BEVERLY, Mass. – Hobart College, who is receiving votes in the D3football.com national top-25 poll, outscored Endicott 21-8 in the fourth quarter to pull away from the Gulls for a final score of 42-20 on Saturday afternoon at Hempstead Stadium.
Trailing 28-12 under the 10-minute mark of the fourth quarter, Endicott senior outside linebacker Connor McLaughlin (Canton, Mass.) shifted momentum in the contest when he intercepted a Shane Sweeney (Phelps, N.Y.) pass at his own 20-yard-line and took it to the house for an 80-yard score to bring the Gulls within eight points (28-20).
Endicott's momentum swing didn't last long, however, as Sweeney connected with senior wideout Sean Cunningham (Geneva, N.Y.) for a 68-yard touchdown pass at 7:34 of the quarter and the Statesmen never looked back.
ENDICOTT OFFENSE/DEFENSE
- Junior fullback Lavante Wiggins (Pittsfield, Mass.) gave Endicott its first lead of the 2016 season with a one-yard TD run at 4:20 of the first quarter. Wiggins finished the contest with 100 yards rushing on 18 attempts and one touchdown (long 30, average 5.6).
- Wiggins has now rushed for 100 yards or more twice in his career (132 vs. Maine Maritime on 10/4/14).
- Michael Scherer (Middlefield, Conn.) led the quarterback trio of Sam Ouellette (Rochester, N.H.) and Joe Kalosky (Plymouth, Conn.) with 122 yards passing on nine completions (22 attempts).
- Conor Crotty (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) paced the Gulls receiver corps with 72 yards on five catches.
- Chris Lipscomb (West Springfield, Mass.) hauled in the only other score for Endicott with a 21-yard fade via Ouellette in the left corner of the left end zone at 4:27 of the third to make it a 14-12 game, at the time.
- Defensively, William Rivera (Orangeburg, N.Y.) notched 10 tackles (eight solo), while Allen Gibson (Seymour, Conn.) collected nine tackles (three solo) and one interception at the doorstep of the end zone with less than 34-seconds remaining in the first half (7-6 Hobart lead).
- Meanwhile, McLaughlin wrapped up the second game of his senior season with an 80-yard interception for a touchdown, three tackles – including one for a loss – and one quarterback hurry.
- The Gulls as a defensive unit tallied seven quarterback hurries, which included two from senior co-captain Craig Anderson (Franklin, Mass.). Anderson finished the game with five tackles (three solo) in total.
HOBART OFFENSE/DEFENSE
- Sweeney, who is the reigning Liberty League Offensive Performer of the Week, shined once again for Hobart going 22-for-45 for 364 yards and four touchdowns. Last week against Brockport, Sweeney went 31-for-45 for a career-high 420 yards and four TD passes.
- Senior Bradley Burns (Hoosick Falls, N.Y.) carried the ball 13 times for 79 yards and one score.
- Four different student-athletes hauled in touchdowns for the Statesmen including Brandon Shed (West Palm Beach, Fla.), Isaiah Hill (Trenton, N.J.), Matthew Woods (Latham, N.Y.), and Cunningham.
- Shed led the quartet with seven catches for 135 yards.
- As an offensive unit, Hobart amassed 504 total yards – including 364 through the air and 140 on the ground.
- AJ McFarlane (Surrey, British Columbia) guided the frontline of the defense for the Statesmen with 10 tackles (three solo, seven assists, two sacks, 2.5 tackles for a loss, one forced fumble).
- Matt Cragg (Corry, Pa.) was second on the team in tackles with seven.
- Tom D'Antonio (Greenwich, Conn.) also registered two tackles and one interception.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Hobart is now 2-0 overall to start a season for the seventh straight year.
- The Statesmen are 496-466-44, all-time, since their program started in 1891.
WHAT'S NEXT
Endicott (0-2) hosts St. Lawrence University next Saturday at 12 p.m. Hobart (2-0) welcomes Ithaca to its campus on Saturday, September 17 at 7 p.m. as part of its Homecoming and Family Weekend festivities. For the latest on Endicott Athletics, follow the Gulls on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.