Hobart stings Shenandoah 56-48

WINCHESTER, Va.—The Hobart College football team racked up 501 yards of total offense and got a fourth quarter shutout from its defense in a 56-48 win at Shenandoah University tonight. In a game where the two teams combined for 104 points and 1,076 yards, the Statesmen got just enough defense to earn its second straight win. Hobart junior quarterback Ryan Hofmanncompleted 18-of-24 passes for a career-high 328 yards and four touchdowns. Junior wide receiver Jake Catalioto was his top receiver with seven catches for 168 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown. On the ground, the Statesmen picked up 173 yards and three TDs. Sophomore Alex Milliken had a game-high 77 yards and a TD on 11 carries. On defense, first-year Bryan Aguilar posted a game-high 10 tackles, including two for loss. Juniors Andrew Koonz and Jayson Prince each added nine stops. SU quarterback Hayden Bauserman was 46-of-64 for 471 yards with six touchdowns. Jake Wallace was his favorite target, pulling in a game-high 14 passes for a game-high 195 yards and three touchdowns. On the ground, Mario Wisdom ran for a team-high 51 yards. The Hornets got a team-high seven tackles apiece from Bernie Hayes III and Tyler Williams. While Hobart stopped Shenandoah on all four of its fourth quarter drives, it was the final two stops that were most dramatic. Facing fourth and two from the Hobart 6 with less than three minutes remaining in the game, Bauserman threw a short completion to Wallace who was immediately tripped up by sophomore Emmett Forde, 1 yard short of the first down mark. Hobart ran five plays and 1:43 off the remaining 2:45 before punting back to Shenandoah. Junior John DelliSanti's kick covered 35 yards and was fair caught at the SU 45 with 62 seconds left. Two plays later, Bauserman completed a pass to Wallace on a crossing route. He was drilled by Forde, jarring the ball loose. It was caught out of the air by Aguilar at the Hobart 28 and the Statesmen were able to take a knee twice to run out the clock. The Hornets opened the day's scoring with a 12-play, 64yard drive that ended with an 8-yard pass from Bauserman to Jalen Hudson. SU went for a two-point conversion and was stopped for a 6-0 lead. Hobart responded with a 70-yard touchdown run by Milliken on its first play from scrimmage. Sophomore Kyle Hackett's PAT gave the visitors a 7-6 lead. Hobart's defense forced a three-and-out for the only non-scoring drive in the game's first 11 possessions. The Statesmen stretched their lead to 14-6 on a 3-yard run by Haeffner, but just over a minute later, Bauserman threw another 8-yard TD pass, this one to Casey Stewart to close the gap to 14-13. In the second quarter, the teams traded touchdowns, upping the score to 35-34 heading into halftime. Senior tight end Matthew Woods started the scoring spree with a 6-yard reception from Hofmann. Less than three minutes later, Hudson scored on a 2-yard scamper. Hobart needed one play and just 12 seconds to respond, going in front 28-20 on a 75-yard Hofmann to Catalioto pass play. Wallace's 31-yard TD catch from Bauserman brought it back to a one-point game, but first-year Shahkyle Matthews to the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown. It's the second longest kickoff return in Hobart history and the first kick return for a touchdown by a Statesman since Sept. 11, 2010 (Steven Webb, 90 yds). Wallace's second 30-yard scoring reception of the quarter completed the first half scoring, 35-34 in favor of Hobart. The third quarter saw the team's once again trade TDs. Wallace's third TD of the day, a 10-yard play, gave SU a 41-35 lead. Two plays and 49 yards later, junior wide receiver Ray Conley pulled in a 38-yard touchdown pass. Hackett's PAT put the Statesmen back in front 42-41. Shenandoah carried a 48-42 lead into the fourth quarter thanks to Austin Ward's 5-yard TD reception with under a minute left in the third quarter. Haeffner broke free on a 32-yard touchdown run less than a minute into the fourth quarter to put Hobart in front for good and Woods caught Hofmann's fourth TD pass of the game for a 56-48 lead with 6:17 remaining. Hackett converted all eight of his PATs, tying the Hobart game record. The effort moved him from seventh to fourth on Hobart's career PATs made list with 59. The Statesmen will be back in action on Saturday, Sept. 22, when they travel to Endicott. Kickoff in Beverly, Mass., is scheduled for noon.