GENEVA, N.Y. -  A team trying to nail down a conference title and automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championships – on Senior Day, yet - might be the toughest foe of all.
 
Unfortunately for Rochester, that's what the Yellowjackets faced at Boswell Field against Hobart College on Saturday afternoon. The Statesmen were relentless on both sides of the ball and they ran away with a 56-27 victory. The win gives Hobart (9-1, 6-1)  the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Rochester finished its season at 1-8 overall, 0-7 in the Liberty League.
 
Hobart jumped out to a 40-7 lead by halftime. Rochester regrouped in the locker room at intermission, came out and scored three straight touchdowns to get within 40-27. Kyle Allegrini caught two TD passes and Nick Perpignan ran for a score.
 
On the first drive of the second half, Josh Brown directed a 10-play, 68-yard drive that ate up 4:35 on the clock. He completed three passes to Max Berger for 27 yards, including a 20-yarder on 1st-and-10 at the HC 27. On the next play, he found Allegrini for a seven-yard score.
 
On Hobart's first series of the second half, Austin Carr blocked a punt. It was recovered by Rochester's Stephen Glinski and he lugged it 21 yards to the Statesmen 39.  Matt Gallagher directed a three-play 39-yard drive. He found Haber for seven yards, Daniel DiLoreto for 29 yards, and then Perpignan took it in from eight yards away for the TD to get Rochester within 40-21 with 8:02 left in the third.
 
Starting QB Shane Sweeney came back on the field (he threw for 172 yards and three TDs in the first half), but his drive stalled and HC punted. The Yellowjackets moved 74 yards in four plays eating up 1:15. DiLoreto caught a 14-yard pass and Allegrini had the next two catches, one for 20 yards, then another for 19 for a touchdown. Gallagher tried a two-point pass that was broken up by Marcus Jemison. UR was down, 40-27, at this point with 5:09 remaining.
 
Jemison's defensive skills paved the way for two Hobart touchdowns in the first half. He intercepted Gallagher late in the first quarter and that led to a five-yard TD run by Tynard Barfield. After the Rochester score and missed FG attempt, Jemison recovered a fumble by Josh Brown after a sack. He ran 26 yards with it to the UR 19. Three plays later, Sean Bright scored on a two-yard rush for a 26-7 edge.
 
Rochester fell behind, 19-0, then put together a good drive to pull within 19-7. A big play by the defense gave the Yellowjackets some inspiration in the second quarter. Adam Schempp's hit forced a Hobart fumble and Kevin LeBlanc fell on it at the HC23.
 
Emmanuel Calmar carried twice to set up 3rd-and-5. Brown threw incomplete on third down. Haber's field goal attempt from 35 yards struck the right upright and bounced away.
 
For the game, Rochester had 330 yards in offense – 41 rushing and 289 through the air. Brown finished 15 of 22 for 136 yards and two TDs. Gallagher completed 10 of 19 passes for 153 yards and one TD. He was intercepted once.
 
Shawn Silleman caught six passes for 62 yards. Allegrini hauled in five passes for 68 yards and two scores. Berger caught five passes for 59 yards. LeBlanc led the Rochester tacklers with 10 stops.
 
Sweeney was 17 for 24 for 256 yards and three TDs for Hobart. Barfield rushed 11 times for a game-high 123 yards and two touchdowns. His total was aided by a 47-yard TD sprint in the third quarter after Rochester drew within 40-27. Brandon Shed caught five passes for 132 yards, two for scores. Hobart's defense registered five sacks.