The Hopkins football put on yet another impressive performance this weekend, defeating Dickinson 47-6. The Jays entered Homewood Field on Friday night ranked 15th in the country and would look to improve on that in their first night game of the season.
In front of the Blue Jay faithful, who donned all black in the stands, Hopkins improved to 6-0, marking their best start to a season since winning their first seven games in 2005. The win also solidified an 11-game winning streak, which dates back to last season.
In addition, the streak is now the third longest active winning-streak in all divisions of college football.
The game itself featured even more fallen records, particularly for senior quarterback Hewitt Tomlin who played in his first game since September 17th, having missed time due to a concussion.
The Tennessee native gathered 390 yards of total offense, all via the air. This was good for the third-highest single-game total in Hopkins history, and the second-highest in Tomlin's career.
The performance earned Tomlin his ninth career 300-yard passing game, tying him for the Centennial Conference record. His performance also gave the four-year starter 9,154 yards of career total offense, making him the Centennial Conference total offense career leader.
As if that was not enough, the team added 199 yards on the ground, which was good for four of the team's six touchdowns on the day. The 632 yards of total offense was the third highest in school history and the highest since 1991.
Even so, the game remained a seven point differential until the second quarter. That's when Tomlin led the Jays on two impressive drives, both culminating in touchdowns.
The first featured a 10-play, 73-yard drive, which was capped off by a one-yard touchdown run by senior Nick Fazio. The score marked Fazio's second of two touchdowns on the day, the first coming off a two-yard burst in the first quarter.
The Jays then capitalized on a missed 55-yard field goal attempt by the Red Devils and extended their lead to 24-3 on the ensuing possession. Thanks in part to junior running back Jonathan Rigaud's 25-yard touchdown dash, the Jays entered halftime with a 21-point lead. They were hardly complacent, however.
As though the Blue Jays' first half success wasn't enough, Hopkins quickly spoiled any chance the Red Devils may have had via two long touchdown passes early in the third quarter. The touchdown passes showed Hopkins' many offensive dimensions.
Junior wide receiver Scott Cremens caught the first touchdown pass good for 45 yards, followed by a 44-yard strike hauled in by senior wide receiver Sam Wernick.
In the beginning of the fourth quarter, Tomlin added another touchdown with his feet from a two-yard run.
Tomlin's remarkable day overshadowed numerous other notable career achievements.
Sophomore wide receiver Dan Wodicka had a career high of 202 receiving yards, good for sixth in Hopkins history for single-game receiving yards. Senior kicker Neil Vranis, in his first year ever playing football, booted his first career field goal with a 28-yard strike.
On the other side of the ball, the Jays' defense was once again a brick wall. Hopkins' fierce defense limited the Red Devils to just 223 yards of total offense, only 76 of which came from the air. Senior defensive lineman Kale Sweeney created havoc in the middle, leading the team with eight tackles, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
Through six weeks, Hopkins has outscored their opponents 250-44.
The Blue Jays look to continue their success this Saturday, October 22nd at Centennial Conference opponent Gettysburg.
