Hobart 45, WPI 35

Worcester, MA --- Hobart quarterback Andrew Strom (Novato, CA) completed 25 of 37 passes for 285 yards and three scores to lead the Statesmen to a 45-35 victory over host WPI in Liberty League football action on Saturday afternoon. 

WPI, ranked number one in the New England Division III poll, had its season-opening, four-game winning streak snapped.  Hobart is now 2-2 overall and joins the Engineers with a 1-1 mark in conference play. 

WPI jumped out to a 7-0 lead on its very first play from scrimmage as freshman running back Manny Cambra (Bethel, CT)broke through the line and rambled 75 yards for the score. 

After being sent three-and-out on its first possession, the Statesmen scored on their next five possessions, including Strom's touchdown passes to James Wright (Olean, NY), Ryan LiDrazzah (San Diego, CA) and David Degan (Lockport, NY) en route to building a seemingly commanding 31-14 lead with just over two minutes to play in the half. 

WPI would not go away quietly.  Justin Wells (Jay, ME) found Mike Butler (Athol, MA) in the left corner of the end zone with four seconds left in the half to make it a 31-21 game at intermission.  The Engineers closed to within 31-28 on a five-yard score by Cambra on the opening possession of the second half. 

Anthony Hobacia (Utica, NY) (21 carries, 71 yards) notched a pair of five-yard scores to push the Statesmen lead back to 45-28 before Cambra closed out the scoring with a one-yard plunge for the Crimson and Gray. 

Kwame Lovell led the Statesmen defense with seven tackles - four for losses - including a trio of sacks.  

WPI, who was without starting quarterback Rob Pantalone (Camp Hill, PA), was held to just 166 yards through the air and 11 points under its season average. 

Nate Levesque (Fall River, MA) paced the Engineer defense by recording nine tackles - three for losses - in addition to collecting both WPI sacks in the game.  He earned the Bob Pritchard Award as the most outstanding WPI lineman on homecoming while Cambra took as the honor as the most outstanding back.  Cambra finished with 151 yards and three scores in his first start for WPI, averaging over eight yards a carry in the game. 

Both teams continue their Liberty League schedule next week with road contests.  WPI will travel to Union for a 1pm contest while Hobart is at Susquehanna for a 7pm tilt.