Geneva, N.Y. — October 6, 2012 — The Springfield College football team battled tough, but in the end two fourth-quarter touchdowns widened the margin for the home team as the 9th-ranked Statesmen from Hobart College defeated the Pride, 28-7, in a Liberty League contest this afternoon at Boswell Field.

With the win, Hobart remained undefeated at 6-0 overall, 3-0 in the Liberty League. Springfield lost its second straight, and is now 3-3 overall, 1-2 in the conference.

Hobart held Springfield’s vaunted rushing attack to just 150 yards in 47 attempts, and an average of 3.2 yards per rush. SC was averaging 321 yards rushing, sixth in the nation in Division III, entering the game. The Statesmen allowed just nine more yards passing.

Meanwhile, Hobart ran for 230 yards of its own, and added another 130 yards through the air.

Still Springfield gave up yardage grudgingly and trailed by just a score of 14-7 through three quarters.

But the Statesmen then added two more TDs in the fourth period, one coming very late with just 56 seconds remaining.

Springfield went three-and-out on its first three possessions. Hobart punted after three plays on its first drive as well, but won the battle of field possession and put together a five-play, 41-yard drive that senior running back Bobby Dougherty (Bellarose, N.Y.) finished off with a 1-yard plunge for a 7-0 lead with 6:52 left in the first quarter.

The StatesmenÂ's first drive of the second quarter was their most impressive of the game. Junior James PoggioÂ's punt pinned Hobart at its own 8. But senior quarterback Nick Strang (Hopewell Jct., N.Y.) directed a 12-play, 92-yard march that ended with a 2-yard completion to senior wide receiver Junior Woodard (Marcy, N.Y.). Strang, who was 13-of-23 for 130 yards and a TD, had three completions on the drive that covered 19 or more yards.

Woodard finished the day with a game-high six catches for 43 yards and junior wideout Yosh Karbowniczak (Syracuse, N.Y.) added three catches for 61 yards.

Hobart took a 14-0 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Springfield notched the only points of the third quarter with an assist from the Hobart defense. Senior cornerback Brian Staub (Brick, N.J.) (game-high 11 tackles) intercepted Strang at the Hobart 32. Six plays later, senior fullback Joel Altavesta (Tewksbury, Mass.) scored on a 7-yard run to cut the Statesmen lead in half.

In the fourth quarter, Hobart restored its 14-point lead on a 35-yard scoring run by Dougherty with 10:00 remaining. His 10th rushing TD of the season completed a 6-play, 59-yard drive.

Dougherty then iced it with a 5-yard scamper with 55.1 seconds remaining.

Springfield first-year quarterback Jonathan Marrero (Boston, Mass.) led the team with 73 rushing yards.

Senior linebacker Andrew Klindera led Hobart with 10 tackles. Sophomore Nolan Toran and first-year Mark Guarino-Hyde each added seven stops.

For SC, after Staub’s 11 tackles, sophomore LB Mike Dublin and senior LB Kevin Shields had eight tackles apiece. Dublin also had one tackle-for-loss.

Next Saturday, SC will host the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in its annual Homecoming Day contest at 2 pm.