After a wild weekend of NESCAC football action, five teams find themselves tied for the top slot in the conference. Amherst, Colby, Middlebury, Trinity, and Wesleyan currently share first place in the NESCAC, each with identical 3-1 records. Perhaps most surprising, however, is that Williams is not among that bunch, but rather knotted with the Jumbos at 2-2 and in sixth place.
Former surprise conference leader Colby saw its undefeated record fall at Amherst on Saturday, courtesy of a second-half comeback by the Lord Jeffs. The White Mules took a 14-7 lead into the locker room, only to see the hosts respond with 21 unanswered points.
The White Mules appeared to be in command late in the second quarter when last week's NESCAC player of the Week, quarterback Pat Conley, engineered his second 80-yard drive of the first half, culminating in a 55-yard touchdown pass to wideout Danny Noyes. Midway through the third quarter, though, Amherst rejuvenated itself and never looked back. After an interception ended the team's opening possession of the half, Lord Jeffs quarterback Pete Honig and receiver Derrell Wright combined for a school-record 91-yard touchdown strike.
From there on in, Conley and the Colby offense were completely shut down, as he threw two interceptions and the rushing game garnered just 32 yards on the afternoon. Meanwhile, Amherst junior running back Okey Ugonwali and Wright would each hit paydirt for the second time of the day before the Lord Jeffs came away with the 28-14 victory.
Honig finished with three touchdown passes - all in the second half - and 224 yards passing, while his counterpart completed 24 of 43 passes, for 243 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. The Lord Jeffs, who are now off to their best start since 1997, were relentless on defense, holding the NESCAC's top ranked offense to just 276 total yards and sacking Conley four times.
Not more than an hour away in Williamstown, Ma., the Middlebury Panthers were in the process of upsetting the once omnipotent Williams Ephmen, 7-0. With the loss, Williams drops to 2-2. The setback also marks the first time that Williams has lost two home games in Farley's 14-year tenure, and also the first time the Ephmen have been shut out in Williamstown since 1992.
The Panthers got all the points they needed on their first possession of the second half after the Ephs had delayed the inevitable late in the first quarter by virtue of an interception in the end zone. Middlebury quarterback Scott Roberts hit Devon O'Neil for a 46-yard score halfway through the third quarter, giving his team its first back-to-back shutouts since 1992.
Williams would not go down quietly, though, mounting repeated attacks in the fourth quarter. Two of the Ephmen's three drives were ended by Panther interceptions, though, and the third was silenced by an incomplete pass on fourth down by Williams quarterback Joesph Reardon with just 1:50 to go. For the game, Williams racked up 293 yards of total offense to the Panther's 235, but O'Neil's touchdown proved to be the X-factor. The Eph's usually bruising ground game was limited to just 96 yards, while Middlebury ran for 127.
Wesleyan arrived in the first place deadlock by virtue of a 20-17 come-from-behind win over Bates in Lewiston, Me. Rookie quarterback Brett Carney and receiver George Thompson accounted for two fourth-quarter scores for the Cardinal, who overcame a 10-0 Bobcat lead at halftime for their 14 consecutive victory over the hosts.
Carney and Thompson struck first with 10 minutes to go on a 27-yard connection to give Wesleyan its first lead of the game at 14-10, and then again at 7:46 to up the ante to 20-17. Bates then blocked the extra point, but was unable to get in field goal range before time ran out.
Bates, which is still searching for its first win at 0-4, had a superb individual effort from running back Sean Atkins (21 carries for 146 yards and one touchdown). For Wesleyan, Carney ended up with 252 yards on 15 completions for two scores, while Thompson caught four passes for 105 yards on the day.
Elsewhere, in a match-up of the NESCAC's two other winless teams in Clinton, NY, Hamilton escaped with a 13-6 decision to break an 11-game skid dating to last season. The Continentals, who were 0-8 last fall, broke a 6-6 tie at 9:11 in the fourth when freshman Elijah Hulig dashed 38-yards for the game-winner. Bowdoin extended its losing streak to eight games, while rushing for -8 yards.
