Weekly Previews & Power Rankings

Week 1 – September 14, 2024

Game of the Week

WESLEYAN AT MIDDLEBURY – 1 PM

2023 Game: Wesleyan 24, Middlebury 17 @ Wesleyan

Last Five: Wesleyan 3-2

When Wesleyan has the ball: Can the Cardinal offensive line, which struggled with sacks and generating yards in the run game in ’23, hold up against a dominant defensive line from Middlebury? QB Nick Candido will likely attack the Panthers through the air, looking early and often for WR Chase Wilson.

When Middlebury has the ball: Can new QB Brian Moran keep the Middlebury passing game humming with WR Patrick Jamin? Wesleyan features a playmaking secondary, led by one of the NESCAC’s best players: DB Wesley Abraham.

The Bigger Picture: This game features two of the league’s top teams, and although its only Week 1, it will likely have ramifications in terms of the NESCAC title.

BATES AT AMHERST – 1 PM

2023 Game: Amherst 17, Bates 7 @ Bates

Last Five: Amherst 4-1

When Bates has the ball: Can Bates be successful through the air, with a senior QB Colton Bosselait and two productive players in WR Sergio Beltran and TE Steven Guerrette? That approach will likely find resistance as Amherst had the league’s 2^nd best passing defense in ’23 and returns most all its players in the deep patrol.

When Amherst has the ball: Who starts at QB for Amherst, and can the Mammoths jump start an offense that has struggled for the past two seasons? Bates returns 9 of its defensive starters from ’23, but that unit finished last in the league a year ago.

The Bigger Picture: The young Bobcats head to Amherst, a team they played well against in ’23. This game will provide an early look at the potential improvement of Bates’ young players and Amherst’s offense.

COLBY AT TRINITY – 1 PM

2023 Game: Trinity 48, Colby 7 @ Colby

Last Five: Trinity 5-0

When Colby has the ball: This is a tough spot for QB Miles Drake to take the reins again for the Mules, and can he and his experienced skill players generate points in Hartford? Trinity’s D has been historically very good, although they break in some new starters in ’24.

When Trinity has the ball: Unlike Drake, Trinity’s new QB Zander Zebrowski has a more favorable opener – he gets his first start at home against a Colby defense looking to replace 8 starters from a year ago. Will he pick up where Spencer Fetter left off? The Mules have star LB Julian Young, but he will need help to slow RB Tyler DiNapoli and WR Sean Clapp.

The Bigger Picture: This game appears to be a challenging opening game for Colby, who has lost 12 straight games to Trinity, last beating the Bantams in 1995.

HAMILTON AT WILLIAMS – 1:30 PM

2023 Game: Williams 24, Hamilton 17 @ Hamilton

Last Five: Williams 4-1

When Hamilton has the ball: Expect the Continentals to run the ball with QB Luke Kurzum and RBs Kamau Hopewell and Nate Wildman featured. Can Hamilton run the ball against an experienced Williams’ front seven?

When Williams has the ball: Similarly to Hamilton, Williams will likely look to mount a ground attack behind QB Owen McHugh and RB Mario Fischetti. Can the Ephs generate a pass game to balance their attack against a Hamilton defense that has struggled over the past two seasons?

The Bigger Picture: Two very similar teams face off in Williamstown: both coming off 3-6 seasons, both returning sophomore quarterbacks and both with offenses that are run heavy. The game will be an early look at how well each team’s passing game and pass defense have improved since last season.

BOWDOIN AT TUFTS – 6 PM

2023 Game: Tufts 24, Bowdoin 10 @ Bowdoin

Last Five: Tufts 5-0

When Bowdoin has the ball: With QB Robby Long, who is a strong runner, and an experienced offensive line, Bowdoin will likely look to move the ball on the ground against Tufts, who has 5 new starters on their front 7. Can the Polar Bears win the ground game?

When Tufts has the ball: By contrast, one would expect Tufts to try to attack Bowdoin through the air, leveraging QB Michale Berluti and WR Cade Moore against a Bowdoin secondary that struggled against the pass in ’23. Can Tufts’ inexperienced offensive line hold up against Bowdoin’s seasoned front seven?

The Bigger Picture: Bowdoin has lost 8 straight to Tufts and last won in ’14, but the Polar Bears have been closing the gap in past seasons. This night game in Somerville should provide some insight into the Bowdoin’s growth and Tufts’ ability to reload at certain positions.

Week 2 – September 21, 2024

Game of the Week

TUFTS AT WESLEYAN 7pm

Last Game: Tufts 49, Wesleyan 14 @ Tufts

Last Five: Wesleyan 3-2

When Tufts has the ball: Tufts was more effective passing in Week #1 with RB Chartellis Reece out (321 yds via pass, 86 yds via the run), so expect the Jumbos to attack Wesleyan through the air. Can QB Michael Berluti and wideouts Cade Moore, Matt Rios and Henry Fleckner find success against DB Wesley Abraham and the talented and experienced Cardinal secondary?

When Wesleyan has the ball: Wesleyan may lean more on their run game as it was highly productive in Week #1 against Middlebury and Bowdoin found success on the ground last week against Tufts’ defense. Can the new faces in the front seven for Tufts limit Wesleyan’s running game?

Bigger Picture: Tufts beat Wesleyan soundly last year, so the Middletown faithful are looking for some revenge. If Wesleyan can start the season with wins over Middlebury and Tufts, it will set them up nicely for a title run. Tufts can do the same, with a key win as well.

WILLIAMS AT COLBY 1pm

Last Game: Williams 25, Colby 22 @ Williams

Last Five: Williams 4-1

When Williams has the ball: Eph QB Owen McHugh threw the ball very well against Hamilton, so the question is whether Williams can move the ball effectively through the air against a better secondary from Colby, led by Joshua East and Brody Rice.

When Colby has the ball: The Mule offense was limited by a strong Trinity defense, but unfortunately for the Mules, the Williams defense was impressive in their opener. Can the returning skill players at Colby, including the Sawyer brothers, Smart and McHugh generate more points?

Bigger Picture: Williams was impressive in their opener, and the Ephs will look to topple Colby before a big game against Trinity next weekend. Colby hung tough against Trinity and will look to do the same in their home opener.

AMHERST AT HAMILTON 1pm

Last Game: Amherst 17, Hamilton 14 @ Amherst

Last Five: Amherst 3-2

When Amherst has the ball: Amherst’s offense continues to struggle, generating less than 200 yards against Bates. Can new QB Mason Morrow get the passing game going against a Continental secondary that was vulnerable against Williams?

When Hamilton has the ball: Between Hamilton’s struggles in the passing game and Amherst’s top notch secondary, expect the Continentals to try to establish a running game on offense. Can QB Luke Kurzum, the running backs and a veteran offensive line generate an effective ground game?

Bigger Picture: This is a big game for both teams, as they appear somewhat evenly matched and may have trouble finding a lot of wins in ’24. Hamilton will look for improved play after a poor showing against Williams, while Amherst looks to jump start their offense after struggling against Bates.

MIDDLEBURY AT BOWDOIN 1pm

Last Game: Middlebury 34, Bowdoin 27 @ Middlebury

Last Five: 5-0

When Middlebury has the ball: Tufts threw for 321 yds in Week #1 against an inexperienced Polar Bear secondary, so expect Middlebury to attack Bowdoin through the air. Can QB Brian Moran improve his completion percentage, leverage his talented wideouts Patrick Jamin and Mike Ahonen, and find success in the passing game against Bowdoin?

When Bowdoin has the ball: Wesleyan was very productive using a run heavy approach against Middlebury on opening day and Bowdoin did the same against Tufts, so it’s likely the Polar Bears focus on the run with QB Robby Long. Can Middlebury’s defense rebound after a tough opener against Wesleyan?

Bigger Picture: Middlebury has 32 wins over the past 5 seasons, while Bowdoin only has 9, and the Panthers currently enjoy a 9-game win streak over Bowdoin, with the Polar Bears last winning in 2009. Bowdoin is clearly closing the gap with other top teams in the NESCAC, and this game provides a chance for the Polar Bears to end the streak.

TRINITY AT BATES 1pm

Last Game: Trinity 52, Bates 7 @ Trinity

Last Five: Trinity 5-0

When Trinity has the ball: The passing game under new QB Zander Zebrowski looked good in their opener, so one would expect Trinity to use an aerial assault with the Bantams’ WR trio of Sean Clapp, Nolan O’Brien and Matt Laughlin. Can the Bobcats young secondary slow Trinity’s passing attack?

When Bates has the ball: Rushing yards were hard for Bates to come by against Amherst and will likely be no easier against the Bantams. Can QB Colton Bosselait make some plays in the passing game to keep Bates in the game?

Bigger Picture: Trinity has a 27-game win streak against Bates, with the Bobcats last winning in 1979. This year may not be the year when the streak ends as there is a large experience gap between the two teams: Trinity’s line-up featuring several grad students and seniors while Bates’ starters have a large number of sophomores and freshmen.

Week 3 – September 28, 2024

NESCAC FOOTBALL POWER RANKINGS – After Week #2

1. Wesleyan (2-0)
2. Trinity (2-0)
3. Williams (2-0)
4. Tufts (1-1)
5. Amherst (2-0)
6. Middlebury (1-1)
7. Colby (0-2)
8. Bowdoin (0-2)
9. Bates (0-2)
10. Hamilton (0-2)

1-WESLEYAN (2-0)

The Cardinals blasted Middlebury and then followed up with a hard fought win over Tufts. Those two wins come against two of the top teams in the NESCAC, so those wins in the context of their strength of schedule put them at the top spot in my power rankings. One of my preseason questions for Wesleyan in my Team Overviews was whether their O-Line could improve the run game, and this far the answer on the run game is a resounding “yes”: the Cardinals lead the league in rushing yards (at 4.0 per carry average). The defense has yielded over 300 yds per game but offset limiting opponents to below 20% success on 3^rd down, recovering 5 fumbles (to losing none), leading the league with 10 sacks and stopping their opponents from scoring 3 out of 6 trips to the red zone.

2-TRINITY (2-0)

Another year and Trinity keeps rolling. In my preseason Team Overviews, one question was whether new QB Zander Zebrowski could pick up where Spencer Fetter left off, and so far, he has. Zebrowski is averaging 250 yds per game, has a completion percentage north of 80%, 4 TDs and no interceptions. No surprise that the WR trio of Clapp, O’Brien and Laughlin are producing, and the run game is also solid as well. RB Tyler DiNapoli (1^st team All-NESCAC in ’23) has been impactful and sophomore RB Jack Tosone has also looked good. The defense has been dominant, yielding just 7 points per game. Trinity has faced an easier slate that Wesleyan, hence the #2 ranking. One area for improvement: The Bantams have been flagged for the most penalties in the league with 15 penalties costing them 117 yards.

3-WILLIAMS (2-0)

One of the major questions in my preseason Team Overview for the Ephs was whether they could mount an aerial attack to complement their running game. So far in the ’24 season Williams has done that. Sophomore QB Owen McHugh has completed 76% of his passes for 220 yds per game with 6 TDs and 0 INTs; in ’23 he averaged 141 yds per game with a 48% completion rate. Two sophomore targets with size, Brody Stahelski (6’4”) and Owen Johansen (6’3”) have combined for 11-174 yds and 4 TDs in their two games. The Eph offense leads the league in points and is 2nd in yardage. The defense has been solid, but both units will be tested as the level of competition increases.

4-TUFTS (1-1)

The Jumbos lead the NESCAC in yards per game on offense with 387, but it hasn’t always translated into points. In their first game, Tufts outgained Bowdoin by 134 yards and won by 2 points, and in their second game the Jumbos outgained Wesleyan by 80 yds and lost by 11. Two issues have hurt them on offense, they are negative 4 in fumbles lost and they have converted just 2 TDs in 8 red zone trips. QB Michael Berluti leads the league in passing yards, but has not yet thrown a TD pass and has 3 INTs. Last year’s star running back Chartellis Reece is out, and the Jumbo rushing attack ranks 7^th in yardage in the league. The defense has been solid, and DB Ty Richardson already has 2 interceptions.

