GENEVA, NY- Dean Kennedy broke a single-season passing record for the University of Rochester in a 43-24 loss to Hobart (10-0) for the Centennial Cup at Boswell Field on Saturday afternoon.
He passed for 220 yards and three touchdowns. That raised his season's total to 2,023 yards and broke the existing mark of 1,979 yards set by Pat Manuel in 2002.
Hobart thrives on its defense and the Statesmen forced a fumble on Rochester's first drive. Hobart's Nick Zapp found
Shaquill McCullers in the backfield and forced a fumble that was recovered by Nick Auriemma, giving Hobart the ball at the Rochester 44 yard line.
The Statesmen marched down the field in 8 plays to put the Statesmen up 7-0 on a Bobby Dougherty one yard run. Dougherty found the end zone again ten minutes later on a three yard run following a 56 yard drive that consisted of six plays, putting Hobart up 14-0 at the end of the first.
Rochester answered. The Yellowjackets went 70 yards and found their way to the end zone off a Kennedy pass to freshman
Derek Wager for 38 yards. Rochester made it more interesting by recovering an on-side kick, but weren't able to capitalize, going three and out.
Hobart looked to demonstrate some trickery of its own as the Statesmen were pinned inside their 20 yard line and attempted a fake punt that was unsuccessful. Rochester's drive stalled, but the Yellowjackets earned three points on a 32 yard field goal by
Alex Antonucci with 7:50 left in the half.
The Statesmen were able to increase their lead with 1:06 left in the half on a Nick Strang pass to Junior Woodard from 29 yards out. The half ended 21-10 in favor of Hobart.
The lead extended to 23-10 in the third quarter when Hobart was awarded a safety after a punt snap went over
Mike Carson's head and was kicked out of the end zone.
Rochester made it a game when Kennedy threw for his second touchdown of the day, this one to
Brandon Young, from the Hobart 2 yard line, bringing Rochester within striking distance 23-17 at the end of the third quarter.
Hobart answered early in the fourth quarter (29-17) but a two-point pass was incomplete.
UR replied on the next drive when Kennedy found pay dirt for the third time on the day - this time from nine yards out to
Thomas Hayes. That got the Yellowjackets within 29-24 with 9:33 left.
The Statesmen began to pull away when Conner Hartigan returned the kickoff 49 yards to the Rochester 46. On the first play from scrimmage Kelly Olney found Yosh Karbowniczak for 44 yards taking the ball to the two yard line. The UR defense didn't give up the touchdown easy as they stopped the Statesmen offense on two consecutive plays. On third down, Olney hit Chris Holoman for a touchdown putting Hobart up 37-24.
Rochester started with the ball on its 32. However, after three passing attempts gained six yards the Yellowjackets were faced with fourth and four. Kennedy was rushed out of the pocket by Tyre Coleman and his passing attempt was incomplete turning the ball over on downs.
Hobart took over on Rochester's 38 where the Statesmen ran the ball for nine straight plays and found the end zone on a five yard Dougherty rush as time expired. Dougherty ended the day with 79 yards rushing and three touchdowns, while Steven Webb had the most yards with 81. Rochester's
Garrett Kesel ended the day with 67 yards rushing.
Kennedy also moved into second place in completions in a season. He finished with 165 completions, putting him just seven completions behind Aaron Molisani with 172, which he set in 2004.
The Yellowjackets ended with a 4-5 overall record, 3-4 in the Liberty League. Hobart completed its first unbeaten, untied campaign since 1957 with a 10-0 mark, 7-0 in the Liberty League.
