Three members of the Hobart football team were among the student-athletes recognized in the first round of Liberty League awards this season. Senior running back E.J. Taylor was named the Offensive Performer of the Week, first-year linebacker MJ Wells earned the Rookie of the Week award and junior defensive tackle Billy Brosko landed a spot on the league's weekly honor roll.
 
Hobart opened the season with a 24-17 home win over Alfred on Friday night.
 
Taylor produced a league-leading 215 all purpose yards and scored a pair of touchdowns against the Saxons. On the ground, he averaged 6.5 yards per carry, finishing with a game-high 137 yards. It was his eighth consecutive 100-yard rushing game and the 15th of his career. It's the second longest streak in program history. Through the air, Taylor caught two passes for a game-high 78 yards. His 72-yard TD on a screen pass gave Hobart a 15-7 lead early in the third quarter, while his 6-yard TD run 9 seconds into the fourth quarter put the Statesmen up 23-10.
 
Taylor raised his career rushing total to 3,020 yards, becoming just the seventh Statesman to reach the 3,000-yard plateau. His 34th career rushing TD moved him into a tie for seventh on Hobart's all-time list.
 
Wells finished with four tackles, including half a sack, and a quarterback hurry in his Hobart debut. With the game tied at 7, his first down sack set the Saxons back 6 yards and was followed by consecutive incompletions, forcing the visitors to punt. On Alfred's final possession of the game, Wells was credited with a quarterback hurry as the Saxons threw an incompletion into the Hobart end zone on third down from the Hobart 16 on what could have been a game-tying touchdown. Alfred's incompletion on the subsequent fourth down play allowed Hobart to run out the clock.
 
 
Brosko produced seven tackles, including a pair of sacks, and two quarterback hurries Friday night. One of his sacks resulted in a safety that put Hobart in the lead for good early in the third quarter. The Statesmen finished the game with seven sacks, tied for second on the program's single game list.
 
Hobart (1-0) will be home again on Saturday, Sept. 12, when the Statesmen welcome Brockport (1-0) to Urick Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.