• Mike Hibbard of Sports Xchange writes that there was no masking the disappointment on Braden Anderson's face after Johns Hopkins' 24-21 loss at Hobart in the second round of the NCAA football playoffs.
• The Rochester Democrat & Chronicle recaps Hobart's thrilling 24-21 victory over Johns Hopkins.

GENEVA, NY - Seventh-ranked Hobart got a 14-yard touchdown pass from Patrick Conlan with 1:26 remaining in the fourth quarter and Jacob Stanley intercepted a Blue Jay pass at the Statesmen two-yard line with 10 seconds on the clock as Hobart knocked off sixth-ranked Johns Hopkins, 24-21, in the second round of the NCAA Division III Football Playoffs Saturday afternoon. Hobart improves to 12-0 on the year and moves into the NCAA Quarterfinals, where the Statemen will take on Wesley. Johns Hopkins had its season come to an end at 11-1.

The Blue Jays led 21-16 and took over at their own 47 with 9:12 remaining and appeared to be heading for a clinching touchdown as they worked their way inside the Hobart 10-yard line. Facing a second-and-goal from the eight-yard line, an option pitch from senior Braden Anderson to sophomore Stuart Walters came up short and was recovered by Hobart's Jake Russell.

Taking over their own 12, the Statesmen methodically worked their way to the Blue Jay 27 before Conlan hit John Fasano for 13 yards on third-and-one and then 14 yards for what proved to be the game-winning touchdowns.

The Blue Jays had one final chance to win or tie and quickly worked their way from their own 37 as Anderson had rushes of 12 and 13 yards and junior Brandon Cherry later added an 11-yard run to give the Blue Jays a first-and-goal at the Hobart nine. After a one-yard run by Anderson, the Blue Jays appeared to score the winning touchdown with 19 seconds remaining as he hit Quinn Donaldson (pictured) from eight yards out, but the Blue Jays were called for pass interference and Stanley's interception came one play later to seal the victory for Statesmen. 

Johns Hopkins trailed 10-0 and 16-7 before rallying with back-to-back touchdown passes from Anderson to sophomore Donaldson to grab the 21-16 lead early in the fourth quarter. The first, a three-yard strike, came with four seconds remaining in the first half and sliced the 16-7 deficit to 16-14. That score capped an 11-play, 57-yard drive that took 2:27.

Playing into a stiff wind in the third quarter, the Blue Jays were able to keep Hobart from scoring and then needed just three plays in the fourth quarter to take their first lead as Anderson found Donaldson inside the five-yard line and he darted into the end zone after eluding a defender to give Hopkins the five-point lead with 14:33 to play. That lead held until the final 90 seconds, when Conlan's touchdown pass to Fasano provided the winning margin.

The Blue Jays' rally from deficits to 10 and nine points was necessary after Hobart jumped out to the early 10-0 and 16-7 leads.

A 42-yard Sean Kirshe field goal opened the scoring just 5:40 into the game and Bradley Burns added a one-yard scoring run with 55 seconds left in the opening period to give the Statemen the quick 10-0 lead.

Johns Hopkins got on the board early in the second quarter as the Blue Jays needed just six plays and 2:27 to go 63 yards and sliced the 10-0 deficit to 10-7 when Walters took a speed sweep five yards for a touchdown.

The Blue Jays forced a quick three-and-out on Hobart's ensuing possession and Hopkins took over at its own 43 with the momentum now with the black and blue. But after forcing the Blue Jays into a fourth-and six from the 47, the Statemen sniffed out a fake punt and stopped punter Matt Auran at the 50; three yards short of a first down.

Taking over at midfield, Hobart went 50 yards in seven plays and capped the drive with a four-yard Alex Furtado touchdown run with 2:31 remaining in the first half.

Hopkins answered quickly with the 11-play, 57-yard drive that Anderson polished off with the three-yard touchdown pass to Donaldson with four seconds remaining in the first half that made it 16-14. That score held until Donaldson's 28-yard scoring reception early in the fourth quarter gave Hopkins the 21-16 lead, but Conlan's touchdown pass to Fasano and the two late turnovers were more than the Blue Jays could overcome.

Anderson was 17-of-29 for 194 yards with the two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed for a game-high 71 yards to fuel an offense that generated 361 yards. Sophomore Bradley Munday had six receptions for 79 yards and Donaldson added five catches for 63 yards and the two scores.

Defensively, the Blue Jays were led by senior Michael Rocca, who posted a career-high 12 tackles, and sophomoreJack Toner, who added 10 stops on the day.

Conlan was 19-of-30 for 237 yards with the one touchdown pass to Fasano, who had six receptions for 79 yards and the one score on the day. Conner Hartigan rushed for a team-high 60 yards on 18 carries, while Tryvon Taylor posted a game-high 13 tackles for the Statemen.