5-AMHERST (2-0)

Amherst has played 4 different quarterbacks in their past 11 games, and junior Mason Morrow is now the lead man for the Mammoths. His numbers have been average – 173 yds per game and 2 TDs and 1 INT. Amherst ranks 8^th in the league in total offensive yards, and Mammoths have turned to two freshman running backs in their last game to carry the load in Demitrius Smith and Zachary Curtain. The better news is on the other side of the ball: the defense has yielded just 2 TDs in two games, 2.0 yds per carry, and limited opponents to 115 yds per game through the air. No surprise that Luke Harmon is being impactful: he is 4^th in the league in tackles and tied for INTs with 2. Despite being 2-0, I have ranked Amherst 5^th as their wins have come against my 9^th and 10^th ranked units, Bates and Hamilton.

6-MIDDLEBURY (1-1)

Middlebury was blasted by Wesleyan in their home opener and found themselves down 15-7 to Bowdoin late in their second game. The Panthers ultimately hit their stride in the 2^nd half at Brunswick, scoring 32 unanswered points, and looking more like a team with eight returning All-NESCAC players. QB Brian Moran has only completed 47% of his passes, but tossed 3 TD passes in the Bowdoin win. To date, the Panther statistics across the board have been pedestrian, although WR Patrick Jamin is averaging close to 100 yds per game receiving. The rushing defense ranks 9^th in the league by yardage, which is a surprise based on their stars on defensive line, but could improve as four new starters at linebacker get better acclimated to NESCAC play.

7-COLBY (0-2)

The Mules have been lower to middle of the pack statistically but have struggled most in pass defense. Colby ranks 9^th in yards defended through the air and have yielded a league worst almost 9.9 yards per pass attempt. The Mule front seven has generated pressure – LBs Julian Young, Sebastian Romain and Locksley Burke have a combined 7 TFLs through 2 games. On offense, the trio of QB Mile Drake, RB Keon Smart and WR Duke Ferrara have all played well and rank in the top four in the NESCAC in passing, rushing and receiving yards, respectively. Both Colby and Bowdoin have played a tough early slate, but I have 0-2 Colby ranked slightly above Bowdoin based on their statistical advantage.

8-BOWDOIN (0-2)

The Polar Bears are 0-2, but their losses have come against quality opponents Tufts and Middlebury, both of whom they led in the 2^nd half. With several key member of Bowdoin’s 2023 aerial attack graduating, the Polar Bears have been run heavy on offense, sitting at 4^th in the league in rushing yards. They have employed two QBs who are running threats in Robby Long and Michael Wolfendale, with Long leading the team in rushing and Wolfendale 3^rd. The passing game has hurt Bowdoin on both sides of the ball: the Polar Bears rank 8^th in NESCAC in pass offense by yards and last in pass defense, losing on average over 100 yds per game to their opponents through the air. Bowdoin’s defense has given up 31.0 points per game.

9- BATES (0-2)

Bates played several underclassmen in ’23, which resulted in a winless campaign. This year is similar: in ’23 they started 11 sophomores or freshman, in ’24 they start 12, including two freshmen on the offensive line. The good news for the Bobcats is their defense ranks 3^rd in the NESCAC in yards allowed and 2^nd in rushing, a considerable improvement from ’23. LB Ryan Rozich leads the NESCAC in tackles. The bad news is the Bates offense is last in the NESCAC largely due to its passing game. The Bobcats have played three quarterbacks, connected on just 12 passes in ’24, completed just 33% of their passes and have thrown 6 INTs. Their top WR from last year, Sergio Beltran has not played, and Bates has faced two of the league’s toughest defense in Amherst and Trinity.

10- HAMILTON (0-2)

It’s been a tough early start for Hamilton in ’24, as they were beaten badly by Williams and lost their home opener to Amherst. The Continentals rank 9^th in offensive yardage and 10^th in defensive yardage on the year. On offense, despite accomplished runners in Luke Kurzum, Nate Wildman and Kamau Hopewell and an experienced offensive line, Hamilton is last in rushing averaging just 2.3 yds per carry. One bright spot on offense is sophomore WR Chester Boynton, who leads the NESCAC in catches and is 2^nd in receiving yards. On the defensive side, the Continental defense is yielding a league high 31.5 points per game, although DB Kyle Bratcher has made an impact with 3 PBUs and an INT in the first two games.

Game of the Week

WILLIAMS AT TRINITY 1:30 pm

Last Game: Trinity 41, Williams 14 @ Williams

Last Five: Williams 3-2

This match-up features two undefeated teams, with Williams looking to measure themselves against a tough opponent after looking impressive in their first two games.

BATES AT WESLEYAN 1pm

Last Game: Wesleyan 28, Bates 17 @ Wesleyan

Last Five: Wesleyan 5-0

Wesleyan is #1 in my Power Rankings and has beaten Bates 17 straight times, last losing to the Bobcats in 2005. Bates has been an improved unit in ’24, but this is a tough spot for the young team.

COLBY AT MIDDLEBURY 1pm

Last Game: Middlebury 35, Colby 28 @ Colby

Last Five: Middlebury 4-1

Winless Colby has been competitive in their opening games, but faces another tough foe in Middlebury, who hopes to carry over the level of play from their 2^nd half against Bowdoin.

HAMILTON AT BOWDOIN 1pm

Last Game: Bowdoin 26, Hamilton 12 @ Hamilton

Last Five: Hamilton 3-2

Two winless teams match-up in Brunswick, with Bowdoin looking to make progress in its pass defense and Hamilton hoping to find some semblance of a running game.

AMHERST AT TUFTS 1pm

Last Game: Tufts 34, Amherst 14 @ Amherst

Last Five: Amherst 4-1

Amherst’s defense has been outstanding in their first two games, but Saturday they will face the NESCAC’s most productive offense in terms of yards in Tufts.

Week 4 – October 5, 2024

NESCAC FOOTBALL POWER RANKINGS – After Week #3

1. Trinity (3-0)
2. Wesleyan (2-1)
3. Tufts (2-1)
4. Williams (2-1)
5. Middlebury (2-1)
6. Amherst (2-1)
7. Bates (1-2)
8. Bowdoin (1-2)
9. Colby (0-3)
10. Hamilton (0-3)

1-TRINITY (3-0)

The ’24 Trinity team is starting to look at a lot like the ’23 version: the Bantams have a positive 62-point differential (+20 points per game) with the next highest in the league at 31 points. Their offense ranks 1^st in yardage while the defense is 2^nd. Per the table below, new QB Zander Zebrowski has picked up where last year’s QB, Spencer Fetter left off:

Trinity has leaned heavier on the pass, as they are 8^th in league in rush attempts, which is a luxury considering they have a returning All-NESCAC back in Tyler DiNapoli back and are running at 3.8 yds per carry. The defense, which is yielding less than 10 points per game, is tied with Tufts for the most interceptions in the NESCAC with 6. The one potential issue is in pass protection, where the offensive line with 3 new starters has yielded 6 sacks through 3 games; last year they gave up 4 over the entire season. They are in the top spot as the only undefeated team in the NESCAC.

2-WESLEYAN (2-1)

I had Wesleyan at the top of my Power Rankings last week in large part due to their win over Tufts, a game at which the Cardinals capitalized on several Tufts’ miscues to secure the win. Last Saturday, the script was flipped: Bates upset Wesleyan taking advantage of a series of Wesleyan mistakes. The Cardinal air game has been predicated on big plays: QB Niko Candido has by far the league’s highest yards per completion (19.2) but has only completed passes at 44% which is 9^th in NESCAC. WR Chase Wilson is the big play threat. The Wesleyan defense is statistically middle of the pack, giving up over 300 yards a game, but LB Ben Carbeau leads the league in tackles. The Cardinals lead the NESCAC in penalties with 21 for 206 yards, giving up close to 70 yards per game in that area. I have Wesleyan ranked over one loss Tufts based on their head-to-head win.

3-TUFTS (2-1)

Tufts has been impressive in controlling their games: they average over 400 yds per game and have yielded 226 yds. As noted last week, they need to be more productive in cashing in that yardage success into points, as they have only scored 4 TDs in 12 red zone trips. Despite being 2^nd in overall offensive and passing yardage, there appears to be room for improvement for QB Michael Berluti, who is a multiple All-NESCAC performer. This season Berluti has 4 INTs to 1 TD pass (last year his ratio was the inverse, almost 4:1 in favor of TDs), his rushing yds per game is down (was 57.3 yds in ’23 versus 29.7 yds in ‘24) and his completion percentage is down 3% from a year ago. The defense has been very good: despite several new faces on defense, the Jumbos rank 1^st in overall yardage allowed, 1^st in pass defense and are tied with Trinity for most picks.

4-WILLIAMS (2-1)

The Ephs have a strong running game, led by RBs Mario Fischetti and Jon Oris and QB Owen McHugh, which ranks 1^st in NESCAC in yardage and averages 3.9 per carry. Those stats include playing against a tough Trinity defense. McHugh has been very efficient in the passing game: he is 2^nd in league in completion percentage, has 6 TDs to 1 INT and is getting 12.9 yds per completion. Williams’ strength in the running game helps them be very effective in red zone: they have scored every time they have gotten into the red zone and have 8 TDs in those 9 trips. The defense has not been as good: they sit 8^th in scoring defense and 7^th in yardage having played the best and worst scoring offenses to date. There is youth on defense at Williams: of their 4 top tacklers one is a freshman (Luke Mangini) and two are sophomores (Brady Carroll and Wyatt Cotton), so improvement may come as the season progresses.

5-MIDDLEBURY (2-1)

Middlebury topped Colby, after being tied at half. Through their first 3 games, the Panthers have been outscored 52-17 in the first half but have outscored their opponents 53-22 in the 2^nd half. The comebacks have worked against Bowdoin and Colby but may not be sustainable against better teams. Panther offensive yardage statistics have been in the middle of the pack in rushing and passing, QB Brian Moran is completing less than 50% of his passes, they have yielded the most sacks in the league, but WRs Patrick Jamin and Ethan Vashel rank in the Top 10 in receiving yards. The Middlebury defense ranks 9^th in the league in yards allowed and 9^th in rushing defense but lead the league in sacks (tied with Colby). I have the Panthers just slightly below Williams based on their inconsistency to date.

6-AMHERST (2-1)

A bit like I wrote about Trinity, the ‘24 Amherst team is starting to look at a lot like the ’23 version: a good defense with a struggling offense. The Mammoths are last in the league in total offensive yardage, last in rushing yardage and 9^th in passing. They are a mere 6 for 36 on 3^rddown and have thrown 4 INTs against 2 TDs. While Amherst looks to settle on a QB, its defense has been key to its two victories as it ranks 3^rd in yardage allowed and has only surrendered 13 pts per game. The question around the defense is can they maintain that level of play when they face better offenses than Hamilton and Bates; Tufts rolled up 427 yds in their game against Amherst. A bright spot for the Mammoths is that Carter Jung is 1^st in the league with 197 yds (28.1 yd avg) on kickoff returns. Amherst is my last one loss team based on their strength of schedule to date.

