FB: Liberty League

[labart96]

Time to Swat Dem Beez!  Hobart vs. Rochester (aka UofR, Rocho, Rahchacha, the Roach)

This Saturday Hobart will make the short trip down the NYS Thruway to play the University of Rochester Yellowjackets (6-3, 5-1).  This will be the 100th football game between the two schools.  Although Hobart-Rochester doesn't exactly conjure up visions of long time rivalries like an Auburn/Alabama, Harvard/Yale, or Red Sox/Yankees, these two institutions have battled on the grid iron since 1892 with Rochester earning a 45-47-7 all time advantage in the series.

After a few down years, the Yellowjackets are a program back on the rise.  Like Hobart, Rochester has put together a 6 game winning streak after struggling earlier in the season.  Last weekend, the Yellowjacket defense made a huge goal line stand in the closing minutes to pull of a 25-21 upset victory at RPI's '86 Field. 

The Yellowjackets are lead on offense by QB Adam Barrett (109 for 191, 57.1%, 1227 yds, 10 TD and 4 INT).  Their leading rusher is RB Matt Bielecki (170 attempts for 905 yds with 9 TDs), but he has been nagged by injuries this season giving Fr RB Clarence Onyiriuka a chance to gain some valuable playing time.  Onyiriuka had an impressive 219 yd rushing day against Susquehanna two weeks ago.  On the season Clarence has gained 638 yds on 130 attempts, scoring 10 TDs.

Rochester has an opportunistic defense that has 14 INTs on the season, with 1 returned for a TD.  If they have one weakness, UofR tends to be fumble prone.  They've fumbled 14 times with 8 lost this season. 

Keys to the Game

1.  Unbalance the Bees - Overall, Rochester has a balanced offense, but tends to be slightly more of a rushing than passing team.  Hobart has been stronger defending the pass, so another strong performance by the defensive line and linebackers like the Statesmen had against Union (limiting the Futchmen to only 89 rushing yards) would go a long way in this contest.  Barrett won't be able to match Strom (or beat the Statesmen secondary) in a shoot out.

2.  Stick with the Winning Formula - Hobart's recent success has come from the fact that they are clicking on all levels as a team.  The offense is putting up a lot of points, controlling the clock and not turning the ball over.  On defense, the Statesmen have been shutting down the pass, getting sacks, causing turnovers and clamping down on the run in key situations.

3.  Don't Let Up - Just like in the Union game, Hobart needs to be aggressive and take the game to the Yellowjackets.  The Statesmen have won 3 straight against Rochester, averaging 38 points in those contests.  Last season in Geneva, Hobart and Rochester played to a 21-21 tie in a high scoring first half until the Statesmen defense settled down and shut out the Yellowjackets in the second half.  If Hobart can play a more complete game this season, Rochester won't be around late in the game trying to make a comeback like they did successfully last weekend at RPI.

Of course TGP is (extremely) biased, but TGP thinks Hobart is playing some of the best football in the East at the moment.  Hopefully the Statesmen can win this one in convincing fashion, get some help from Union and/or hope that the NCAA Committee considers the fact that their 2 loses happened on flukey plays early in the year to good teams (combined winning % of .833).  Although the worse case scenario isn't so bad - Hobart potentially hosting a final home game for an ECAC "Regional Bowl", TGP really hopes that the Statesmen get a shot to prove themselves against the best of D3 in the NCAAs.

TGP's Prediction:

Hobart 38                  Rahchacha 21

Go Bart!  (and go Union!)

[Rolevio]

Susquehanna and WPI received a mention in Tuesday Morning Quarterback's* Obscure college score of the week segment.

*  This mention does not in anyway signify Rolevio's endorsement of TMQ as a quality article.  Rolevio still hates the article and believes Easterbrook to probably be the worst ESPN columnist.  Definitely the worst not on Page 2.

['gro]

Susquehanna and WPI received a mention in Tuesday Morning Quarterback's* Obscure college score of the week segment.

*  This mention does not in anyway signify Rolevio's endorsement of TMQ as a quality article.  Rolevio still hates the article and believes Easterbrook to probably be the worst ESPN columnist.  Definitely the worst not on Page 2.

I thought Easterbrook was RedSwarm81??

[PBR...]

ROLL CALL:  Who is all gonna be dat?

before pbr forgets since he will be at the house of mouse w/ wife and kiddies during the game and next week pbr wishes LD/Gro/Reg safe travels. U89 good luck against the boyz and car bombs. Frank the tank and RT you will do the LLPP proud in the broadcast pbr is sure of this. AJ keeps the sleds waxed and ready pbr is ready to roll....pbr has to make it to the shoes game one of these years maybe next year.  Now pbr has to prepare for his rendez-vous w/ cinderella/snow white/jasmine/pocahontas(for some reason pbr always smiles when he says her name)

[stimulator]

After watching both Hobart and Roch play RPI Stim thinks this one may not be close.  RPI made enough mistakes for three games and still should have won if they executed on the goal line..... and that was w/o their #1 TB and a key receiver for a half.

