Conference leaders settling in
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Thus far, the class of the NESCAC continues to be Trinity College. The Bantams are in the midst of a 19-game winning streak which is the longest in the nation, in any division. Coach Chuck Priore’s team has simply been dominant in all aspects of the game. Trinity leads the conference in points scored (211) and points allowed (32). To date, the Bantams’ toughest test came in an 18-point win at Williams in Week 2.
On offense, Trinity does most of its heavy lifting on the ground, averaging an astounding 309.2 rushing yards per game. Many talented running backs have contributed to this impressive output, including Drew Finkeldey and Jordan Quinones, but one back deserves special mention here: Gennaro Leo. Leo is currently averaging 105.6 yards per game (Finkeldey is right behind at 105.5) and 7.2 yards per carry. But most notably, Leo has already accounted for 12 touchdowns this season, which is five more than the entire Tufts offense.
Trinity’s defense is formidable as well, especially with Mike Dendas, Jeff Carpenter, and Michael Blair leading the way up front. This trio has menaced opposing quarterbacks all season long, accounting for 9.5 sacks between them.
Not only does Trinity lead the NESCAC in total offense and total defense, but they are also tops in punting and kickoff returns for good measure.
The Bantams pasted Bowdoin 41-0 last weekend and will look to make it 20 in a row when Middlebury travels to Hartford this Saturday.
But, as dominant as Trinity has been thus far, it ought not to be forgotten that there is one other unbeaten team in the NESCAC. While coach E.J. Mills’ Amherst Lord Jeffs have received some scares this year — most notably during a trip to Bowdoin early in the season where Amherst escaped with a 34-28 win in double overtime — their 5-0 record is just as perfect as Trinity’s.
Amherst’s success is predicated mainly on playing smart, fundamentally sound football. The Jeffs lead the conference in both turnover margin and time of possession.
In recent years, Amherst has primarily been known for its strong defenses, and that is certainly the case this year as the Jeffs have the stingiest run defense in the NESCAC (allowing an average of only 71.0 yards per game) and senior cornerback Rob Walsh leads the conference with six interceptions. But this season, the Amherst offense commands just as much respect as the defense does.
Like Trinity, Amherst relies on a talented corps of running backs to do most of the damage on offense. The Jeffs are second in the NESCAC with 278.6 rushing yards per game. Most of that total is attributable to Fletcher Ladd, the conference’s leading rusher. Ladd, who recently became the all-time leading rusher in Amherst’s storied football program, has already run for 735 yards this season, which equates to 147.0 per game. The Jeffs other main weapon is receiver/return-man Jay Wagstaff. Wagstaff is far and away the leading punt returner in the NESCAC (he averages 16.6 yards per return, and is the only player to have returned a punt for a touchdown so far this year) and is always a threat to go the distance.
After spoiling Little III rival Wesleyan’s Homecoming with a 38-3 victory on NESN, Amherst returns home this week to take on the struggling Jumbos of Tufts. An Amherst win would set up a showdown with Trinity the following week that may well determine the conference champion.
At 4-1, Williams is the one other team that has a reasonable chance of claiming at least a share of the NESCAC crown this season. Having said farewell to legendary coach Dick Farley, two-time NESCAC Offensive Player of the Year Joe Reardon, and reigning NESCAC Defensive Player of the Year Graham Goldwasser, among others, Williams seemingly entered the 2004 campaign in the midst of a “rebuilding year.” But, at this point in the year, it is fair to say that new head coach Mike Whalen has not allowed a break in the long Williams tradition of fielding competitive, winning football teams. Williams’ lone loss came early in the season to an overwhelming Trinity team.
Statistically speaking, Williams might look like an average football team, particularly on offense, where the Ephs rank dead last in passing as first-year starter Sean Gleeson is still looking to get in a rhythm at quarterback. However, the Eph D has been relentless all season long, tailback Tim Crawley has been a workhorse, and Gleeson has been able to direct important scoring drives in crucial situations. In short, Williams continues to find ways to win football games. Nothing better illustrates this fact than Williams’ two most recent football games, against Middlebury and Tufts, respectively. Williams won both of these games by a combined two points, as each game was decided by a missed extra point in the second half of play.
For Williams to earn a share of the NESCAC Championship, two things likely need to happen. First, Amherst must upset Trinity; second, Williams must record its first victory on Pratt Field since 1998 in “The Biggest Little Game in America”.
Colby is the one other team above .500 in the NESCAC. The White Mules have quietly compiled a solid 3-2 record this year. Colby also has the luxury of being the one NESCAC team this year that will not have to face Trinity.