7– BATES (1-2)

The Bobcats, who went winless in ‘23, broke through with an upset win at Wesleyan. RB Ryan Lynskey has been an impactful workhorse for Bates – he leads NESCAC in carries and yards while averaging 100.3 yds per game and 4.1 yds per carry. The passing has not been good: they average just 6.3 completions a game and are last in the league in passing yards (179 yds behind the 9^th best team) and over 600 yds (over 200 per game) behind Trinity. WR Sergio Beltran saw some action in their last game, so he may help the Bobcat passing game. Bates is developing an identity with defense: they are 4^th in the league in yards allowed after finishing last in ’23. The Bobcats have cut their yards yielded per game by over 120 yds per game compared to ‘23, and that includes games against Trinity and Wesleyan in ‘24. Two players have shined on defense: LB Ryan Rozich in 3^rd in the league in tackles, and freshman DB Marquez Narvaez-Estrada is 1^st in PBUs. I have Bates over Bowdoin based on the quality of their win.

8-BOWDOIN (1-2)

The Bowdoin picked up their first win, topping Hamilton by 7. Bowdoin showed more in their passing game, with QB Robbie Long throwing for 273 yds after throwing for 215 yds in his first two game combined. The Polar Bears do not have a Top 10 receiver by yardage in the league. Long has averaged 224 yds per game of total offense – 163 per game passing and 61 on the ground and is 4^th in the NESCAC in rushing yards. The Bowdoin defense is ranked 8^th in yards allowed but have some standout players. Aidan Ready and Koy Price are ranked 1^st and 2^nd in the league in TFLs, combining for 10.5, and LB Dan Fiore is 2^nd in tackles. The question is whether Bowdoin can continue its passing success against tougher competition.

9-COLBY (0-3)

Colby sits at 0-3 but have been competitive against a very difficult early slate of games: Trinity, Williams and Middlebury. On offense, the Mules have started Miles Drake at QB, but have begun mixing in QB Declan McNamara, who has been more of a running threat to date. Drake is 7^th in the NESCAC in completion percentage (51.8%) and has 3 TDs and 3 INTs on the year. RB Keon Smart and WR Duke Ferrara have provide the majority of the offense, and freshman WR Jack Nye has flashed in the last two games. On defense, the good news is the Mules have been stout against the run (2.4 rush per game), and DE Jack Mullen leads the league in sacks with 4.5 through three games. The bad news is Colby is last in the NESCAC in pass defense (giving up the most yards at 257 per game) with their opponent’s completion percentage at a league high 73.8% (the next highest team is yielding 64.8%). In the upcoming games, it will be interesting to see if these stats improve against a different level of competition. I have the Mules ranked above Hamilton based on the quality of their opponents and their point differential.

10- HAMILTON (0-3)

The Continentals are winless through three games and have yet to play 4 of the top 5 teams in my Power Rankings. On offense, they have scored the least points in the league (11.7 per game), in large part because of their rushing attack, which is 9^th in the NESCAC in yards per game (68.3 yds) and last in yards per carry at 2.6. The lack of production is odd as Hamilton returned their dual threat QB, RB and several offensive line starters from 2023, when they finished 4^th in the league in rushing, averaging 119.4 per game and 3.3 per carry. Hamilton switched from QB Luke Kurzum, who was the NESCAC ROY in ’23, to junior QB Henry Rubey in the 2^nd quarter of their last game. There is less mystery on the defensive side, where Hamilton has struggled for the past several seasons: the Continentals are last in yards surrendered and in rush defense. Both Amherst and Bowdoin QBs threw for more or close to the same yardage against Hamilton than in their other two games combined.

Game of the Week

TRINITY AT TUFTS 1:30pm

Last Game: Trinity 44, Tufts 19 @ Trinity

Last Five: Trinity 4-1

This match-up is a big game between two of the top teams in the NESCAC, and one which will go a long way to determine who claims the league title. A Trinity win puts them firmly in the driver’s seat.

BOWDOIN AT WILLIAMS 1pm

Last Game: Bowdoin 20, Williams 0 @ Bowdoin

Last Five: Williams 4-1

This game features a disruptive Bowdoin front seven against a powerful Williams ground game. This contest is a key game for both teams.

WESLEYAN AT HAMILTON 1pm

Last Game: Wesleyan 35, Hamilton 14 @ Wesleyan

Last Five: Wesleyan 4-1

Wesleyan looks to bounce back against winless Hamilton after last week’s upset, while the Continentals hope to get their rushing attack and defense on track.

MIDDLEBURY AT AMHERST 2pm

Last Game: Middlebury 21, Amherst 7 @ Middlebury

Last Five: Middlebury 3-2

Middlebury hopes to find some consistency as the Mammoths search to find answers on the offensive side of the ball.

BATES AT COLBY 7 pm

Last Game: Colby 30, Bates 24 @ Bates

Last Five: Colby 5-0

A CBB battle under the lights in Waterville features Colby searching for their first win and their 6^th win over Bates in this series. Bates looks to continue their momentum from a win at Wesleyan.

Week 5 – October 12, 2024

NESCAC FOOTBALL POWER RANKINGS – After Week #4

1. Trinity (4-0)
2. Wesleyan (3-1)
3. Williams (3-1)
4. Middlebury (3-1)
5. Tufts (2-2)
6. Amherst (2-2)
7. Colby (1-3)
8. Bates (1-3)
9. Bowdoin (1-3)
10. Hamilton (0-4)

1-TRINITY (4-0)

The Bantams had a big win at Tufts and are now the only undefeated team in the NESCAC. Trinity is 1^st in offensive yardage and 2^nd in defense, with an 80 point differential (20 pts per game). They have been very efficient on offense with a completion percentage of 79%, thrown for 10 TDs and no interceptions, converted 48.8% on 3^rd down chances, converted 75% on 4^th down, and scored on all of their 15 red zone trips with 13 of those TDs. The kicking game has also been perfect: PK Matthew Jumes is 2 for 2 on field goals and 18 for 18 on PATs. On defense, 6 different Trinity defenders have an interception, and the Bantams have allowed just 4 TDs passes versus those 6 INTs. My only nitpick would be a slow start – they have found themselves behind in 2^nd and 3^rd quarter in their last two games, respectively.

2-WESLEYAN (3-1)

The Cardinals did not look overly impressive in their comeback win over Hamilton going scoreless for the first 3 quarters in Clinton. On offense, WR Chase Wilson has been electric: he has the most receiving yards in the league and averages 26.0 yds per catch. He has 5 of Wesleyan’s 11 offensive touchdowns. The offense is 4^th in both rushing and passing yardage in the NESCAC, but the defense has given up the lowest points and rushing yards in the league. Their red zone defense has been outstanding: on 6 red zone trips, Wesleyan opponents have only scored 3 times and only one has been a TD. DB Sean Walker has played well in pass defense; he has 5 PBUs in only 3 games. One area of improvement relates to executing on PATs – the Cardinals are just 8-12 on those tries.

3- WILLIAMS (3-1)

Williams looked very good in their home win over Bowdoin. The Ephs have the 2^nd most yds in the NESCAC and are 1^st in rushing yards. A big part of their run game is RB Mario Fischetti, who had TD runs of 68 and 80 yards in the win, is 3^rd in league in rush yards and sports a 6.8 yd/carry average. QB Owen McHugh is at a 72.7% completion rate and has spread the ball around: he has thrown TDs to six different receivers through 4 games. The Ephs are 2^nd in league averaging over 28 points per game, but only have 1 field goal. Williams is middle of the pack in terms of yardage yielded, but sophomore DB Holden Gehring has been impressive: he has 5 PBUs (1^st in NESCAC) and 2 INTs (2^nd in NESCAC) and is 3^rd on the team in tackles. Areas for improvement include limiting sacks (11) and penalties (31).

4-MIDDLEBURY (3-1)

Middlebury held off Amherst, but did allow a struggling Mammoth offense to score 3 TDs in the 2^nd half. The Panthers rank 6^th in both offense and defense in the league, but 3^rd in points allowed. On offense, they are fueled by the passing game: they boast 3 of the top 12 receivers by yards in the NESCAC in Patrick Jamin, Mike Ahonen and Ethan Vashel, who collectively average 14.5 yds per catch. On defense, their rush defense has been very good, but the Panthers have been susceptible to pass plays. The key for Middlebury’s defense is they generate turnovers and sacks. The Panthers lead the NESCAC in both interceptions (7) and sacks (14), which have led to 97 INT return yds and 102 yds lost to a Middlebury sack for their opponents. DB Rocco Stola leads the team with 27 tackles through 4 games.

5-TUFTS (2-2)

The Jumbos endured a tough home loss to Trinity which hurts their title chances. The offense is strong, and QB Michael Berluti ranks 2^nd in the NESCAC in total offense at 293 yds per game between passing and running. The rushing attack is 5^th in the league, and those numbers would likely be higher if RB Chartellis Reece was available. On defense, even after playing Trinity and Wesleyan, the Jumbos defense ranks 1^st in overall yardage allowed and 1^st in pass defense. The kicking game has been a weapon: PK Vaughn Seelicke has kicked 8 FGs while the rest of league has averaged 1.8 FGs for the season. Tufts can improve in fumbles lost (negative 5 on the year) and red zone efficiency as their offense has just 5 TDs in 15 red zone trips whereas their opponents have scored 9 TDs in 10 red zone trips.

6-AMHERST (2-2)

Mammoths fell behind in their loss to Middlebury in large part due to turnovers but showed some offense in the 2^nd half. Amherst has the biggest disparity between offensive yardage and defensive yardage in the NESCAC: they are last in offensive yardage and 3^rd best in yardage yielded. On offense, QB Mason Morrow had his highest passing day against Middlebury but threw 4 interceptions. The rush game is the league’s worst, rushing for just 2.2 per carry and 47.5 yds per game, and Amherst has really struggled on 3^rd down where they have converted less than 20% of their chances. On defense, they rank 3^rd in pass defense, have 5 INTs and have been great on 4^th down: opponents have only converted 1 of 7 chances. The field goal kicking is also an area that can improve as Amherst is just 2-5 on FG attempts.

7-COLBY (1-3)

Colby had a big CBB win over Bates under the lights in Waterville, and three offensive players are making a major impact. QB Miles Drake, who missed most of last season with injury, had a breakout game against Bates completing 87.5% of his passes, throwing for 222 yds and rushing for 110 yards after rushing for a total of 11 yards in the first three games. RB Keon Smart had close to 200 of combined yards in the game, and now sits 2^nd in the NESCAC in all-purpose yds. Freshman WR Jack Nye has emerged as a quality WR for the Mules in last three games averaging 84 receiving yds per game over that span. Colby’s defense is 7^th in yardage yielded and 8^th in rush defense and will look to improve in those areas as well as 3^rd down defense: they are worst in the NESCAC allowing a 42% conversion rate.

8– BATES (1-3)

Bates came close to winning on the road at Colby but fell short. The offense is very run heavy; the Bobcats are 2^nd in league in rushing and 1^st in carries with a 3.7 yd average. RB Ryan Lynskey continues to lead the league in rushing, boasting a 4.0 per carry average and Bates got WR Sergio Beltran back into the lineup: he had 123 yds of total offense against Colby. Bates is doing well on 3^rd down: the Bobcats are 2^nd in the league converting at 45%. Their passing is still anemic: Bates is last in the league in passing as they have a league low 25 completions whereas the rest of league ranges between 94-57 completions. In terms of improvement, the Bates defense had been playing well against the run, but surrendered 274 yds on the ground to Colby including some big plays.

9-BOWDOIN (1-3)

The Polar Bears lost by 20 in Williamstown, and their offense could not score until the 4^th quarter. Bowdoin sits 7^th in the league in offense, and 7^th and 8^th in rushing and passing, respectively. QB Robbie Long is 6^th in league rushing (55 per game) but 8^th in passing completing just 51.5% of his passes and throwing 4 TDs and 4 picks. On defense, the Polar Bears are last in yards surrendered (384 yds per game), but have faced 2 of the top 3 offenses in Tufts and Williams. DL/LB Koy Price continues to make a major impact; he has 2 TDs (pick six and fumble run back); no Polar Bear receiver or running back has more TDs than Price. Bowdoin has a senior laden and experienced front seven, so they will look to improve their rush defense which is last in the league and is yielding 4.4 per carry. I have Bowdoin the last of the 1-3 teams as their only win is over my 10^th ranked team.

