NEFC streaks bite the dust
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The football in the opening week of NESCAC play was less surprising, with no real upsets to speak of.
After 15 consecutive NEFC victories, Curry finally had a hiccup Saturday, dropping an 18-13 decision against Mass-Dartmouth in the Boyd Division opener for both teams. On the strength of first-year wideout Corey Williams’ 190 yards receiving, the Corsairs (3-1, 1-0) handed the Colonels (2-1, 0-1) their first NEFC loss since Oct. 12, 2002.
The Corsairs registered the only score of the first half, a 2-yard touchdown reception by Tom Akillian. Akillian’s score capped an 11-play, 80-yard drive in which Mass-Dartmouth was successful on two fourth-down conversions. The key play of the scoring drive was a 28-yard completion from quarterback Val Teixeira to Williams on fourth-and-11 which put the Corsairs on the Colonel 2-yard line. The Corsairs’ good fortune continued on the PAT as kicker Derek Bealby alertly ran into the end zone for two points after the kick attempt was botched. Curry did threaten a couple of times in the first half, but a blocked field goal and a fumble in the red zone prevented the Colonels from getting on the board and put the score at 8-0 at intermission.
Curry came out swinging in the second half though. The Colonels scored their first touchdown of the afternoon on their opening possession of the third quarter. The 11-play, 64-yard drive was powered exclusively by Frank Campbell runs and Brad Dick receptions, and Campbell, Curry’s promising freshman tailback, finished the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run. The PAT failed however, and the score stood at 8-6 in favor of the Corsairs.
Mass-Dartmouth and Curry swapped touchdowns on consecutive drives to put the score at 15-13 in the third quarter. But after opening its second half with two consecutive touchdown drives, Curry would experience only frustration for the rest of the day. Curry’s next three possessions would end with two missed field goals and a failed conversion on fourth-and-1 inside the Corsair 10-yard line.
With 2:30 left to play, Mass-Dartmouth really put the pressure on by tacking on a field goal to put the score at 18-13. The Corsairs then held their guests to a three-and-out and then held on to the football to close out the game.
Teixeira threw for 290 yards and a touchdown to help lead his team to victory. Reigning NEFC Defensive Player of the Year, linebacker Brian Robitaille was stellar in defeat, recording 12 tackles, a sack, and an interception. He earned NEFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance.
Westfield State’s run comes to an end
Like Curry, the Owls of Westfield State were forced to let go of a hard-earned streak this weekend. The three-time defending Bogan Division champs had emerged victorious from their previous 18 division (not conference) bouts prior to this past Saturday’s 22-15 loss to Fitchburg State. Westfield’s last Bogan loss came on Nov. 4, 2000, when the Owls were defeated by Worcester State.
Falcon tailback Brian Milleisen carried the ball 33 times for 183 yards and teammate Nafie Pollard rushed for two scores to lead Fitchburg to the come-from-behind win. The Falcons outscored the Owls 13-0 in the decisive fourth quarter in order to secure the victory.
Trailing 15-9 heading into the final period of play, Fitchburg quickly turned the tables on its guest. Nafie Pollard’s 1-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter gave the Falcons a one-point lead with 11:06 left to play in the game. Three plays later, senior defensive back Tommy Betsch intercepted a deflected Jon Meczywor offering and took the ball 38 yards to the house. The ensuing PAT was blocked however, so the Owls remained within seven of the lead.
Westfield entered Falcon territory one final time, but unfortunately for the Owls, Mike Lorenzano coughed up the ball at the Fitchburg 26-yard line after hauling in a 23-yard completion.
“Westfield State is a very good football team which hadn’t lost a Bogan Division contest in 18 games,” said Fitchburg State coach Pat Haverty in a Fitchburg press release. “This is a very special win for us.”
Indeed, the knock on Fitchburg has been that they are a talented team that has had difficulty pulling out close wins against tough competition. Last year, Fitchburg lost 30-27 to Westfield, 48-45 to Bridgewater State, and 14-10 to Worcester State. This weekend’s triumph should be a well-deserved confidence boost for this dangerous Fitchburg team.
Speaking of Bridgewater, that is the team that Fitchburg (2-2, 1-0) will take on next week, while Westfield State (1-2, 0-1) will look to start a new division win-streak against a good Worcester squad.