Middlebury and Wesleyan are each 2-3 and in real danger of finishing the season under .500. Wesleyan started its season with two straight wins thanks to the gun-slinging performance of sophomore quarterback Zach Canter. Unfortunately for fans of the Cardinals, back-to-back road games in Maine and a dreadful running game (the team averages 1.8 yards per carry) quickly took the wind out of Wesleyan’s sails. Middlebury meanwhile rebounded nicely last week with a 42-31 win over Bates following a heartbreaking, 17-16 loss to Williams the previous week. Quarterback Mike Keenan and wide receiver Tom Cleaver shared Offensive Player of the Week honors in the conference in recognition of their efforts to secure the win over the Bobcats. Keenan completed 31 of 45 passes for 427 yards and three touchdowns, while Cleaver had 256 yards receiving on 15 catches. Both Middlebury and Wesleyan still have to face Trinity later in the season.
Four teams — Bates, Bowdoin, Hamilton, and Tufts — currently sit at the bottom of the conference with identical 1-4 records (this will be the first year since 2001 that no NESCAC team has gone winless in a season). The surprise in this group would have to be Tufts, which finished last year at 5-3 and, in recent years, has consistently been one of the NESCAC’s better teams. The problem this season is that the Jumbos have had just a terrible time finding the end zone. In five games, Tufts has registered a measly 56 points.
Although their records do not necessarily show it, Bates, Bowdoin, and Hamilton all seem to be significantly improved in 2004. These three schools can no longer be taken for granted, and while this increased competitiveness has yet to translate to the win column, it will sooner or later.
NEFC divisions all but decided
Maine Maritime did NEFC Bogan rival Fitchburg State a huge favor over the weekend. By upsetting Worcester State 27-24 on Saturday, the Mariners all but assured Fitchburg of its first ever appearance in the NEFC Championship game. Entering last weekend’s game against Maine Maritime with only one loss in the division, Worcester was still very much in the hunt for the Bogan title since the Lancers would have a chance to make up that one game difference in its season finale against Fitchburg. But perhaps Worcester got caught thinking too far into the future, as the Lancers came out flat against underdog Maine Maritime.
Despite staking Maine Maritime to a 20-3 advantage at the half, Worcester very nearly salvaged its postseason hopes with a massive second half rally. The Lancers scored 21 unanswered points to open the second half, taking a 24-20 lead with 12:54 remaining in the game when Steve Kasprzak scored on a nine-yard touchdown run. But the Mariners would have the last laugh as they engineered a go-ahead drive towards the end of the fourth quarter. Chelsea Allen’s 5-yard run into the end zone with just over a minute to play gave the Mariners the improbable 27-24 victory.
Fitchburg, for its part, took care of business Saturday by besting Massachusetts Maritime 47-6 in order to preserve its perfect division record (4-0). The Falcons’ final two games are against Framingham State and Worcester. Since it holds the tiebreaker over Bridgewater State, Fitchburg needs to win only one of these games in order to secure a berth in the NEFC Championship game.
Over in the Boyd Division, Curry spoiled a perfect division record for the second consecutive week to put themselves in position to repeat as Boyd Champions. Two weeks ago, Curry handed Nichols its first division loss; this past Saturday, the Colonels provided the same favor to Endicott. Curry completely dominated the game and cruised to a 32-7 win. Curry held the Gulls to just 99 yards of total offense on the afternoon. Largely as a result of its 307 yards rushing and four forced turnovers, the Colonels held the ball for almost 37 minutes.
If Curry beats Western New England next week, the Colonels will make another appearance in the NEFC Championship game.
NESCAC Game of the Week
Middlebury at Trinity, Saturday, Oct. 30, 12:30 p.m.: Trinity will look to extend its winning streak to 20 this weekend as the Panthers of Middlebury College come to down. Mike Keenan and Tom Cleaver are the reigning NESCAC Players of the Week after shattering several school records last week in a Middlebury win over Bates. Those records will probably have to be broken again this week if Middlebury is to have any chance at getting the better of Trinity.
NEFC Game of the Week
Curry at WNEC, Saturday, Oct. 30, 1:00 p.m.: With a 2-2 record in the division, WNEC cannot have any postseason aspirations of its own this year; however, it is always fun to play the spoiler, and that is exactly the position the Golden Bears find themselves in this week. If Curry wins, they will advance to the NEFC Championship Game. If WNEC has the better day, the winner of this week’s Endicott-Nichols game will take Curry’s place.