Geneva, N.Y. - October 11, 2014 - The Springfield College football suffered its first Liberty League loss of the season on Saturday as it dropped a 37-7 decision to nationally-ranked Hobart. With the loss, the Pride fall to 4-2 on the season and 2-1 in league play.

Junior quarterback Jonathan Marrero (Boston, Mass.) finished the day as Springfield's leading rusher, registering 61 yards on 19 attempts. Junior fullback Keith Rodman (Northvale, N.J.) took the Statesman defense for 56 yards on 14 attempts.

On the defensive side of the ball, senior linebacker Danny Macalena (Congers, N.Y.) posted a team-high 13 tackles including one for a loss. Senior captain Max Nacewicz (Sandy Hook, Conn.) picked up his first interception of the season, while also posting six tackles on the day.

After Springfield went three-and-out on the game's first possession, Hobart's ensuing drive stalled out at the Pride's 15-yard line, so the home team settled for a 32-yard Sean Kirsche field goal and a 3-0 lead.
 
The team's traded punts on the next two possessions, but Parker Thelander's 44-yard punt pinned Springfield back at its own 7. On first down, Toney stripped Marrero and recovered the loose ball to give the offense a short field. Two plays later, Dominique Ellis scored on a 4-yard run to make it 10-0 with 1:41 to go in the first quarter.
 
Springfield answered with its only scoring drive of the game, moving 79 yards in 16 plays. First-year halfback Stephen Speidel (Sussex, N.J.) finished off the drive, punching it in the end zone from 1-yard out on fourth-and-goal with 9:26 remaining in the second quarter. The big play of the drive was a 30-yard completion from Marrero to junior Tim O'Brien (East Bridgewater, Mass.), the only completion on five attempts for the Pride in the game.
 
On the following kickoff, Hobart got a 32-yard return from senior John Fasano to set up the offense at its own 43. Nine plays and 57 yards later, Ellis capped the drive, scoring on fourth-and-one from the 1-yard line for a 17-7 lead with 4:02 left in the half.
  
Statesmen quarterback Patrick Conlan executed the two-minute drill, connecting with Berkowitz on a 3-yard scoring pass with 12 seconds left in the half. The throw capped a 7-play, 49-yard drive and sent the home team into the break with a 24-7 lead.
 
Hobart got the ball coming out of the locker room and marched 67 yards in 10 plays, scoring on a 14-yard rumble by Ellis to build a 31-7 lead.
 
The Statesmen completed the day's scoring on a 22-yard pass from Conlan to Souffrant early in the fourth quarter. The 10-play drive covered 60 yards and ran 5:40 off the game clock. Kirshe's extra point try hit the upright, leaving Hobart a 37-7 lead.

The Pride will look to get back to its winning ways next Saturday when it hosts Merchant Marine at 2:00 pm as part of Homecoming weekend.