10- HAMILTON (0-4)

The Continentals are winless but have narrowed the gap in the past two games, losing by 7 and 12 including leading Wesleyan into the 4^th quarter. On offense, Hamilton has the worst yardage per play in the league at just 4.1 yds per play. WR Chester Boynton has been consistent: he leads the NESCAC in receptions. The running game is not good, and Hamilton will look from improvement from an experienced and senior laden offensive line that has yielded 10 sacks and has blocked for a running game that is only getting 2.5 per carry. On defense, the pass defense needs to improve around DB Kyle Bratcher; the Continentals have yielded the most yards through the air (254 yds per game), have surrendered 12 TDs against 1 INT and an opponent completion percentage of 67%. To find a win, Hamilton must also reduce dropped passes and turnovers (negative 3 on the year).

Game of the Week

Saturday, October 12, 2024

WILLIAMS AT MIDDLEBURY 2pm

Last Game: Middlebury 12, Williams 10 @ Williams

Last Five: Middlebury 4-1

Great match-up between two of the stronger groups in the NESCAC: Williams’ run offense against Middlebury’s rush defense. Both teams sit at 3-1, and this game is a key contest for one team to stay in the title chase.

BOWDOIN AT AMHERST 1pm

Last Game: Amherst 27, Bowdoin 23 @ Bowdoin

Last Five: Amherst 4-1

Bowdoin travels to Amherst and will look to find points against a stingy Amherst defense. The Mammoths will try to get its offense on track.

COLBY AT WESLEYAN 1pm

Last Game: Colby 20, Wesleyan 13 (OT) @ Colby

Last Five: Wesleyan 4-1

Wesleyan is 3-1 and Colby is 1-3, but Colby has been playing better while Wesleyan not been as crisp lately. Last year’s contest was an upset OT win by Colby.

HAMILTON AT TRINITY 1:30pm

Last Game: Trinity 34, Hamilton 21 @ Hamilton

Last Five: Trinity 5-0

This game is a match-up of an undefeated team in Trinity hosting winless Hamilton. Trinity has won 28 straight over the Continentals, with Hamilton last winning in 1994. It appears that streak will continue on Saturday.

TUFTS AT BATES 6 pm

Last Game: Tufts 44, Bates 16 @ Tufts

Last Five: Tufts 4-1

Tufts is coming off a loss against Trinity, so will look to get back in the winning column in a night game in Lewiston. Bates needs to establish their run game against a stingy Jumbo defense.

Week 6 – October 19, 2024

NESCAC FOOTBALL POWER RANKINGS – After Week #5

1-Trinity (5-0)

2-Wesleyan (4-1)

3-Middlebury (4-1)

4-Tufts (3-2)

5-Williams (3-2)

6-Bowdoin (2-3)

7-Amherst (2-3)

8-Colby (1-4)

As to be expected, the stats are not kind to a winless team. The Hamilton offense is last in the league in yards per play at 3.8 yds. Coming off a solid rushing performance in ’23 (119 yds per game), the rushing statistics are surprisingly low (62 yds per game) based on their returning players at the rushing spots and along the offensive line. The pass defense is a true sore spot, with Hamilton yielding the highest completion percentage, passing yards and passing TDs (16) in the NESCAC. To improve their chances to find a win, the Continentals need to reduce their turnovers: they are negative 6 in turnover margin.

Looking Ahead:

Future road games against Tufts and Middlebury appear daunting, but Hamilton has home games against Colby and Bates which provide better opportunities to get their first win.

Game of the Week

TRINITY AT MIDDLEBURY 1pm

Last Game: Middlebury 20, Trinity 15 @ Trinity

Last Five: Trinity 3-2

This contest was the biggest game of the ’23 season, with Middlebury stopping Trinity short of the goal line on the final play to earn a share of the NESCAC crown. This year’s match-up has similar NESCAC championship ramifications.

Other Games

BATES AT WILLIAMS 1 pm

Last Game: Williams 43, Bates 0 @ Bates

Last Five: Williams 5-0

This game features two of the top rushing offenses in the league, so both teams will be looking to play quality rush defense. The Ephs have won 6 straight over Bates.

AMHERST AT COLBY 1pm

Last Game: Colby 19, Amherst 16 @ Amherst

Last Five: Colby 3-2

Colby has beaten Amherst three straight, but all games have been close: the last three games were decided by a total of 11 points. Expect another tight, low scoring game in Waterville.

WESLEYAN AT BOWDOIN 1pm

Last Game: Wesleyan 35, Bowdoin 30 @ Wesleyan

Last Five: Wesleyan 4-1

After big wins over Middlebury and Tufts, Wesleyan lost to Bates and won tight games against Colby and Hamilton. Bowdoin is coming off an impressive 28-point win at Amherst.

HAMILTON AT TUFTS 1pm

Last Game: Hamilton 36, Tufts 34 (5OT) @ Hamilton

Last Five: Tufts 3-2

Last year this match-up ended in a major upset win by Hamilton in 5 overtimes. Hamilton has been more competitive recently, but Tufts will provide a considerable challenge.

Week 7 – October 26, 2024

NESCAC FOOTBALL POWER RANKINGS – After Week #6

1. Wesleyan (5-1)
2. Middlebury (5-1)
3. Trinity (5-1)
4. Tufts (4-2)
5. Williams (4-2)
6. Colby (2-4)
7. Bowdoin (2-4)
8. Amherst (2-4)
9. Bates (1-5)
10. Hamilton (0-6)

As I did a deeper dive last week, I zoomed out this week a bit with respect to each team in my Power Rankings looking at their overall season. In addition, I have this weekend’s game previews including the Game of the Week, Tufts at Williams.

1-WESLEYAN (5-1)

The Cardinals are the beneficiary of Middlebury’s win over Trinity and take the top spot in my Power Rankings. The Cardinals opened the season with two big wins at Middlebury and home against Tufts, but then promptly lost at home to Bates. Since that game, Wesleyan has won a series of fairly close games over Hamilton, Colby (in OT) and Bowdoin. They head to Amherst, followed by a tough game against Williams. If the Cardinals win those two Little Three contests, it will likely set up a final game at Trinity with the championship on the line. Wesleyan is looking for their first NESCAC championship since 2013.

2-MIDDLEBURY (5-1)

Similar to 2023, Middlebury beat Trinity with a play in final minute to give the Bantams their first defeat and clears a path for the Panthers to win a potential championship. Middlebury opened the season by getting crushed by Wesleyan, but rallied to win their next five games, which included tight wins over Colby, Amherst and Williams (in OT) before their win over Trinity. In the next two weeks, the Panthers play at Bates and home against Hamilton (two teams that are combined 1-11), before finishing with a tough road game against Tufts. Middlebury’s ability to shake off the early drubbing by Wesleyan and win their last two games by just 3 points each has positioned them for a championship season.

3-TRINITY (5-1)

Another tough loss at the hands of Middlebury dashed Trinity’s hopes for an undefeated season. Before losing to the Panthers, Trinity had won each of their opening 5 games by double digits, including lopsided wins over Williams and Tufts. The Bantams have by far the highest point differential in the NESCAC at positive 101 points. Although the loss to Middlebury is similar to the loss in 2023, what is also the same is the Bantams control their own destiny in terms of a share of the NESCAC championship. Trinity hosts Bowdoin before traveling to Amherst, and if they win those games, their finale at home against fellow Connecticut foe Wesleyan should have title ramifications.

4-TUFTS (4-2)

Tufts sits at 4-2, losing a tight game at Wesleyan, getting beaten soundly by Trinity, dominating Amherst and Bates and winning closer games over Bowdoin and Hamilton. The Jumbos finished 6-3 in the past two seasons, and again appear to be on the outside looking in terms of championship hopes. Tufts closes with a difficult slate: they travel to Williams and Colby then finish at home against Middlebury, who may be in search of a co-championship. The Jumbos will look to keep their faint championship hopes alive down their challenging stretch.

5- WILLIAMS (4-2)

Williams lost a tight game to Middlebury (in OT) and got beaten convincingly by Trinity but took care of business in their other four wins over Hamilton, Colby, Bowdoin and Bates. Williams will play home against Tufts and then at Wesleyan before ending their season in Williamstown in their storied rivalry against Amherst. In their past 3 seasons, the Ephs won 3, 3 and 4 games, respectively, and Williams will look to continue their upward trend in win totals this season by closing strong.

6-COLBY (2-4)

Colby opened the season with three tight losses to quality opponents (Trinity, Williams, and Middlebury), won a 2-point game CBB game against Bates, lost to Wesleyan (in OT) and blasted Amherst. To underscore their competitiveness, despite being 2-4, Colby has a positive point differential of 4 points. Colby heads to Clinton to face winless Hamilton, hosts a tough Tufts team and closes with an opportunity to win the CBB against Bowdoin on the road. A sweep may be a tall order but would bring the Mules their first winning season since 2005.

7- BOWDOIN (2-4)

Bowdoin lost to top foes Tufts (by 2), Middlebury, Williams and Wesleyan (by 3), but beat both Hamilton and Amherst. Next up for the Polar Bears is a trip to Hartford to face Trinity who is smarting after a tough loss. Following that game, its CBB contests: at Bates and hosting Colby. Bowdoin is looking to keep its momentum going: the Polar Bears won a total of 3 games in the five seasons between ’16 and ’21, but since then have 3 and 4 wins in ’22 and ’23, respectively. They will be motivated in their last 3 games to hit their ’23 win total as well as defend their ‘23 CBB title.

8-AMHERST (2-4)

Amherst opened the season with back to wins over Bates and Hamilton but have since lost 4 straight including lopsided affairs against Tufts, Bowdoin and Colby. The Mammoths’ schedule is a bit backloaded as they will host Wesleyan, then host Trinity and finish with their classic rivalry game in Williamstown. Amherst will be looking to play spoilers in their games, and of course, salvage their season by beating Williams.

9– BATES (1-5)

Bates is 1-5 but looks much improved from last year’s winless season. Bates upset Wesleyan and played Colby (2-point loss) and Williams (3-point loss) competitively. Saturday, they host a quality Middlebury team, then have their 2^nd CBB contest at home against Bowdoin before closing at Hamilton. The Bobcats will look to salvage a win in the CBB and topple winless Hamilton.

10- HAMILTON (0-6)

It’s been a tough season in Clinton, with the winless Continentals getting beaten soundly by Williams and Trinity, but playing Bowdoin, Wesleyan and Tufts competitively. Next up they host a good Colby team, travel to Middlebury, who Hamilton hasn’t beaten since 1994, and close the season at home against Bates. The Continentals will focus on finding their first win somewhere in those games.

Game of the Week

TUFTS AT WILLIAMS 1:30pm

Last Game: Tufts 28, Williams 10 @ Tufts

Last Five: Tufts 3-2

The Game of the Week is a match-up of two 4-2 teams with strong RB/QB rushing threats. When Tufts has the ball, RB Christian Shapiro and QB Michael Berluti will likely look to attack the young Williams defense on the ground. Although Hamilton had some success through the air against Tufts last weekend, when Williams has the ball expect the Ephs to use their potent run game, featuring RB Mario Fischetti and QB Owen McHugh against the Jumbos.

COLBY AT HAMILTON – Noon

Last Game: Hamilton 17, Colby 6 @ Colby

Last Five: Hamilton 3-2

When Colby has the ball, one would expect QB Miles Drake, WRs Duke Ferrara and Jack Nye to attack Hamilton through the air, as the Continental defense has struggled in their coverage. As Colby has a strong rush defense, Hamilton will likely look to move the ball through the air, an area where QB Luke Kurzum showed improvement against Tufts.