If Hobart can stuff the iso and trap plays btwn the tackles it should be as TGP describes.  Don't know the status of Bieliecki (he played only a few series vs. RPI).  The freshman back is fairly big and runs well but he isn't really a shifty back.   He did run for just over 100 on RPI but on 30 carries and 30+ yds came on one run when RPI got pinned inside.

Hobart 21-7 at the half and 34-17 final..  

[PBR...]

anyone else watching "the unit" tonite? dang some intense 'ish on it tonight

[dewcrew88]

Susquehanna and WPI received a mention in Tuesday Morning Quarterback's* Obscure college score of the week segment.

*  This mention does not in anyway signify Rolevio's endorsement of TMQ as a quality article.  Rolevio still hates the article and believes Easterbrook to probably be the worst ESPN columnist.  Definitely the worst not on Page 2.

From Page 2: Obscure College Score of the Week No. 1: Susquehanna 8, Worcester Polytechnic Institute 7. Trailing 7-0, Susquehanna snapped with one second remaining, scored its touchdown after the clock expired, then went for the deuce and won. WPI played pretty good defense for the first 59:59! Worcester Polytechnic Institute is located in Worcester, Mass., which is pronounced "Wooster" locally.


From DC88's ATR East: Susquehanna didn't score for 59 minutes and 59 seconds against WPI during a rain and wind-filled game in Worcester, Mass. dealing with the remnants of Hurricane Noel.

After playing to a scoreless tie halfway through the fourth quarter, WPI got on the board with 5:23 left on a 1-yard Rob Pantalone touchdown rush to make the score 7-0.

After trading punts, Susquehanna got the ball back, and after not completing a pass all day, Crusaders quarterback Derek Pope completed two long passes to get in position to tie it up. With no time left, Pope hit Nick Macia in the end zone to bring Susquehanna within one, 7-6. Taking a timeout, Susquehanna decided to go for two and the win instead of the tie, and Pope hit Macia again, this time for the conversation, to beat the Engineers 8-7."That was a tough one for us. That was one where we needed a first down, much like the week before and we couldn't get it," WPI coach Ed Zaloom told the Worcester Telegram and Gazette.

Susquehanna's Dave Paveletz rushed 35 times for 107 yards in the rain. WPI fell to 4-5 and 1-5 in conference.

Gregg's got some 'splainin to do 

[mattvsmith]

Congrats Rev.  COO?  How executive of you!

Sounds really executive, but this is Arizona.  Our idea of dressing up is a polo shirt and khakis.

There are loads of good ol' boys in Yuma.  Perhaps the first time The Rev forgets he's at work and acting out a Dave Chappelle skit he will scare the bejesus out of them.

Yeah...The Rev will be about as executive as Tron.

[superman57]

RPI and Union guys, have fun at the shoes and enjoy the tailgate, too bad the new wine bar is not open yet, for frank and his friends

[Tags]

RPI and Union guys, have fun at the shoes and enjoy the tailgate, too bad the new wine bar is not open yet, for frank and his friends

Do you have any idea what you just opened yourself up to?

enjoy...

[Rolevio]

Taking a timeout, Susquehanna decided to go for two and the win instead of the tie, and Pope hit Macia again, this time for the conversation, to beat the Engineers 8-7.

Rolevio wants to know how many points small talk is worth.  He has yet to see this scoring.

[union89]

RPI and Union guys, have fun at the shoes and enjoy the tailgate, too bad the new wine bar is not open yet, for frank and his friends

Do you have any idea what you just opened yourself up to?

enjoy...

Super is cool by U89.....he rolled with the punches and is now free to throw some.

[superman57]

RPI and Union guys, have fun at the shoes and enjoy the tailgate, too bad the new wine bar is not open yet, for frank and his friends

Do you have any idea what you just opened yourself up to?

enjoy...

Super is cool by U89.....he rolled with the punches and is now free to throw some.

all in good fun... It's when you call Frank straight, that you have issues

[PBR...]

poor frank he is trying to stay above all the hoopla and zings being tossed around this week....will frank take off the gloves start throwing a few jabs back?

['gro]

what's with all the man on man pics... some people are checking the posts at work! And where is "Random RPI/Union Fan" that comes out just for the shoes game??

Gro spoke with some scheneck folks last night... and confirms what was previosly reported about drinking on the hill at the game... NO BEER. They will enforce it.  Gro was told that "soda" will be permitted.