SAINTS FALL TO HOBART 27-7

Oct. 21: St. Lawrence fell to 3-3 on the season and 1-2 in the Liberty League after a 27-7 loss to the 18th ranked Hobart Statesmen on Saturday. Hobart dominated the time of possession, holding the ball for almost 40 minutes, and held St. Lawrence to just 122 yards of total offense.

 

Despite the lopsided time of possession, the Statesmen scored just 20 points in the first 58 minutes of the game. Hobart put the ball in the end zone with just under a minute and a half left in the game, to make the score 27-7. The Saints defense stayed tough despite being on the field for long periods of time. Led by senior linebacker Jordan Burger, who had a game high 16 tackles and junior defensive end Robert Bracho, who had back-to-back sacks in the second quarter, the Saints defense contained Hobart's offense.

 

The Saints offense however, struggled to gain any momentum as the Statemen brought an aggressive defensive attack, putting pressure on quarterback Matt Bezio all afternoon. The Saints had just two first downs and possessed the ball less than 10 minutes in the first half. But the score at halftime was a modest 13-0.

 

"They were really coming hard and they did a good job of mixing it up so, as a unit, we never got in sync all afternoon, " Bezio said.

 

After a scoreless first quarter, Hobart strung together an eight play, 50 yard drive that was capped off by a two yard run by running back Doug Blakowski, who finished with 128 yards and two touchdowns. A missed PAT put the Statesmen up 6-0 with 13 minutes left in the game.

 

Hobart struck again on its next drive when running back Don Gilardi broke loose for a 55 yard touchdown run to put the Statemen up 13-0 with just over 10 minutes left in the half. The Statesmen took that lead into halftime.

 

Hobart extended its lead early in the second half when quarterback Shawn Mizro completed an 18 yard touchdown pass to wide reciever James Wright, putting the Statesmen up 20-0.

 

The Saints responded at the end of the quarter after Bezio connected with wide receiver Jeremy Cronin twice on the six play, 74 yard drive. Running back Connor Hackett capped off the drive with a two yard touchdown run that tightened Hobart's margin to 20-7.

 

The Saints struggled with field position in the second half and did not start a drive past their own 20 yard line in the fourth quarter. With just over six minutes left to play the Saints got a little momentum after Bezio completed a 26 yard pass to wide receiver Mike O'Donnell. However, Bezio was intercepted on the next play after the intended receiver tipped the ball unfavorably for the Saints and it ended up in the hands of a Statesmen defender.

 

Hobart capitalized on the interception, scoring on a nine play, 50 yard drive to seal the game.

 

Head coach Chris Phelps said this is a loss the team will have to put behind them and look towards the next game.

 

"I told the guys after the game that this is a good football team but we still have a lot of football left to win," Phelps said. "I think we have guys with good character that will respond in a positive way for us."

 

The Saints will travel to Schenectady next weekend to face Union College.