PRINCE ATHLETIC COMPLEX – University of Rochester dropped a heartbreaker to the Hobart College Statesmen, 23-20, on Saturday inside Edwin Fauver Stadium to wrap up the regular season.
 
With the win, UR finishes the year at 5-5 (2-4 LL), their first .500 or better season since 2015, while the Statesmen move to 8-2 (4-2 LL).
 
After the 'Jackets won the toss and deferred to the second half, the Statesmen put together the makings of a promising drive, moving into UR territory with an 11-play, 50-yard drive, but a big fourth-down stop by Andy Kristian and J.T. Monahan brought the Yellowjacket offense onto the field for the first time, and Rochester would strike first.
 
Jordan Laudani's 44-yard field goal gave the Yellowjackets a 3-0 lead and capped off an 11-play, 49-yard drive that featured Jackson Kane rushing for 20 yards on 4th-and-1 on a fake punt.
 
And after the Yellowjackets' defense forced a three-and-out, Rochester again drove into Hobart territory, looking to add to their lead to start the second quarter. But on 3rd-and-11 from the Statesmen 40, Jaimen Bliss strip-sacked Ryan Rose, and Mike McGhee returned the fumble 48 yards for a score to give Hobart its first lead of the day.
 
Hobart would add to their lead on their next possession, taking over inside the Yellowjacket 10-yard line after a mishandled snap on UR's fourth-down punt, as Rayshawn Boswell carried it in from three yards out to give the Statesmen a 14-3 lead.
 
But the Yellowjackets would quickly answer, needing just eight plays and 3:19 of game time to cut Hobart's lead to 14-10. Daniel Papantonis' 18-yard rush highlighted the drive, while Rose connected with Trey Johnson on third-and-five before Papantonis scored from one yard out to cut the Statesmen's lead to just four.
 
Rochester would add another field goal to its tally following a 15-play, 51-yard drive near the end of the quarter, making it a one-point game. And after Hobart again punted it away with 22 seconds left, the 'Jackets looked to take a halftime lead.
 
UR drove into Hobart territory with some help from a Statesmen penalty, but Laudani's 43-yard field goal was no good, and the Statesmen led, 14-13, at the half.
 
And while Rochester received the opening kickoff to start the second half, Hobart surprised the 'Jackets with an onside kick, recovered by the Statesmen at the UR 38-yard line. The Yellowjacket defense would hold Hobart to just a field goal though, and on the ensuing possession, Rochester took its first lead since the second quarter.
 
Jay Zheng's seven-yard touchdown run capped off a 10-play, 66-yard scoring drive for UR, as the 'Jackets took a 20-17 lead over the Statesmen with just over six minutes left in the third.
 
Neither side would find the end zone the rest of the quarter, but Hobart would head into the final quarter driving inside the Rochester 40-yard line, trailing by three. The Statesmen looked to take the lead, picking up a third-and-seven to move inside the red zone, but again, Rochester's defense came up with a stop, holding the Statesmen to a game-tying field goal from 30 yards out, which Tobias Wefering hit to level the score at 20-all.
 
Rochester took over with 11:48 to play and promptly went three-and-out, but Jordy Tawa's interception on the next Hobart possession gave the Yellowjackets the ball inside Statesmen territory with eight minutes to play.
 
The 'Jackets would drive inside the 10-yard line, but Hobart's defense held UR to a field goal try, with Laudani's third make of the day putting Rochester up 23-20 with just 2:31 left.
 
However, the lead would be short-lived as on the very next Hobart offensive play, Johnny Colombi hit Ran Daramola for a 75-yard touchdown, putting the Statesmen up 27-23.
 
And while Rochester would look to answer, moving across midfield with 90 seconds to play, Rose's passes on third and fourth down fell incomplete and the Statesmen were able to finish off the 27-23 victory.
 
Rose went 16-for-34 for 139 yards, while Varney led UR on the ground with 22 rushes for 80 yards. Daniel Papantonis and Zheng each notched a score, while Johnson caught a team-high seven receptions for 57 yards.
 
Defensively, Bradley Beckwith led Rochester with 10 tackles, while Happy Chane tallied nine, a tackle for a loss and a sack.
 
As a team, UR outgained Hobart, 323-258, including 184-116 on the ground, averaging 4.0 yards per carry.
 
Rochester wraps up the year at 5-5 (2-4 LL) their best season yet under Head Coach Chad Martinovich, with plenty to look forward to next season.