WESLEYAN AT AMHERST 1pm

Last Game: Wesleyan 34, Amherst 7 @ Wesleyan

Last Five: Wesleyan 3-2

This Little Three contest features two of the top defenses in the NESCAC. The key questions for this game is whether (i) Amherst freshman QB Marek Hill and the Mammoth offense can limit mistakes and generate points against the Cardinals and (ii) Wesleyan WR Chase Wilson can find continued success against a talented Amherst secondary.

MIDDLEBURY AT BATES 1pm

Last Game: Middlebury 48, Bates 7 @ Middlebury

Last Five: Middlebury 5-0

The Bates offense is very rush heavy, so the Bobcats will likely stick to that script against the Panthers and will need their young OL to open up rush lanes against Middlebury’s talented defensive line. As Bates’ defense has struggled in recent games stopping the run, Middlebury may lean on its stable of running backs to attack Bates on the ground. Middlebury has won 33 straight games against Bates, with the Bobcats last beating the Panthers in 1988.

BOWDOIN AT TRINITY 1:30pm

Last Game: Trinity 58-21 @ Bowdoin

Last Five: Trinity 5-0

Trinity features a potent aerial attack and should throw early and often against a vulnerable Polar Bear secondary; the Bantam OL will need to focus on DL Koy Price. Bowdoin will likely look to control the ball with their rushing attack, led by QB Robbie Long. Trinity has won 24 straight games against Bowdoin, with the Polar Bears last beating the Bantams in 1998.

Week 8 – November 2, 2024

NESCAC FOOTBALL POWER RANKINGS – After Week #7

1. Trinity (6-1)
2. Wesleyan (6-1)
3. Tufts (5-2)
4. Middlebury (5-2)
5. Williams (4-3)
6. Colby (3-4)
7. Bates (2-5)
8. Bowdoin (2-5)
9. Amherst (2-5)
10. Hamilton (0-7)

Another week, another shake-up in my Power Rankings. In addition, I have this weekend’s game previews including the Game of the Week, Williams at Wesleyan.

1-TRINITY (6-1)

With Bates’ win over Middlebury, Trinity now has control over their path to sole possession of the NESCAC championship. QB Zander Zebrowski continues to be stellar, and although he finally threw a pick, he has led the Trinity passing attack to the highest yards and completion percentage in the league with a sterling 19/1 TD to INT ratio. Zebrowski has brought a running element, he has 215 rush yards to date and has leveraged wideouts Nolan O’Brien and Sean Clapp. O’Brien has been impactful: he has the most receiving yards, touchdowns and all-purpose yards in the NESCAC while Clapp is 7^th in the league in receiving yards. RB Tyler DiNapoli sits 5^th in the league in rush yards, but three backs ahead of him have 35 carries or more than he does. The Bantams have the 2^nd best defense in the NESCAC based on yards allowed, have given up just under 14 points per game and have 11 INTs through 7 games. One sore spot: Trinity has allowed opponents to convert 10 of 14 4^th down chances. It was a close call, but I have Trinity ranked above Wesleyan based on the Bantams’ statistical advantage including point differential, where Trinity sits at +121 points, while Wesleyan is at +74 points. After Trinity plays at Amherst this weekend, Trinity’s game against Wesleyan in week #9 provide the final answer.

2-WESLEYAN (6-1)

A great week for the Cardinals as they watch Middlebury lose (to clear a path to the NESCAC championship) and beat Little Three foe Amherst. Wesleyan has been outstanding defensively, sporting the league’s lowest yardage allowed (251 yards per game which is 26 yards lower than the 2^nd best team), passing yardage and best 3^rd down defense. On offense, WR Chase Wilson has been electric with 700 receiving yards and 7 TDs but could use some help as the other Cardinal receivers and tight ends have combined for just 2 TDs. QB Niko Candido has one of the lower completion percentages in the NESCAC (51.3%), but has 10 TDs to just 2 INTs. Wesleyan will look for improvement on the offensive line, as the Cardinals have yielded the most sacks (22) and are 8^th in rushing yards in the league, averaging just 2.9 per carry. A big game against Williams in Middletown on Saturday looms, as the Cardinals can both win the Little Three title as well as secure a path to the NESCAC crown.

3-TUFTS (5-2)

Tufts held off Williams to move to 5-2, and are still technically in the title chase, but like needs some help. The Jumbo offense ranks 2^nd overall and 3^rd in rushing and passing yards. RB Christian Shapiro ranks 4^th in the league in rushing with over 500 yds and 6 TDs and has rushed for over 100 yards in 2 of his past 3 games. The Jumbo offensive line has allowed only 7 sacks with only Bates yielding less, and Bates has 112 less passing attempts. The Tufts defense has been solid, with DB Ty Richardson snagging a league leading 5 INTs and the overall defense picking off 11 passes and yielding just 9 TD passes. Tufts will look to improve in fumbles – the Jumbos have lost 9 and only recovered 1 from their opponents. I have the Jumbos ahead of Middlebury based on a stronger statistical profile, but their final game of the season will determine it. Next up for the Jumbos is a trip to Waterville to play Colby before hosting Middlebury.

4-MIDDLEBURY (5-2)

A big win last week over Trinity, followed by a tough loss to Bates in Lewiston which like Tufts, put the Panthers on the outside looking in for a championship. The Panthers are 5-2 but have just a +9-point different differential. The Middlebury receivers have been a very strong unit, with Patrick Jamin, Ethan Vashel and Mike Ahonen ranking 3^rd, 5^th and 8^th, respectively, in receiving yards. Other offensive players have been strong: QB Brian Moran is 3^rd in the league in passing yards and has 13 TDs versus just 3 INTs, while the Panther quartet of running backs have rushed 187-853 yds for a 4.6 yards per carry average. The defense has not been as strong as it sits 8^th in the NESCAC in yards allowed, with similar struggles in rush and pass defense. After combining for 10.5 sacks in games 2 through 5, the duo of Dave Filias and Tomas Kenary have combined for just 0.5 sack in the last two games, and the Middlebury defense, which had 9 INTs through 5 games, had just one in the past two contests. The Panthers host winless Hamilton in the Old Rocking Chair Classic game, and then close the season against a formidable Tufts team in Medford.

5- WILLIAMS (4-3)

A series of 3-point games, including losses to Middlebury and Tufts around a win over Bates, leaves Williams at 4-3. The Eph running game appears to have lost RB Mario Fischetti, who was incredibly productive when he played, to injury but between QB Owen McHugh and RB Jon Oris, the Williams run game should be solid. McHugh threw 9 TDs against just 2 INTs in the season’s first 4 games but has thrown only 3 TDs against 5 INTs in the past 3 games. McHugh has ramped up his rush game, running for his two highest totals (68 and 56 yards) in last 2 games. The Williams defense ranks 9^th in rush defense and have only picked off 4 passes and recovered just 1 fumble on the season. Some of the defensive issues may relate to the unit being in flux: the Ephs have featured 20 different defensive starters through 7 games. Williams closes the season with its Little Three games, heading to Middletown to play Wesleyan and then hosting Amherst.

6-COLBY (3-4)

With its win late over Hamilton, Colby has won 3 of its past 4 games, with the only loss coming in overtime to Wesleyan. On offense, RB Keon Smart is 2^nd in rushing yards, sports a 4.5 per carry average and is the 2^nd in all-purpose yards. Oddly with all his production Smart has just 3 TDs, but the Mules utilize 6’6” TE Atticus Duncan in the red zone, where of his 11 catches, 4 have been TDs. QB Miles Drake, who threw 4 INTs in his first 4 games, has not thrown one in the past 3 games (which included Wesleyan and Amherst) and has tossed 6 TDs in those games. The Colby rush defense is 2^nd in the NESCAC in yards yielded and 3^rd in scoring defense (19.1 per game). The Mule linebacking corps is impressive: Julian Young is 2^nd in NESCAC in tackles and has 3 sacks, while LB Sebastian Romain is 11^th in tackles and has 6 sacks. Colby is tied for the 2^nd most sacks in the league, with DE Jack Mullen getting 8.5 sacks (2^nd in league). The Mules host Tufts and then finish the year with their annual CBB rivalry game at Bowdoin.

7– BATES (2-5)

An impressive win over Middlebury in Lewiston puts the Bobcats at 2-5; they are clearly an improved team from last year’s winless campaign after beating both Wesleyan and Middlebury. Although Bates has been very effective on the ground (2^nd in the NESCAC in rushing behind league leading rusher Ryan Lynskey), QB Colton Bosselait has stepped up in the last 2 games. Bates does not throw often (last in attempts), but have gotten more effective: over the 1^st five games Bosselait threw 22-49 (45% completion) with 3 TDs and 5 INTs, but in his last two games, he went 23-36 (64% completion) with 5 TDs and 1 INT. The defense has given up the most points in the league (tied with Hamilton) and are last in rush defense. LB Ryan Rozich leads the NESCAC in tackles, but the Bobcats only have one interception and do not have a player in the league’s Top 15 in TFLs or in the Top 20 in sacks. They have a big CBB game under the nights at home against Bowdoin and then wrap up the season at winless Hamilton.

8- BOWDOIN (2-5)

Bowdoin fell to 2-5 with a loss against a strong Trinity team in Hartford. The Polar Bear offense is 8^th in the league in yards gained, and like their Maine counterpart Bates, are more effective on the ground. Bowdoin has the lowest completion percentage and 2^nd lowest completions in the league, although WR Jed Hoggard is 11^th in the NESCAC in receiving yards. The Polar Bear quarterbacks have been the team’s leading rushers in 6 of their 7 games, and we have seen Robbie Long, Michael Wolfendale, and it the latest game, freshman Peter Macauley at the helm. On the defensive side there seems to be a “boom or bust” approach. Despite being 9^th in yardage yielded in the NESCAC, the Polar Bear defense wreaked havoc and has a league leading 30 sacks in 7 games (the next highest team had 22 sacks). DL Koy Price is 1^st in sacks (9), 1^st in forced fumbles (3), has 2 TDs, one tackle for a safety and with fellow defender DL Aidan Ready are 1^st and 2^nd in the league in tackles for loss. Bowdoin’s focus in November will be on the CBB: Bowdoin travels to Lewiston to play Bates and closes the season at home against Colby, with both games at night.

9-AMHERST (2-5)

Amherst’s offense is last in rushing and total yards and are over 280 total yards gained behind the 9^th place team. At quarterback the Mammoths turned to freshman QB Marek Hill during game #5, and although his completion percentage and yards per completion are similar to earlier games, he has 4 TDs vs 2 INTs, whereas Amherst had 3 TDs against 9 INTs prior to that. The Mammoth’s leading rusher and receiver rank #25 and #19, respectively, in the NESCAC in yards. The Amherst offensive line, which has given up 17 sacks and blocked for a rushing game with running backs averaging 3.2 yards per carry, has incurred injuries and started 9 players across the 5 OL spots over 7 games. On defense, the Mammoths are 4^th in yards allowed and 2^nd in pass defense, with DB Luke Harmon sitting at 6^thin league in tackles and 2^nd in INTs. In terms of pressure, Amherst does not have a player in the league’s Top 20 in TFLs or sacks. Amherst continues to struggle with field goals, going just 2 for 6 on the season with both made FGs coming in their opener against Bates. It does not get easier for the Mammoths as they host Trinity and then as they always do, finish against Williams, this year on the road.

