A year ago, the Trinity Bantams opened the 2006 season riding the nation's longest winning streak in college football, a 30-game run dating back to 2002. This fall, they're adjusting to life in second place.
After three straight undefeated seasons, the Bantams went 7-1 last season, losing to Williams in a 41-16 Week 2 blowout before winning out the rest of the way. The Ephs, meanwhile, dominated their entire NESCAC schedule, outscoring their eight opponents 276-74 and easily going undefeated.
Last year's Ephs team was led offensively by junior quarterback Pat Lucey, the NESCAC's top passer with an unprecedented quarterback rating of 165.8. His 66.7 percent completion rate easily led the league, and his 1,528 passing yards and 14 touchdowns were both in the NESCAC's top three, though he shared time under center with senior Sean Gleeson.
The platoon of Lucey and Gleeson teamed with a fantastic receiving core of seniors Jon Drenckhahn, Brendan Fulmer and Jim O'Leary, all of whom finished in the league's top 10 in receiving yards. The explosive offense put on a dazzling show all year in Williamstown, one which regularly pulled in crowds bigger than the Williams student body. But one question remains: Can Lucey, despite the losses of Gleeson, Drenckhahn, Fulmer and O'Leary, keep the Ephs atop the NESCAC in 2007?
"Patrick Lucey is an outstanding football player," said Mike Whalen, who enters his fourth year as Ephs head coach on a 14-game winning streak. "However, we graduated the best trio of receivers to ever play together at Williams College - Drenckhahn, Fulmer and O'Leary. So his challenge is to bring along a young group of receivers."
The Ephs' losses extend beyond their top three wideouts. They include cornerback Elliott Moffie, who led the league with four interceptions, and his partner in the secondary, Jon Poppe. They also include outside linebacker Jon Dolan, who provided valuable leadership as a tri-captain alongside Drenckhahn and Moffie.
"We graduated 18 players from last year's team, seven of which were All-NESCAC performers in 2006," Whalen said. "We've got some work to do."
The Bantams suffered three key losses of their own after wrapping up their 7-1 season last year. Most notably they'll miss safety Michael Soules, the NESCAC Player of the Year on defense. Also, they lose pair of co-captains on offense in tailback Gennaro Leo and receiver Chris Olenoski, two of the NESCAC's most potent weapons.
"We did lose some very talented players," Trinity coach Jeff Devanney said. "Soules, Leo and Olenoski are tough to replace. However, we have 19 seniors this year and plenty of experience, so we feel like we can move on without those guys. That is one of the great things about college football - it's someone else's turn to shine now."
Namely, the pressure is on quarterback Eric McGrath, whose 1,560 passing yards and 15 touchdowns led the conference in his sophomore year. McGrath guided one of the league's most explosive offenses last season, but their defense is at the top of the conference. The Bantams return an incredibly deep lineup on that side of the ball, including star seniors Derek Lanz and Jeff Carpenter on the defensive line, and junior linebacker Timothy Berry, who recorded 39 tackles last year.
"I think on paper Trinity returns the most starters and has 18 seniors on this year's team," Whalen said of his competition. "After the second game of the year, Trinity's defense only allowed 3 points total over the last six games and I believe most of those players are returning."
In addition to their returning talent, the Bantams are bolstered by an intangible element: the revenge factor. After extending their legendary winning streak to 31 against Colby in Week 1 last season, the Bantams were devastated to see the streak end in Williamstown on Sept. 30. The much-anticipated rematch awaits on Sept. 29, as the Ephs come to Hartford's Jessee/Miller Field for Week 2.
"Our team is very hungry," Devanney said. "They rebounded well after the loss last year and are determined to be better prepared this year."
Trinity kicks off its season with a Week 1 game at Colby, while the Ephs will travel to Maine as well to take on Bowdoin. After that, all eyes turn to the NESCAC's game of the year. And while Williams is the undefeated defending champion, Whalen has nothing but respect for Devanney's Bantams.
"Trinity has lost only two games over the past five seasons, so they are currently the premier program in the NESCAC," Whalen said. "We have a great deal of respect for what they have accomplished and look forward to the challenge of playing them every year."
Whalen's humility notwithstanding, he's well aware: both losses were to his Ephs. When they go for a third next week, all of New England will be watching.
