The football team is not going to the NCAA tournament after falling to the Hobart Statesmen, 34-27, on Saturday in Geneva. Their solid 7-2 season did, however, merit them an invitation to the ECAC Northeast championship game at Worcester State this weekend.
The Statesmen largely dominated the first half of play, shutting down the Engineers’ big-play offense. The receiving corps did not help matters—several on-target passes were dropped by the Engineers. RPI’s defense, meanwhile, had little effect on an implacable Hobart ground game led by Ty Godinho, who finished with 154 yards and four touchdowns. After 29 minutes of play, Hobart led 14-0.
RPI got on the board just as the first half ended when wide receiver Evan Cochran got his first catch of the day, a 29-yard touchdown strike from Dan Cole that made the score 14-6.
Hobart’s Rick Pinero beat the RPI secondary from 28 yards out midway through the third quarter to increase the Statesmen’s lead, but a quick score by the Engineers kept it a one-possession game.
Turnovers then nearly took the Engineers out of the game. A fumble by Cole at his own two-yard line was recovered by Hobart, and Godinho scored two plays later. On the next series, the Engineers had a punt blocked. Hobart’s Craig Swanson immediately moved the ball to the one-yard line with a 37-yard pass to Dan Suozzi, followed immediately by another touchdown that put the Statesmen up 34-13 early in the fourth quarter.
RPI appeared to fold up for a while, but came back with renewed energy after Hobart pulled its starters. Cochran caught another touchdown pass, this time from 14 yards away, to close the gap to 34-20 with 5:27 to play. The catch was Cochran’s 14th touchdown of the season, setting a new school record and giving him the receiving trifecta: most TDs in a single game, a single season, and a career.
Hobart brought its starters back in, but fumbled the ball away at their own 42 with 2:15 left in the game. Stephens’ second score of the day, a reception from one yard out, pulled the Engineers within seven with 47 seconds remaining.
The ensuing onside kick, though, went out of bounds, and Hobart was able to run out the clock. Hobart’s win claims the UCAA championship and will go on to the NCAA tournament.
The Engineers will travel to Worcester on Saturday for their final game of the season. RPI is 4-0 in ECAC championship matches to date, including two previous wins over Worcester State in 1995 and 1997. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.
