GENEVA, N.Y.—Led by a Hobart defense that produced five interceptions and limited a potent Brockport offense to just 2-of-10 on third down, the Statesmen defeated the Golden Eagles 27-14 on Boswell Field this afternoon. Hobart scored 17 points off of turnovers, including senior cornerback
Zeshan Dixon's 67-yard interception return for a touchdown that capped the day's scoring.
TOP STATESMEN
Dixon had a spectacular day, producing a team-high 13 tackles, a career-high three interceptions and a pass breakup. Sophomore cornerback
Isa Abdus-Salaam added three tackles, a sack, an interception and two pass breakups. First-year linebacker
Nate Bush also had an interception to go with two tackles and a pass breakup.
On offense, senior running back
E.J. Taylor turned 28 carries into 88 hard-fought yards and a TD. Sophomore quarterback
Aidan Conrath was 15-of-27 passing for 142 yards and a TD. Junior wide receiver
Johnny Harding had a team-high five receptions for 42 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown just before halftime.
Not to be outdone, the special teams units also played an important role in the victory. Graduate student punter
Vicente Lyon averaged 42.1 yards per punt and landed three of his seven kicks inside the Brockport 20. First-year kicker
Owen McNulty made the first two field goals of his collegiate career, converting from 42 and 26 yards, while making all three of his extra points.
First Quarter
- On the visitor's first play from scrimmage, Abdus-Salaam intercepted Ben Gocella at the Brockport 30 and returned it 2 yards, setting up Owen McNulty's 42-yard field goal for a 3-0 Hobart lead.
- After the teams traded empty possessions, Brockport went 74 yards in three plays, with Zymier Jackson finding Nolan Slywka for a 23-yard touchdown and a 7-3 lead.
- Hobart answered with a nine-play, 71-yard drive that included Aidan Conrath's 45-yard completion to Marcus Peterson before E.J. Taylor scored from 1 yard out and McNulty's kick made it 10-7.
Second Quarter
- Nate Bush intercepted Gocella on Brockport's third play of the quarter and returned it 4 yards to the Brockport 36, and Vicente Lyon later pinned the Golden Eagles at their 1 with a 35-yard punt.
- After Hobart forced a punt from the 2, Jordan Nolan's 14-yard return set up a short field, and McNulty made a 26-yard field goal at 7:47 to put Hobart ahead 13-7.
- Dixon stopped Brockport's next series with a leaping, one-handed interception at the 46, and Hobart converted the takeaway into a 12-play drive capped by Conrath's 3-yard touchdown pass to Harding with 19 seconds left. McNulty's extra point made it 20-7 going into the break.
Third Quarter
- Hobart went three-and-out on the opening possession before Brockport put together a 78-yard drive, with Derrion Battle scoring on a 21-yard run at 8:29 and the extra point making it 20-14.
- Both defenses held firm for the rest of the quarter.
Fourth Quarter
- Hobart's defense didn't allow Brockport to move across midfield. Dixon ended two of the Golden Eagles' four drives in the final frame with interceptions, returning the second 67 yards for a touchdown with 1:45 remaining; McNulty's kick made it 27-14.
- Billy Brosko hurried Zymier Jackson into a fourth-and-6 incompletion from the Brockport 36 at :27, and the Statesmen took a knee to secure the 27-14 win.
Coach's Corner
Player's Perspective
Game Notes:
- Head coach Kevin DeWall '00 won his 55th game at his alma mater, matching Vincent Welch for third place on the program's career list.
- The last time Hobart played Brockport on Boswell Field, the Statesmen also made five interceptions in a win over the Golden Eagles.
- Dixon is the first Statesman to post three interceptions in a game since Lance Boyington had three against Lycoming on Nov. 22, 2008.
- Harding has at least one reception in every game he's played for Hobart, extending his streak to 24 games, tied with Frank Fedorjaka '89 for the fourth longest streak in Statesmen history.
Hobart is 2-0 overall. Brockport is 1-1 overall.
Up next, Hobart travels to Utica, N.Y., to face Utica University (2-0) on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 1 p.m.
