Muratori's 3 TDs lead Statesmen over Mariners
KINGS POINT, N.Y.—The Hobart football
team scored 23 unanswered points to start the game and held on for
a 40-33 Liberty League win over Merchant Marine. Junior wide
receiver Garth
Muratori caught seven passes for 129 yards and three
touchdowns to lead the Statesmen.
Hobart (4-2, 2-1) produced 409 yards of offense, including 305
through the air. Junior quarterback Doug
Vella completed 18-of-33 for all of the
Statesmen's passing yards. Sophomore Junior
Woodard had three catches for 50 yards, while
senior Mike
Lazore made two catches for 47 yards and a TD. On
the ground, Hobart had 104 yards, including 72 by first-year
running back Steven
Webb.
Defensively, junior linebacker Reggie
Robinson made a team-high 10 tackles, including
three for a loss, while first-year safety Devin
Worthington made nine stops, including 2.5 sacks,
and recovered two fumbles.
Merchant Marine (3-5, 2-2) ran twice as much as it passed, gaining
142 yards rushing and 150 passing. Sophomore running back John-Leon
Gosselin pounded out 110 yards and a TD on 21 carries. Senior
quarterback Derrick Ventre was 14-of-22 for 150 yards and a
touchdown. First-year wide out Chaise Dunn was his top target with
four catches for 43 yards and a visit to the end zone.
Kevin Stapf paced the defense with a game-high 11 tackles,
including 3.5 behind the line of scrimmage.
Hobart used the game's first drive to go 66 yards in six
plays with Webb breaking a sweep to the left for 24 yards and his
10th touchdown of the season. The Statesmen defense forced the
Mariners to punt and the offense again marched down the field, but
the Academy put together a goal-line stand stopping Webb at the
Mariner 2 on fourth and goal.
The exuberance of the stand faded fast as Worthington stormed into
the backfield on second down for a sack in the end zone for a 9-0
lead. After the free kick, Hobart added to its lead. On third and
six from the Mariners' 41, Vella found himself under
pressure. He scrambled right and floated one over the defense to
Muratori, who ran untouched into the end zone for a 16-0 lead.
The Statesmen D again bottled up the Mariners and forced a punt.
Hobart took over at its own 20 and needed just six plays to return
to pay dirt. Muratori again did the honors, crossing the goal line
on a 23-yard pass play. Junior Conor
Callahan's PAT gave the Statesmen a 23-0 lead with
10:46 left in the opening half.
Merchant Marine, which hadn't scored against the Statesmen in
more than 10 quarters, finally broke through on an 8-yard run by
Ventre, capping an 11-play, 57-yard drive.
Hobart fumbled on the next play from scrimmage, setting up a
21-yard scoring run by Gosselin to cut the Mariners' deficit
to 23-13.
The Statesmen countered with a 10-play, 67-yard march. The drive
nearly ended in a three-and-out, but a facemask penalty on the punt
play gave Hobart an automatic first down. Muratori capped with a
diving catch in the end zone to give Hobart a 30-13 lead with 35
seconds left in the half.
The Academy was able to maneuver into field goal range, and booted
a 41-yarder as time expired, sending the home team into the break,
down 30-16.
Merchant Marine started the second half with possession, but
Robinson forced a Mariner fumble that Worthington recovered,
leading to Lazore's 27-yard catch-and-run touchdown that went
from the left sideline to the right as he picked up blocks.
The Academy capitalized on another Hobart turnover, this time one
of two Vella interceptions. Two plays later, Karl Heimbrock
barreled in from 3 yards out to make it a 37-23 game with 9:59 left
in the third quarter.
The Mariners repeated the pick and score maneuver to trim the
Hobart lead to 37-26 with a 31-yard field.
Hobart punted on its next possession, but the Statesmen defense
came up with another turnover. Facing fourth-and-31, the Academy
lined up to punt, but the kicker dropped the snap and Worthington
pounced on it to give Hobart the ball at the Mariners'
40.
Twelve plays later, the Statesmen had to settle for a 23-yard field
goal by Callahan to take a 40-26 lead into the final four minutes
of the game.
Ventre directed the game's final scoring drive, completing
five straight passes, the last a 13-yard connection with Dunn.
Merchant Marine attempted an on-side kick, but junior Kyle
Tritten caught the ball cleanly at the
Mariners' 35 to secure possession. Hobart was able to run all
but the final four seconds off the clock. The Academy completed one
pass and lateraled once before senior linebacker Kyle
O'Laughlin made the day's final tackle at the MMA
30.
The Statesmen will be back in action on Saturday, Oct. 30, when
they host WPI in another Liberty League clash. Kickoff at Boswell
Field is scheduled for noon.
