Picture this: a thrilling homecoming showdown in college football that quickly spirals into a crushing defeat for the home team. Hobart College's Statesmen entered the field hoping for a triumphant celebration, but instead, they were steamrolled by RPI in a 36-10 loss that left fans and players alike reeling. But here's where it gets controversial – was this just a string of bad luck, or a deeper issue with preparation and execution? Stick around as we dive into the details of this game, unpacking the mistakes, the injuries, and the coach's candid reflections, to see what really went wrong and why it matters for the team's future.
The action unfolded in Geneva, where Hobart's offense initially showed promise right after RPI's first touchdown. The Statesmen were marching steadily down the field, mixing up their plays with smart passes and rushes that kept the Engineers' defense on their toes. It looked like they might turn the tide.
And this is the part most people miss – the momentum killer that changed everything. On a crucial 1st and 10 play deep in the red zone, following a Hobart timeout, disaster struck: a poorly executed snap from the center sailed way over the head of quarterback Jeremy Weiss, bouncing all the way to near midfield before RPI scooped it up. For beginners in football, a 'snap' is the handoff from the center to the quarterback that starts each play – when it goes wrong, it can completely derail a team's rhythm and give the ball to the other side. This blunder wiped out all the progress Hobart had made, setting the tone for a disastrous first half.
That opening period was a nightmare for the Statesmen: they racked up six penalties totaling 60 yards, coughed up the ball twice on turnovers, and even had a punt blocked. Meanwhile, RPI's offense piled up 141 yards, building a commanding 23-3 lead. Penalties in football, by the way, are like self-imposed handicaps – they stop the clock, give the other team extra chances, and can frustrate even the best strategies. Imagine trying to run a marathon with your shoelaces tied together; that's what those infractions felt like for Hobart.
The second half saw Hobart tighten up their play, but the deficit was simply too vast to overcome. They couldn't dig out of the hole they'd created, resulting in that lopsided home loss. Head coach Kevin DeWall summed it up bluntly: 'We dug ourselves too big a hole. That’s not Hobart football. That wasn’t us today, and I’ll take ultimate responsibility on it, but I also need everybody to pull their own on this.' In his seven years leading the team, DeWall had never witnessed such a chaotic first half at home. 'Even in the second half, it was poor execution,' he added. 'We have to execute better to put ourselves in a better position. I think RPI is a good team, but I don’t know because we blew it up on our end a couple times that took points off the board for us.'
Hobart went into the game already dealing with injuries, missing key starters like quarterback Aidan Conrath. By the final whistle, that number had swelled to seven or eight more players either limping off on crutches or sidelined without pads. 'We were injured coming in and it definitely didn’t help us,' DeWall admitted. 'That being said, that was not who we are. We have to go back and look at what really happened. Having some key guys out didn’t help, but I still think that we were just off. It was not a clean game.' This raises a controversial point: how much should injuries excuse a poor performance? Some fans might argue that true teams overcome adversity, while others see it as a valid factor in sports' unpredictable nature. What do you think – are injuries a crutch or a challenge to rise above?
Beyond the miscues and flags, the real battleground was at the line of scrimmage – that crucial area where offensive and defensive lines clash. RPI's defensive front dominated from start to finish, bulldozing Hobart's offensive line with hurries, pressures, a sack, and limiting the Statesmen to just 109 rushing yards. Most of that came from a single 64-yard burst by EJ Taylor late in the first half. Whether Jeremy Weiss or backup Tru Styles was under center, the quarterbacks had barely a second to look for receivers before being swarmed. 'I know they were good on defense,' DeWall noted. 'The teams that have had success against them have been strong at o-line, and right now we’re down two starters and there were a few that missed in protection or the quarterback held it too long. It’s not just one thing, and that’s unfortunately what the big picture is with our offense right now: guys are doing things well most of the time but we are not consistent enough. It showed up to this point and I think it got magnified today.' For those new to football, the offensive line is like the foundation of a house – if it's weak, the whole structure collapses, leaving the quarterback vulnerable and runs stalled.
RPI capitalized fully, averaging starting drives from their own 40-yard line, amassing 157 rushing yards and 242 passing yards. They controlled the clock with 36 minutes of possession compared to Hobart's 24, and their defense was airtight, stuffing Hobart on 0-for-8 third-down conversions. On Hobart's first five drives, they punted three times and fumbled twice – a recipe for frustration.
Looking ahead, with their roster still banged up, Hobart faces Union College next week before a welcome bye. DeWall is optimistic they'll bounce back: 'I think we’re a better team than our record but I told the guys, “We have to start taking more accountability for our actions.” I know we have good kids, I know we have a strong culture. I believe in our guys and I believe in our process. We’re going to get this thing going the right way.'
In the end, this game was a stark reminder of how one bad play or a series of errors can snowball in football. But here's the controversial twist: some might say DeWall's self-criticism is admirable leadership, while others could argue it deflects blame from the players. Does accountability start at the top, or should every athlete own their role? And what about the injuries – are they an excuse, or just part of the game? I'd love to hear your take: agree with the coach's stance, or disagree? Drop your thoughts in the comments below – let's discuss!
