The Hobart football team secured 13 spots on the All-Liberty League teams, which were released by the conference office today. The Statesmen earned five first team honors, six second team accolades, and two honorable mentions.
Senior defensive tackle
Mike Faracca, junior kick returner
Andrew Marlier, senior offensive lineman
Brian Monaco, senior linebacker
Ryan Robinson, and sophomore cornerback
Drake Woodard were voted to the first team by the conference’s head coaches.
Senior offensive lineman
Angelo Catalano, junior free safety
John Kelliher, senior defensive end
Kwame Lovell, junior linebacker
Kyle O’Laughlin, and senior
Tyler Vincent earned second team recognition. Vincent’s name appears on the second team twice, as a wide receiver and punter.
Junior offensive lineman
Kelvin Cruz and Marlier, this time as a running back, received honorable mention.
Faracca recorded at least one tackle in every game, including a season-high seven stops at WPI. He also had an interception against the Engineers. Faracca blocked two PATs at Dickinson. In 41 career games, he logged 122 tackles, 9.5 tackles for a loss, and 2.5 sacks.
Marlier led the conference and ranked ninth in the nation in kick return average (28.5 yds/ret). He produced Hobart’s four longest kick returns of the season, including an 85-yard return for a touchdown against Carnegie Mellon. It was the first kickoff return for a TD by a Statesman since 2000. Marlier’s efforts against the Tartans earned him the Liberty League Special Teams Performer of the Week.
As a tailback, Marlier was third in the conference in rushing yards per carry (4.5) among backs with 100 carries or more, fourth in all-purpose yards (118.4 yds/gm), and fifth in scoring (6.7 ppg). He rushed for a season-high 136 yards and two touchdowns at Union and rushed for 98 yards and a TD at Rochester.
Monaco, Catalano, and Cruz helped the Statesmen average 159.0 yards rushing (4th in the League) and 178.4 passing (4th). Thanks in large part to their efforts, Hobart was first in the conference in third down conversion (44.9%), second in fourth down conversion (56.0%), and third in sacks allowed (16). Hobart rushed for a season-high 245 yards at Union and held Carnegie Mellon and St. Lawrence without a sack.
A three-year starter, Monaco is making his third appearance on the all-league teams, following an honorable mention in 2008 and a second team honor in 2007. Catalano is a two-year starter and earned honorable mention a year ago.
A 2007 and 2008 All-Liberty League honorable mention pick, Robinson was the heart and soul of a Hobart unit that led the Liberty League in scoring defense (15.9 ppg) and total defense (303.1 yards/gm). He led the team in solo tackles (34) and tackles for a loss (10.0). Robinson notched at least one tackle in every game, including a season-high 13 stops at Union. He was named Liberty League Co-Defensive Performer of the Week following a 10-tackle performance in a shutout of RPI. In 37 career games, Robinson posted 166 tackles, 30.5 tackles for a loss, 11 pass break ups, 3.5 sacks, and three interceptions.
A unanimous first team selection for the second straight season, Woodard was fourth on the team in tackles with 32. He posted a season-high eight tackles, two tackles for a loss, forced and recovered a fumble, and blocked a punt against Carnegie Mellon. Woodard broke up a season-high three passes at WPI. Teams avoided challenging him this season after he posted seven interceptions last season to earn D3football.com All-East first team, ECAC Northwest Rookie of the Year, ECAC Northwest All-Star, and Liberty League Rookie of the Year honors.
Kelliher notched at least one tackle in every game he played in, finishing the campaign with 29 stops. He posted a season-high five tackles against Carnegie Mellon and matched that total against RPI. His 43-yard interception return against the Engineers set up the game’s only touchdown.
A three-year starter and three-time All-Liberty League second team selection, Lovell recorded 32 tackles this season, including at least two in every game. He registered a season-high six stops against the Tartans. Lovell finished his career with 112 tackles, 11.5 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, and three pass break ups.
O’Laughlin returned to the all-conference team after earning honorable mention in 2007. A two-time Liberty League Co-Defensive Performer of the Week, he led the team and ranked fifth in the league in tackles (77, 8.6/gm) and shared the team lead with Kelliher with two interceptions. He registered at least six tackles in every game, including a season-high 12 at Dickinson.
A 2008 All-Liberty League second team selection at wideout, Vincent was fourth in the League in receiving touchdowns (5) this season. He caught a season-high nine passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns and completed two passes for 53 yards and a TD at Rochester. He finished his career sixth on Hobart’s all-time lists for receptions (116) and receiving touchdowns (16) and ninth on the receiving yards list (1383).
As a punter, Vincent dropped a season-high four punts inside the 20 against RPI and three more inside the 20 at Rochester, finishing the season with 14. He boomed a season-long 58-yard punt against Merchant Marine. Vincent was named Liberty League Co-Special Teams Performer of the Week in each of the final three weeks of the season. Only six of his punts were returned for a grand total of 10 yards as the Statesmen led the League in net punting yards (34.0).
Hobart finished the season riding a four-game winning streak. The Statesmen were 6-3 overall, marking the program’s 13 consecutive winning season. Hobart was 5-2 in the conference, finishing in third place.