing drive alive with a fourth-down completion from Conrath to junior wide receiver Luke Hansen before reaching the Yellowjackets' 14 as the quarter ended.
SECOND QUARTER
- Owen McNulty finished the drive with a 27-yard field goal at 13:37, giving the Statesmen a 10-0 lead.
- Kaleb Sawyer and Mania combined on a sack to help force a Yellowjackets three-and-out. UR flipped the field with a 79-yard punt by Kyle Brainard.
- The Statesmen answered from their own 9 with a 91-yard drive capped by Taylor's 1-yard touchdown run at 7:40 for a 17-0 lead.
- The Yellowjackets put together an 11-play, 59-yard drive, using three third-down rushing conversions before Bellenger scored on a keeper from the 1 to make it 17-7 with 1:21 left.
- The Statesmen's final drive stalled after penalties, but the defense closed the second quarter with sacks by Vos and the combination of Billy Brosko and Ligarzewski.
THIRD QUARTER
- The Statesmen opened the third quarter with a 10-play, 75-yard drive, converting fourth-and-3 on E.J. Taylor's 8-yard run before Tristan Reynolds scored from 15 yards at 8:50 and McNulty's kick made it 24-7.
- MJ Wells broke up the Yellowjackets' third-down pass on the next series, and after the punt return and a holding penalty, the Statesmen started their next drive at their 6.
- The Statesmen went 94 yards in nine plays, with Taylor runs of 19 and 12 yards and Aidan Conrath's 27-yard completion to Harding helping set up Reynolds' 1-yard touchdown at 2:02. McNulty's kick made it 31-7.
- Ligarzewski sacked Bellenger for a 9-yard loss on the quarter's final play.
FOURTH QUARTER
- Taylor broke a 57-yard touchdown run at 7:46. McNulty's kick made it 38-7 to complete the day's scoring.
GAME NOTES
- Hobart's five rushing touchdowns are the most by the Statesmen since running for six against Hilbert last season.
- The five sacks are the most by the Hobart defense since posting seven in the season-opening win over Alfred.
- The Statesmen lead the league with 28 sacks this season.
- This was the second straight game and fourth time this season that the Hobart offensive line did not allow a sack.
- Taylor is the first running back in the Liberty League to surpass the 800-yard rushing plateau this season. He has a league-best 856 yards.
- Taylor also leads the league with 76 points.
RECORD WATCH
- Taylor raised his career rushing yards total to 3,739, passing Keith Brandon '01 to move into fifth place on the program's all-time list.
- Harding raised his career receiving yards total to 1,702, passing Garth Muratori '12 and Scott Guise '83 to move into eighth place on the program's all-time list.
TAYLOR TALKS
FOR THE RECORD
- The Statesmen are 5-3 overall and 3-2 in conference play.
- The Yellowjackets are 3-5 overall and 2-3 in conference play.
Up next, the Statesmen host Hilbert College at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at Boswell Field at Urick Stadium.
