Big plays carry Union past Hobart 31-21
Ken DeBolt
10/10/2009 7:33:25 PM
SCHENECTADY, N.Y.—The Hobart football team produced season-highs in rushing yards, first downs, and time of possession, but Union notched the 31-21 Liberty League victory on the strength of five long scoring plays.
The Statesmen (2-3, 1-2) gained 245 yards on the ground, recorded 23 first downs, and kept possession for 37 minutes, 43 seconds, but the Dutchmen (4-1, 3-0) found the end zone on plays that covered 41 yards, 42 yards, 70 yards and 76 yards. In fact, Union's shortest scoring play was Zach Epley's 30 yard field goal that put the home team up 24-21 early in the third quarter.
Running back Andrew Marlier rushed for 136 yards on 27 carries with two touchdowns. He's the first Statesman to rush for 100 yards in a game since Anthony Hobaica '09 ran for 111 against Carnegie Mellon on Sept. 20, 2008. Wide receiver Tyler Vincent had four catches for 70 yards and a touchdown and linebacker Ryan Robinson had a team high 13 tackles with 2.5 tackles for losses, an interception and a sack. Quarterback Doug Vella threw for 107 yards and a touchdown pass and was 10 for 22 on the day for the visitors.
Junior wide receiver Justin Gallo broke Union's game record with 246 receiving yards, sophomore quarterback Andrew Connolly passed for 268 yards and three touchdowns and junior tailback Chris Coney rushed for 114 yards. Sophomore linebacker Steve Modliszewski had a game-high 15 tackles.
Hobart opened the scoring when Vincent caught an 8-yard pass from Vella with 7:40 left in the first quarter. The opening drive of the game consumed 60 yards on 15 plays. After the kickoff, a Union fumble was recovered by Kevin Grogan at the Union 32. But two plays later Hobart fumbled back to Union, as Chris Gross recovered at the Dutchmen 1-yard line. After a 23-yard carry by Coney, Connolly hit Gallo with a 76-yard touchdown pass to tie it at 7-7 with 6:35 left in the quarter.
Union took the lead on a 42-yard rush by Coney on a third and two play with 12:09 remaining in the second quarter. But Hobart came right back on the next drive as the Statesmen marched 56 yards on 11 plays, capped off with Marlier rushing in from 1-yard out with 7:46 left for a 14-14 score.
Hobart took what would eventually become its final lead of the day with 1:57 left in the third quarter. Marlier ran in from 4 yards out to conclude a 12-play, 53-yard drive that put the Statesmen in front 21-14. After the ensuing kickoff, Connolly found Gallo on the first play from scrimmage and the two produced a 70-yard score to also forge the game's third and final tie, 21-21, with just 1:37 left in the first half.
The teams did not produce any third quarter points.
The Dutchmen took a 24-21 lead on Epley's field goal with 11:21 remaining in the fourth quarter. Hobart took over and drove nine plays and 40 yards to the Union 28, but an incomplete pass on fourth and 11 halted the drive with 5:44 left.
Union then added an insurance score when Connolly hit Gallo on a 41-yard TD pass. The Dutchmen faced two 3rd and 10 situations but both plays ended in 15-yard pass interference penalties against the Statesmen keeping the drive alive.
Hobart attempted a 33-yard field with 41 seconds left, but the kick came up short and the Dutchmen were able to take a knee and run out the clock.
The Statesmen are back in action on Oct. 24, when they host Merchant Marine. Kickoff at Boswell Field is scheduled for noon.
The Union Sports Information Office contributed to this story.