Wesleyan thumps Tufts
Perhaps the most surprising outcome in an otherwise predictable opening week of NESCAC football was the way in which Wesleyan manhandled Tufts. Wesleyan absolutely flattened the Jumbos 37-7 in what originally appeared to be a very even contest.
Although the Cardinals spotted the Jumbos a 7-3 advantage, Wesleyan reeled off 34 unanswered points on the strength of a high-flying passing attack. Sophomore quarterback Zach Canter, a transfer from Colgate, completed 26 of 39 passes for 339 yards and two touchdowns. Canter’s success bodes well for Frank Hauser’s club as quarterback was a major question mark for the team heading into the season with the graduation of four-year starter and All-NESCAC standout Brennan Carney last May.
The Cardinals outgained the Jumbos 466-197, but most impressive was Wesleyan’s ability to create turnovers and convert in the red zone. The Cardinal offense entered the Jumbo red zone six times and walked away with five touchdowns and one field goal; meanwhile, the Wesleyan defense intercepted four passes and forced one fumble.
Williams opens post-Farley era with win
Williams may not have looked great in its season-opening 21-10 victory over visiting Colby, but the Ephs played well when it counted and in the process delivered a win for Mike Whalen in his first head coaching assignment.
The Ephs managed only 295 yards of total offense and were nagged by 10 penalties that cost them 78 yards, but Williams was still able to come away with a relatively easy win.
Sophomore quarterback Seen Gleeson, who was making his first career start after the graduation of two-time NESCAC Offensive Player of the Year Joe Reardon, was inconsistent throughout the day, finishing the game 10-for-25 for 161 yards. However, the young signal-caller did show flashes of the potential the folks in Williamstown have been raving about as he connected on a couple of big pass plays.
Gleeson will see his first true test this week however, when Williams plays host to Trinity.
Trinity lives up to the hype
It has been a couple of years since one team in the NESCAC has entered the season as the undisputed favorite to win the conference, but that is the position that Trinity finds itself in presently, and while no one expected Bates to provide much of a challenge, Trinity sure did look impressive in its season opener last week.
The Bantams scored 21 first quarter points en route to a 49-0 whipping of Bates. Trinity tallied 427 yards rushing, with Drew Finkledey contributing 142 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries and Colgate transfer Gennaro Lee adding 139 yards and two touchdowns on just 10 carries.
Run, Carven, run
In a weekend full of impressive running performances, the most spectacular effort of the week may well have been turned in by Nichols quarterback Michael Carven. Carven rushed for 191 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries during Nichols’ convincing 36-18 win over Salve Regina. In addition to his exploits on the ground, Carven threw for 63 yards and a touchdown and also punted the ball four times.
Special teams anomalies
Two weeks ago, I lauded the efforts of Western New England’s Dayne Poirot who handled both defensive tackle and punting duties in WNEC’s 26-21 win over Westfield State. Well, another wonderful NEFC special teams stat has been pointed out to me. Apparently, Westfield State utilized four placekickers in its 22-7 win over Nichols on Sept. 18. Four kickers in one game must be close to a record, especially considering no injuries appear to have been involved. Thanks to Mickey Curtis for alerting me of this notable achievement.
NESCAC Game of the Week
Trinity at Williams, Saturday, Oct. 2, 1:30.: Trinity, last year’s undefeated NESCAC Champion, travels to Williamstown to take on the Ephs, who finished in second last year and again figure to be a major hurdle in Trinity’s quest for a three-peat. Last year, the Bantams won a defensive battle at home, 10-0. This week, Williams should hope for a similar defensive struggle, as the young Eph offense may not be ready to compete in a shootout. If this game were to be played later in the season, I think Williams would be much more competitive, but as it stands now, I don’t see the Williams offense eating up enough clock to keep their defense as fresh as it needs to be in order to have any chance of shutting down an explosive Trinity offense/
NEFC Game of the Week
Fitchburg State at Bridgewater State, Saturday, Oct. 2, 1:00.: With Fitchburg finally getting over the hump in a win against Westfield last week, and Bridgewater coming off of a 54-0 shellacking of Framingham State on Saturday, both teams should enter next week’s game with plenty of confidence. There certainly is plenty to play for, as the winner of this game will likely have a leg up on the rest of the Bogan Division.