10- HAMILTON (0-7)

Hamilton remains winless after a late score by Colby dashed their hopes for an initial victory. The offense has scored just 75 points in 7 games and are 9^th in rushing offense, above only Amherst. QB Luke Kurzum is completing 59% of his passes, but in his last 3 games has 1 TD and 4 INTs. WR Chester Boynton continues the lead the NESCAC in catches and is 6^th in receiving yards, but the Continental running backs have averaged just under 2.6 yards per carry. On defense, the rushing defense has been solid (4^th in the league), but the pass defense continues to be a real issue, sitting at last in most all statistical categories. Hamilton has just 1 INT on the year and 5 sacks, both tied for last in the NESCAC. Despite these shortcomings, Hamilton has been competitive: they were drilled in their opener by Williams, but in their next 6 games they have either been tied at half (Trinity), led in the 3^rd quarter (Amherst), led in the 4^th quarter (Wesleyan and Colby) or had possession in the 4^th quarter down a score (Bowdoin and Tufts). They will be searching for that elusive win this week at Middlebury, a team Hamilton hasn’t beaten since 1995, after which they will host Bates.

Game of the Week

WILLIAMS AT WESLEYAN 1pm

Last Game: Wesleyan 30, Williams 22 @ Williams

Last Five: Wesleyan 4-1

This Little Three game also has NESCAC title ramifications. When Williams has the ball, the game will feature strength on strength – Williams has the league’s best rush offense and Wesleyan boasts the league’s best rush defense. When Wesleyan has the ball, it will likely look to test a young Eph secondary by throwing to WR Chase Wilson.

HAMILTON AT MIDDLEBURY – 12:30

Last Game: Middlebury 41, Hamilton 7 @ Hamilton

Last Five: Middlebury 5-0 (27 straight)

Middlebury looks to win the Old Rocking Chair Classic for the 28^th straight time. When the Panthers have the ball, they will likely look to use their potent aerial attack against a porous Hamilton pass defense. When Hamilton has the ball, it will look to get their offense on track.

TUFTS AT COLBY 1pm

Last Game: Tufts 38, Colby 0 @ Tufts

Last Five: Tufts 5-0 (13 straight)

When the Jumbos have the ball, they may go more to the air behind QB Michael Berluti and WR Cade Moore to avoid Colby’s tough run defense. When the Mules have the ball, look for RB Keon Smart to be utilized on the ground and through the air.

TRINITY AT AMHERST 1pm

Last Game: Trinity 49, Amherst 0 @ Trinity

Last Five: Trinity 5-0

When Trinity has the ball, it will be two strong units facing off – the league’s best pass offense against the NESCAC’s 2^nd best pass defense. When the Mammoths have the ball, they will look for continued improvement from their freshman QB Marek Hill against a stingy Bantam defense.

BOWDOIN AT BATES 5:30pm

Last Game: Bowdoin 35, Bates 20 @ Bowdoin

Last Five: Bates 3-2

Both teams sit at 2-5, and over their last five games, the accumulated score is remarkably even: Bates 110, Bowdoin 109. When Bowdoin has the ball, the Polar Bears will look to attack the Bates rush defense. When Bates has the ball, this is a great match-up: a strong Bates rush offense against a play making front seven from Bowdoin.

Week 9 – November 9, 2024

NESCAC FOOTBALL POWER RANKINGS – After Week #8

1. Trinity (7-1)
2. Wesleyan (7-1)
3. Tufts (6-2)
4. Middlebury (6-2)
5. Williams (5-3)
6. Colby (3-5)
7. Bowdoin (3-5)
8. Bates (2-6)
9. Amherst (2-6)
10. Hamilton (0-8)

Above are my Power Rankings after Week #8 and below I have my final weekend game previews, including the Game of the Week which will determine the NESCAC champion, Wesleyan at Trinity. As there is a great slate of matchups for the last games for the ’24 season, I haven’t done my traditional listing in power ranking order, but rather have analyzed each team by game.

Game of the week

WESLEYAN AT TRINITY Noon

Last Game: Trinity 58, Wesleyan 6 @ Wesleyan

Last Five: Trinity 4-1

1-TRINITY (7-1)

This game determines the NESCAC champion, and the Bantams will be looking to win their 4^th championship in 6 years and their 3^rd outright over that period, as they shared the crown with Middlebury a year ago. This contest has a great match-up when the Bantams have the ball: the best offense in the NESCAC by points and yards, Trinity, against the best defense in the league by the same metrics, Wesleyan. Throughout the year, QB Zander Zebrowski and WR Nolan O’Brien have grabbed the headlines, but last weekend in Amherst RB Tyler DiNapoli (121 yds rushing and 3 TDs) and WR Sean Clapp (162 yds receiving and 2 TDs) both hit season highs in yards and provided a reminder of why they were both 1^st team All-NESCAC a year ago. Two areas that Trinity offense should be focused on Saturday: starting well as the Bantams have been prone to slow starts and avoiding turnovers as Wesleyan has scored 4 TDs this season off of 2 fumbles, a blocked FG and an interception.

2-WESLEYAN (7-1)

Last weekend Wesleyan won their 3^rd straight Little Three title with an incredible late win over Williams, and Saturday they look to win their first NESCAC championship since 2013. When Wesleyan has the ball, one would expect a very talented Trinity secondary to limit dynamic WR Chase Wilson from doing damage, so other Cardinal options, including WR Blake Newcomb and Luke LaSaracina, who both made big plays against Williams, need to be impactful. The Wesleyan rushing attack, which is averaging just 3.1 yds per carry, needs to be productive and freshman Matt Diaz may be emerging as a strong option in the backfield. Two areas that the Wesleyan should be focused on in this huge game: matching the Trinity special teams, where the Bantams appear to have the advantage in kicking as well as the punt return game, and protecting QB Niko Candido, as the Cardinals have given up the most sacks in the NESCAC.

MIDDLEBURY AT TUFTS 12:30pm

Last Game: Middlebury 19, Tufts 10 @ Middlebury

Last Five: Middlebury 4-1

3-TUFTS (6-2)

In this game between my 3^rd and 4^th ranked teams who are both 6-2, Tufts is looking to reach 7 wins for the first time since 2018. The contest features two of the top QB-WRs duos in the league between the Jumbos’ QB Michael Berluti and WR Cade Moore and Panthers’ QB Brian Moran and WR Patrick Jamin. When Tufts has the ball, they will likely use their 2^nd ranked pass offense to attack the 9^th ranked Panther pass defense. A pivotal match-up will occur between the Jumbo offensive line (which has yielded the least sacks in the NESCAC) and a Panther front that features all-league rushers in Dave Filias and Tomas Kenary. Two areas that Tufts should be focused on this Saturday: limiting their fumbles as the Jumbos are -8 in net fumbles lost, whereas Middlebury is +2, and turning red zone trips into TDs, where Tufts is 8^th in league in red zone TD conversion average (54%).

4-MIDDLEBURY (6-2)

Similar to Tufts, Middlebury is sitting at 6-2 and will look to get their 7^th win, which would ensure them 3 straight seasons with 7 or more victories. When the Panthers have the ball, they will likely use their stable of running backs to gain ground on a Tufts rush defense that is yielding 3.9 yds per carry. A pivotal match-up will occur between the Middlebury trio of receivers who are all in the Top 10 in the league in receiving yards (Patrick Jamin, Ethan Vashel and Mike Ahonen) and a Jumbo secondary which features defensive backs Ty Richardson and Louis Timmins who are tied for 1^st and 3^rd, respectively in the NESCAC in INTs. Two areas that Middlebury should be focused on in their final: establishing the run to balance their potent pass offense and stopping Jumbo RB Christian Shapiro, who is 3^rd in the NESCAC in rushing yards.

AMHERST AT WILLIAMS Noon

Last Game: Amherst 21, Williams 14 @ Amherst

Last Five: Williams 3-2

5- WILLIAMS (4-4)

A heartbreaking loss to Wesleyan ended their chances at Little Three title, but Williams will have a ton of motivation for a win against their bitter rival Amherst. A win for the Ephs would ensure them a winning campaign and get them to 5 wins, an improvement over back-to-back 3-win seasons in ’22 and ’23. When Williams has the ball, expect them to be rush heavy, based both on their strength in that area, but also to avoid Amherst’s secondary which is led by all-league DB Luke Harmon. Despite losing their star RB Mario Fischetti, the Ephs rushed 51 times versus throwing just 5 times against Wesleyan, with QB Owen McHugh and WR Owen Johanssen supplementing RB Jon Oris’ carries. Two areas that Williams should be focused on in this historic rivalry: generating pass rush on the Mammoths freshman QB, as Amherst has endured significant turnover on their offensive line, and being opportunistic in the secondary for INTs against an inexperienced signal caller.

9-AMHERST (2-6)

Amherst has lost 6 straight and would like nothing more than to snap their losing streak against William in this iconic rivalry, the Biggest Little Game in America. Freshman QB Marek Hill took the reins in game #5 and has shown both promise and growing pains in his play. When the Mammoths have the ball, they will likely look to the air as Hill had a season high 270 yds passing against a formidable Trinity defense last week; the Williams pass defense is 7^th in the league. Amherst will need to be more effective in making field goals, as they are just 2 for 6 on the season. Two areas that Amherst should be focused on Saturday: using their solid rush defense (limiting opponents to 3.3 yds per carry) to force Williams to throw and minimizing their INTs thrown, where the Mammoths are far and away the league leader with 16.

COLBY AT BOWDOIN 5pm

Last Game: Bowdoin 35, Colby 14 @ Colby

Last Five: Colby 3-2

6-COLBY (3-5)

Colby faces off against Bowdoin for the CBB championship. The Mules are looking to match their ’23 win total of 4 games, a high water mark which they have reached just 4 times in the last 12 seasons. This contest features 4 of the top 5 sack leaders the NESCAC as Colby rushes with Jack Mullen (2^nd) and Sebastian Romain (5^th) while Bowdoin attacks with Koy Price (1^st) and Aidan Ready (3^rd). When Colby has the ball, they will likely look to the ground where RB Keon Smart (2^nd in the NESCAC in rushing) can attack a Bowdoin rush defense which has yielded the most rushing yards and highest rushing yards per carry (4.7) in the league. Two areas that the Mules should be focused on Saturday night: protecting QB Miles Drake, as Bowdoin leads the league in sacks (33) by a wide margin, and on the other side of the ball generating pressure on the Polar Bears’ freshman quarterback.

7- BOWDOIN (3-5)

This game will give Bowdoin an opportunity to beat their rival Maine school and repeat as CBB champions under the lights in Brunswick. Bowdoin won the CBB in ’23 but had not won it outright before that since 2010. A fourth win would match their total from ’23 and would be just the 2^nd time they have hit at least 4 wins since 2011. In their win over Bates last weekend, freshman QB Peter Macauley made his first start and threw for 272 yards and an impressive 5 TDs (with no INTs); the Polar Bears had averaged just 156 passing yards over their first 7 games. When Bowdoin has the ball, they will likely look to the air with Macauley to avoid Colby’s stingy rush defense, which allows the lowest rush per carry (2.8) in the league. Two areas that the Polar Bears should be focused on in this rivalry: protecting Macauley against Colby’s quality pass rush and being more effective on their 3^rd down conversions where they are 8^th in the league at just under 31%.

BATES AT HAMILTON – Noon

Last Game: Hamilton 21, Bates 7 @ Bates

Last Five: Bates 3-2

9– BATES (2-6)

Coming off a winless ’23 campaign, a 3^rd win for the Bobcats to close the season would continue the positive momentum for this young team and swap positions with Hamilton, who would be winless in ‘24. Although Bates lost to Bowdoin, they got a 344-yard NESCAC record single game rushing performance from sophomore RB Ryan Lynskey, who now has over 1,000 yds and is averaging 5.7 yards per carry. Bates has the league’s lowest passing yards and completion percentage, but they are playing a Hamilton pass defense that is dead last in passing defense. When Bates has the ball, one would expect them to continue their run heavy approach, although the Continental defense is better against the run than the pass. Two areas that Bates should focus on in their final: completing critical passes against a porous Continental defense and limiting their turnovers, an area where Bates is negative 6 on the season.

