Statesmen Advance to Second Round
25 November 2014 Statesmen Advance to Second Round
The Statesmen have advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Football Championship for the third consecutive season. The Statesmen (11-0) will host Johns Hopkins University (11-0) at Boswell Field at noon on Saturday, Nov. 29. Tickets are $8 for general admission, $4 for students with valid ID.
In a 22-15 NCAA playoff win over Ithaca College on Saturday, linebacker Marcus Jemison 17 recorded eight tackles and a game-high 2.5 sacks against the Bombers. Jemison and the Statesmen limited the Bombers to a mere 34 yards rushing on the day and contained the visitors passing game (5.7 yards per attempt). Jemisons final sack came on the final play of the game, and tied the Hobart postseason game record set by Tim Booth 03 in 2000 (2.5 sacks vs. Bridgewater State).
Jemison is third on the team with 59 tackles, including a team best 35 solo. He is tied for second in the league in tackles for loss with 15.0 and is second in the league in sacks with 9.0.
John Fasano 15 produced a game-high 175 all-purpose yards on Saturday. He averaged 27.5 yards per kickoff return (4-110), including a 46-yard return which is the longest by a Statesman this season. Fasano also caught a game and season-high five passes for 58 yards and rushed once for seven yards.
Fasano has appeared in all 11 games this season, recording 26 receptions for 285 yards and two touchdowns. He is averaging 22.1 yards per kickoff return on a team-high 19 attempts for 419 yards.
Quarterback Patrick Conlan 15 was 17-of-29 passing for 201 yards and led all rushers with 62 yards and two touchdowns against Ithaca. After struggling in the first half, he rebounded to complete 68 percent of his passes for 167 yards without a sack or an interception, leading the Statesmen on three extended scoring drives. Conlans 1-yard TD plunge with 12.4 seconds left in the game, gave Hobart its only lead of the day.
A starter in all 11 games this season, Conlan has completed 54 percent of his passes for 1,801 yards and 14 touchdowns. He is 21-1 as Hobarts starter over the past two seasons.
The Statesmen and Blue Jays will square off on the gridiron for the first time since 1966. Hobart won the previous two meetings, 27-14 in 1965 and 41-6 in 1966.
Jemison, Fasano and Conlan were recognized by the Liberty League office for their roles in Saturdays game against Ithaca. Jemsion was tabbed the Defensive Performer of the Week, Fasano earned the Special Teams Performer of the Week award, and Conlan earned a spot on the Weekly Honor Roll.