Box Score Watch (RPI TV)

TROY, N.Y. - Junior running back Steven Webb rushed for 130 yards and caught a touchdown and the No. 7 Hobart College football team put forth a complete effort to defeat Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 35-7, in a Liberty League game at East Campus Stadium.

Hobart improves to 7-0 overall and 4-0 in the league and remains in first place. RPI falls to 5-2 and 3-2.

The Statesmen compiled 471 yards of total offense, including 334 on the ground, and held Rensselaer to 242 yards of offense. Webb (Dundee, NY/Dundee) led Hobart with his 130 yards on 19 carries, while also catching a screen pass that he took 17 yards for a touchdown. Senior Bobby Dougherty (Bellerose, NY/St. Francis Prep) added 98 rushing yards and two second half touchdowns on 19 attempts.

Hobart held a 21-0 lead at halftime thanks to two rushing touchdowns and a scoring pass from senior quarterback Nick Strang (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay). He finished the Statesmen's first drive, which covered 79 yards in 12 plays, with a 4-yard run for a 7-0 lead after the first quarter. The big plays of the series was a 46-yard pass from Strang to wide recever Yosh Karbowniczak (Syracuse, NY/CBA) and an RPI personal foul penalty on a third-down stop.

Strang put the visitors ahead by two scores when he plunged in from one yard out at 10:56 of the second quarter. The highlight of that drive, which covered 13 plays and 80 yards, was a 30-yard reception by Junior Woodard (Marcy, NY/Whitesboro).

Strang then connected with Webb, who avoided a couple of tackles and scored with only 22 seconds left in the first half. Hobart gained possession when Devin Worthington (Rochester, NY/Worcester Academy) intercepted a pass that was deflected at the line of scrimmage.

After a slow start by both teams to open the second half, Dougherty put the Statesmen ahead by five scores with a pair of fourth quarter touchdown runs. The first, a 19-yard scamper, came at 13:40 and the second just 53 seconds later when he rushed in from 20 yards after taking the snap from the center. That touchdown, which put Hobart ahead, 35-0, was set up by Worthington's second interception of the day.

RPI made its lone trip into the end zone with 8:34 left in the fourth quarter when senior quarterback Mike Hermann (Hardeeville, SC/Avon Old Farms) connected with classmate Nick Weber (Winchester, MA/Winchester) from 25 yards out.

Hermann finished the game with 230 yards passing, connecting on 16 of 33 passes with two interceptions. Weber had game-highs of five catches and 75 yards.

Strang completed 9 of 13 passes for 137 yards and no interceptions. Woodard had three catches for 35 yards and Karbowniczak collected two passes for a team-high 52 yards.

Senior linebacker Andrew Klindera (Chagrin Falls, OH/Chagrin Falls) led Hobart with nine tackles. RPI was paced by senior Matthew Day (Claremont, NH/Stevens), who had a game-best 13 stops, and Jacob Meyers (Ballston Spa, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake), who had 12 tackles, including 1.5 for lost yards (4).

Rensselaer is idle next week and plays again on November 3 at Springfield College. Hobart hosts Union College, with whom it was tied for first place entering today action, next Saturday at noon.