10- HAMILTON (0-8)

After a series of competitive efforts but nonetheless losses, Hamilton was blasted at Middlebury, in a game the Continentals played without QB Luke Kurzum. Hamilton looks to avoid a winless season, and faces Bates, a team which stunned them in 2021 with a 48-yard TD with 4 seconds to win and rallied in 2019 from a 21-0 halftime deficit to stop the Continentals from achieving a winning season. The game features some struggling units, as noted above Bates’ offense and Hamilton’s defense are last in the league in passing, and Hamilton’s rushing offense is 9^th, but Bates is 9^th in stopping the run. When the Continentals have the ball, they need to convert on 3^rd down (they are below 30% on the year) to control the clock as Bates’ rushing attack can wear down defenses. Two areas that Hamilton needs to focus on in their finale: look to find their footing in the passing game (Bates allows a 66-completion percentage) and start strong and play from ahead to force Bates to throw.

Final Power Rankings

NESCAC FOOTBALL POWER RANKINGS –2024

1. Wesleyan (8-1)
2. Trinity (7-2)
3. Tufts (7-2)
4. Middlebury (6-3)
5. Williams (5-4)
6. Colby (4-5)
7. Bowdoin (3-6)
8. Bates (2-7)
9. Amherst (2-7)
10. Hamilton (1-8)

1-WESLEYAN (8-1)

2024 Recap

The Cardinals opened the season with two big wins at Middlebury and home against Tufts, but then promptly lost at home to Bates. From there, Wesleyan won series of fairly close games over Hamilton, Colby (in OT) and Bowdoin before beating Amherst soundly. Wesleyan closed the season with a last minute win over Williams and rallied past Trinity to win the NECSAC Championship.

Offense

Yardage Ranking in League: 4th Overall; 5th Rush and 4th Pass

Meaningful Stat: QB Niko Candido made critical clutch plays in their final two wins

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Offensive Assets: WR Wilson and an experienced QB Candido

Key Offensive Question: Can the O-Line help the run game and reduce the sacks?

QB Niko Candido finished 3rd in the NESCAC in passing and near the bottom in completion percentage (49.8%) but threw 14 TDs versus just 3 INTs and had significantly higher yards per completion average (16.0 yds per pass) than his peers. Candido passed to convert two critical third downs and a game winning touchdown in the final minute to beat Williams and threw to convert a 4th and 17 and 4th and goal from the 15 in the 4th quarter to lead the Cardinals past Trinity. WR Chase Wilson finished 2nd in the NESCAC in receiving yards, scored 7 TDs and had an impressive 19.4 yards per catch average. Freshman RB Matt Diaz emerged late in the season to combine with RB James McHugh to fuel the rushing attack; Diaz played in the last 3 games and averaged 5.3 per carry including a 137-yard effort against Trinity. The Wesleyan offensive line yielded a league high 30 sacks, and the Cardinals were the beneficiary of fumble luck – they fumbled 18 times but only lost 7.

Defense

Yardage Ranking in League: 1st Overall; 2nd Rush and 1st Pass

Meaningful Stat: Wesleyan limited opponents to a league low 15.8 points per game

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Assets on Defense: Abraham, Carbeau and Welch

Top Question on Defense: Can the returning defenders improve the scoring D?

The returning starters for Wesleyan improved their scoring defense, which finished best in the NESCAC, and held opponents to the lowest 3rd down conversion (26.5%) and conversion of red zone trips into TDs (43.8%). LB Ben Carbeau finished 4th in the league with 66 tackles, had 7 sacks and 7.5 other TFLs. The Cardinal defenders scored 4 TDs on the year; DB Dylan Connors scored twice in addition to having 43 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 2 interceptions, a blocked punt and 7 PBUs. FG Gage Hammond went 9-10 on field goal attempts but missed 5 PATs on the year (the balance of the league missed 3 in total).

2-TRINITY (7-2)

2024 Recap

Trinity enjoyed double digit wins in each of their seven wins and outscored their opponents by more than 17 points in six of the victories including lopsided wins over Williams and Tufts. The road loss to Middlebury featured a last second Panther TD, while the home loss in the final to Wesleyan included some late 4th down conversions for the Cardinals. Trinity finished with a league high +140 point differential, with the next highest team at +81 points.

Offense

Yardage Ranking in League: 1st Overall; 6th Rush and 1st Pass

Meaningful Stat: Trinity threw for a league high 24 TDs and a league low 2 INTs

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Offensive Assets: DiNapoli, Clapp and experience on the OL

Key Offensive Question: Can the new QB pick up where Fetter left off?

The Bantams’ new quarterback, Zander Zebrowski, picked up where his predecessor left off as he led the league in passing yards, completion percentage (72% which was 10% higher than the 2nd highest), TD to INT ratio (24:2) and averaged 12.6 yards per completion. WR Nolan O’Brien was dominant: he led the NESCAC in all-purpose yards, receptions, receiving yards and receiving TDs. WR Sean Clapp finished 5th in the league in receiving yards and added 7 TDs. The rushing offense ranked 6th in yards, but Trinity was 8th in rushing attempts and 4th in yards per carry (3.9), led by RB Tyler DiNapoli, who finished 4th in the league with just under 600 yards, a 4.9 per carry average and 7 TDs. The Bantams gave up 21 sacks and as impressive as their offense was, Trinity was shutout in the 2nd half of both of their losses.

Defense

Yardage Ranking in League: 3rd Overall; 3rd Rush and 4th Pass

Meaningful Stat: The defense created 20 turnovers which led to a league high +11 turnover differential

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Defensive Assets: Davis and veterans at LB

Key Defensive Question: Will the brand new D-Line starters hold up?

Trinity defense limited opponents to 16 points per game (which was 2nd best in the league) and had a league leading 16 interceptions. Linebacker Amari Phillips led the team with 50 tackles, DE Jordan Atkinson registered 7 sacks and DB Charlie Cooper had 4 interceptions and 13 PBUs. Trinity had impressive depth on their defensive side: 14 different players had at least half a sack and 9 different players had a least one interception. The Bantam defense will likely long rue the two 4th down conversions, of 17 and 15 yards, ceded to Wesleyan. Kicker Matt Jumes was literally automatic: he was 7-7 on FGs and 37-37 on PATs.

3-TUFTS (7-2)

2024 Recap

Tufts lost a tight early season game at Wesleyan and got beat soundly by Trinity but won the rest of their games including dominating Amherst and Bates and winning closer games over Bowdoin, Hamilton, Colby, Williams and Middlebury.

Offense

Yardage Ranking in League: 2nd Overall; 3rd Rush and 2nd Pass

Meaningful Stat: QB Michael Berluti finished 2nd in the league in total offense

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Offensive Assets: Trio of senior stars in QB Berluti, RB Reece and WR Moore

Key Offensive Question: Can they adequately replace four starters on the O-Line?

Tufts had to replace last year’s OPOY WR Jaden Richardson and play without RB Chartellis Reece, but they were able keep their offense rolling. QB Michael Berluti finished 2nd in the league in passing yards, hit on over 60% of his passes and ran for 291 yards and 5 TDs, but his TD to INT ratio was just 9:5. RB Christian Shapiro finished 3rd in the league in rushing yards and WR Cade Moore finished 4th in receiving yards with 7 receiving TDs. In terms of replacing four starters on the offensive line, the Jumbo front five were impressive: they limited opponents to a league low 8 sacks and blocked for a running game that averaged 4.1 yards per carry. Tufts was in the bottom third of the league in converting red zone trips into TDs, going just 20-38 (53%).

Defense

Yardage Ranking in League: 4th Overall; 7th Rush and 2nd Pass

Meaningful Stat: DB Ty Richardson had league leading 6 INTs in 9 games

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Defensive Assets: Timmins and Rios

Key Defensive Question: Can they replenish the stars lost at each level of the D?

Tufts replaced three defensive starters in the secondary this season, but the results were strong: the Jumbos had 15 INTs, held opponents to a 50% completion percentage and limited a potent Middlebury aerial attack to just 98 yards. In addition to Richardson’s picks, DB Jameer Alves led the team in tackles and DB Louis Timmins had 4 INTs. The front seven was below average in rush defense, yielding 4.0 yards per carry. LB Johnny Ferrelli had 42 tackles, 2 sacks, 5 other TFLs and 5 QB hurries. PK Vaughn Seelicke led the league in points, making a league high 14 FGs (next highest was 9) and going 12-15 inside of 40 yards. The Jumbos lost 10 fumbles and only recovered 2 from their opponents.

4-MIDDLEBURY (6-3)

2024 Recap

Middlebury opened the season by getting crushed by Wesleyan, but rallied to win their next five games, which included tight wins over Colby, Amherst and Williams (in OT) and a last-minute win over Trinity. Unfortunately for the Panthers, they had two more losses down the stretch, an upset loss to Bates and a final game loss to Tufts, sandwiched around a dominating win over Hamilton.

Offense

Yardage Ranking in League: 3rd Overall; 4th Rush and 3rd Pass

Meaningful Stat: WR Patrick Jamin finished 3rd in the league in receiving yards

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Offensive Assets: WR Jamin and OL Perry

Key Offensive Question: Can the running game be elevated?

The running game was elevated, first by a committee approach that later gave way to the emergence of freshman RB Connor McClellan who led the team in rushing, rushing TDs (7), yards per carry (5.2) and gained 121 yards against a stingy Tufts defense in the team’s finale. QB Brian Moran led a strong passing attack, finishing 4th in the league in passing, completing 56% of his passes and throwing 16 touchdowns against 6 interceptions. Jamin and fellow wideouts Ethan Vashel and Michael Ahonen finished 3rd, 7th and 12th, respectively in the league in receiving yards. The veteran offensive line aided in a solid running game but yielded 19 sacks on the season. The Panthers converted a league high 69% of their 4th downs (9-13).

Defense

Yardage Ranking in League: 6th Overall; 4th Rush and 7th Pass

Meaningful Stat: With decorated defenders returning, the results were average

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Defensive Assets: The NESCAC’s best D-line with Kenary and Filias

Key Defensive Question: Can the Panthers restock their LB position effectively?

The Panther defense featured the ’23 DPOY and 3 other All-NESCAC performers (two 1st teamers) but finished middle of the pack statistically. DL Tomas Kenary finished with 5.5 sacks and an impressive 13 QB hurries, and LB Matt Shaw finished 7th in the NESCAC in tackles with 60 and added 4 sacks, 6 QB hurries, 2 PBUs and 1 forced fumble. DB Charlie Ozolin had 4 INTs and DB Teddy Daniel had 3 picks to go with 36 tackles, 3 TFLs and 9 PBUs. Middlebury struggled with field goal kicking down the stretch, missing 4 of their last 5 attempts on the season, and finishing next to last in conversion percentage.

5-WILLIAMS (5-4)

2024 Recap

Williams lost tight games to Middlebury (in OT), Tufts (by 3) and Wesleyan (by 1 in the last minute) and got beaten convincingly by Trinity. The Ephs took care of business in their other five wins over Hamilton, Colby, Bowdoin, Bates and archrival Amherst.

Offense

Yardage Ranking in League: 5th Overall; 2nd Rush and 9th Pass

Meaningful Stat: Williams’ rush game averaged 4.4 yards per carry

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Offensive Assets: Fischetti and McHugh’s rushing prowess

Key Offensive Question: Can they upgrade their passing attack?

Williams improved their completion percentage to 61% (up from 48% a year ago), but their yardage and TD to INT of 13:9 remained an issue and was impacted by QB Owen McHugh who, after strong start, threw just 3 TDs against 6 INTs in his last 4 games. Williams lost one of the top running backs in the NESCAC, Mario Fischetti, early in their 7th game; Fischetti still finished 5th in the league in yards with a 5.7 per carry average. RB Jon Oris and McHugh finished 6th and 10th in the NESCAC in rushing, and late in the season the Ephs used WR Owen Johansen in running packages; he rushed for 111 yds and 3 TDs in his final two games. No Williams receiver finished in the league’s Top 17 in terms of yards, but five receivers had 15 or more catches. The Williams’ offensive line was critical in aiding an effective rushing attack.

Defense

Yardage Ranking in League: 7th Overall; 8th Rush and 5th Pass

Meaningful Stat: DB Holden Gering finished 2nd in the league in INTs and PBUs

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Defensive Assets: Returning experience in the front seven

Key Defensive Question: Can their experience translate into a top defense in the league?

Williams had experience returning, but started 20 different defenders over the season, which appeared to impact their rush defense. LB Ethan Scott finished 7th in the league in TFLs, which included 4.5 sacks, and freshman LB Luke Mangini led Williams in tackles with 53. DB Holden Gering was 2nd on the team in tackles and added 5 INTs, 7 PBUs and 1 forced fumble. Williams gave up the highest percentage of TDs on red zone opportunities to its opponents (19 of 26). PK Ivan Shuran was perfect on the season going 29-29 in PATs and 9-9 on field goals, including a 47-yard FG which was the longest in the NESCAC this season.

6-COLBY (4-5)

2024 Recap

Colby opened the season with three tight losses to quality opponents (Trinity, Williams, and Middlebury), won a 2-point game CBB game against Bates, lost to Wesleyan (in OT), blasted Amherst and split tight games against Hamilton (3 point win) and Tufts (7 point loss). The Mules closed the season with an emphatic win over Bowdoin to take the CBB crown. Despite a losing record, the Mules had a +24 point differential on the season.

Offense

Yardage Ranking in League: 6th Overall; 7th Rush and 5th Pass

Meaningful Stat: RB Keon Smart finished 3rd in the NESCAC in all-purpose yards

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Offensive Assets: Smart and a receiving corps largely intact from ‘23

Key Offensive Question: Can Drake and a slew of seniors elevate the offense?

QB Miles Drake finished 5th in the league in passing, threw 14 touchdowns versus 6 interceptions and rushed for 192 yards and 3 TDs. RB Keon Smart finished 2nd in the league in rushing (4.1 yard per carry average), 3rd in all-purpose yards and had almost 200 yards receiving. Freshman WR Jack Nye emerged as a major receiving force for the Mules, finishing 6th in the league in receiving yards. Colby committed a league worst 48 penalties losing close to 50 yards a game to infractions.

Defense

Yardage Ranking in League: 2nd Overall; 1st Rush and 6th Pass

Meaningful Stat: Colby held opponents to a league low 2.7 yards per rush

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Defensive Assets: Young is a star at linebacker

Key Defensive Question: Can the defense improve when breaking in 8 new starters?

Colby had eight new starters on defense in ‘24, but the group led the Mules to a 2nd ranked defense in the NESCAC. The rush defense was the league’s best, led by LB Julian Young. Young finished 2nd in the league in tackles and had 4.5 sacks, while fellow defenders LB Sebastian Romain and DE Jack Mullen had 9 sacks each. The Mule pass defense generated 29 sacks but allowed a 62.6% completion percentage and 7.2 yards per attempt, both metrics in the bottom third of the league. DB Trevor Smith finished with 49 tackles, 4 interceptions and 3 forced fumbles.

7-BOWDOIN (3-6)

2024 Recap

Bowdoin lost to the top six NESCAC teams but played Tufts (lost by 2) and Wesleyan (lost by 3) competitively. The Polar Bears beat Bates, Hamilton and Amherst, but lost their home finale to Colby, thereby losing the CBB.

Offense

Yardage Ranking in League: 8th Overall; 8th Rush and 8th Pass

Meaningful Stat: Bowdoin threw 15 interceptions, 2nd worst in the NESCAC

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Offensive Assets: Five starters return on the O-Line

Key Offensive Question: Can the production of Boel, Eden, King and Fahey be replaced?

The Bowdoin offense took a step back in ‘24 due to the graduation of some very productive players but averaged just over 20 points per game. QB Robbie Long was the Polar Bears’ leader in passing and rushing yards, but he completed under 52% of his passes, threw 8 interceptions versus 6 touchdowns and rushed for just 3.0 yards per carry. Freshman QB Peter Macauley had an impressive game in their win over Bates, throwing for 270 yards and 5 TDs, but saw less action against Colby. WR Jed Hoggard finished 10th in the league in receiving yards and had a 16.7 yard per catch average. Although there was experience on the offensive line, the Polar Bears yielded 22 sacks and a rushing average that was below 3.4 yards per carry.

Defense

Yardage Ranking in League: 9th Overall; 10th Rush and 8th Pass

Meaningful Stat: Bowdoin led the NESCAC with 35 sacks

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Defensive Assets: Experienced and talented front seven

Key Defensive Question: Can the secondary improve against the pass?

The Bowdoin defense was disruptive, notching 35 sacks, forcing 13 fumbles and snagging 9 interceptions. Unfortunately, those big plays were offset by a league worst rush defense in yards and yards per carry (4.4 yards per carry). The Bowdoin secondary finished 8th in pass yards yielded but held opponents to league averages in completion percentage and yards per attempt. Koy Price had an impressive season finishing 1st in sacks, tackles for loss and forced fumbles, scoring 2 defensive touchdowns and adding a tackle for a safety. Linebackers Gordon Gozdeck and Dan Fiore finished 5th and 8th in the league in tackles, respectively. The Bowdoin kickers went 3 for 5 on field goals and were 0 for 2 from outside of 30 yards.

8-BATES (2-7)

2024 Recap

Bates finished 2-7 but was improved from last year’s winless season. Bates upset NESCAC champion Wesleyan and Middlebury and played Colby (2-point loss) and Williams (3-point loss) competitively. The Bobcats lost to Amherst, both Maine foes as well as then winless Hamilton. I have Bates ranked above Amherst despite their opening loss to the Mammoths, as the Bobcats appeared to be a slightly stronger team by the end of the season.

Offense

Yardage Ranking in League: 7th Overall; 1st Rush and 10th in Pass

Meaningful Stat: RB Ryan Lynskey set the single game NESCAC rushing record

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Offensive Assets: Experienced QB and TE with an emerging star in Beltran

Preseason Offensive Question: Can Bates establish an effective running game?

Bates certainly established an effective running game, leading the league in carries, yards and yards per carry. RB Ryan Lynskey finished 1st in the NECSAC in rushing, eclipsing 1,000 yds, scoring 10 TDs, setting a single game rushing record (344 yds) and sporting a 5.7 yard per carry average. The Bobcats’ strong rush attack made them very effective in the red zone where they converted 19 trips into 16 TDs; Bates only attempted 2 FGs on the season (and made both). The passing game was last in the league in yards, attempts and completions in large part due to the emphasis on the run, but threw 12 interceptions versus 10 TDs and completed less than 52% of their attempts. WR Sergio Beltran missed some early games but turned into both a rushing and receiving threat later in the season. Bates’ offensive line, which featured two sophomores and two freshmen, was impressive in the run game and yielded just 9 sacks on the season.

Defense

Yardage Ranking in League: 8th Overall; 9th Rush and 9th Pass

Meaningful Stat: Bates gave up over 26 points per game, tied for last in the league

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Defensive Assets: Juneau and experience on the defensive line

Key Defensive Question: Do the underclassman in the back seven show growth?

The pass defense yielded the highest completion percentage (67.7%) and gave up 16 touchdowns against just 1 interception on the year. The Bobcats started two sophomores and a freshman in the deep patrol, so some growing pains were on display. Bates’ defense was 9th in the NESCAC in sacks, with 7 on the year. LB Ryan Rozich was a tackling machine – he was 1st in the NESCAC in tackles with 82, and also had 6.5 TFLs. Fellow LB Matt Juneau finished 6th in the league in tackles with 60 and added 3.5 TFLs.

9-AMHERST (2-7)

2024 Recap

Amherst opened the season with back to wins over Bates and Hamilton but then lost 7 straight including lopsided affairs against Tufts, Bowdoin, Colby and Trinity. The Mammoths lost both Little Three games by the combined score of 52-14 and finished the ’24 campaign with a -129 point differential which was 2nd worst in the league (5 points better than Hamilton).

Offense

Yardage Ranking in League: 10th Overall; 10th Rush and 7th Pass

Meaningful Stat: Averaged less than 37 yards per game on the ground

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Offensive Assets: Returning starters at skill position and O-line

Key Offensive Question: Can Amherst improve their struggling offense?

In terms of my preseason question about offensive improvement, the answer was unfortunately no. Similar to past years, the Mammoth offense struggled finishing last in several metrics. Amherst tried two different quarterbacks in ‘24, and are hopeful they have found a starter in 6’3” 230 lbs. freshman QB Marek Hill. In his four starts at the end of the season, Hill showed the ability to pass (270 passing yards against Trinity) and run (51 yards rushing against Williams), but as young players are apt to do, Hill threw 8 interceptions over those games. The running game was almost non-existent, averaging 1.7 yards per carry and just 332 yards on the season; for context the 9th and 8th teams had 600 and 1,002 yards, respectively. The offense line had nine different starters over the year, which likely did not help the run game or pass protection, where they gave up 22 sacks on the season. WR Carter Jung finished 4th in the league in all-purpose yards, 1st in kickoff return yards, and hit his season highs in catches and yards the last two games.

Defense

Yardage Ranking in League: 5th Overall; 6th Rush and 3rd Pass

Meaningful Stat: Luke Harmon finished in the Top 3 in tackles and interceptions

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Defensive Assets: Luke Harmon and returning players at each level

Key Defensive Question: Can their front seven stop the run and create pressure?

Amherst’s front seven was slightly below average against the run, and finished 8th in the league in sacks with 12. Luke Harmon was not only a top tackler and interceptor in the NESCAC, but also led Amherst in TFLs and sacks. Similar to the offensive line, the defense featured several different starters at each level throughout the season, with some likely related to injuries. The turnover may have been a factor in the Mammoths defense giving up the most points in the league (tied with Bates). LB Ty Kazanowsky finished with 45 tackles, 6 TFLs, 1 sack and 3 QB hurries. The Mammoth field goal kicking was an Achilles heel, making just 4 of 8 attempts on the season.

10-HAMILTON (1-8)

2024 Recap

Hamilton lost its first 8 games, getting beaten soundly by Williams, Trinity and Middlebury, but playing Bowdoin, Wesleyan, Tufts and Colby competitively. Down 14-0 in their final game against Bates, the Continentals rallied to win and avoid a winless campaign. Hamilton had a league worst -134 point differential.

Offense

Yardage Ranking in League: 9th Overall; 9th Rush and 6th Pass

Meaningful Stat: Hamilton scored a league low 99 points or 11 points per game

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Offensive Assets: Strong running game behind experienced O-Line

Key Offensive Question: Who will emerge as a playmaker in passing game?

The running game, which averaged just 2.4 per carry, was a disappointment considering the Continentals’ returning runners and linemen who contributed to an effective ground game in ’23. No Hamilton RB scored a TD in ’24. QB Luke Kurzum completed close to 62% of his passes, but threw 6 TDs to 5 INTs, and had one of the league’s lowest yards per completion averages (9.3). Two Continentals wideouts finished in the Top 10 in receiving yards: Chester Boynton and Lucas Perez-Segnini finished 8th and 9th, respectively, with Boynton finishing 2nd in the league in receptions. The offensive line struggled to create rushing yards and yielded 24 sacks, the 2nd most in the NESCAC. Punt returner Liam Leonard finished 2nd in the league in return yards and average.

Defense

Yardage Ranking in League: 10th Overall; 5th Rush and 10th Pass

Meaningful Stat: Hamilton had just 4 INTs and 5 sacks on the year

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Defensive Assets: Veterans across the defensive line

Key Defensive Question: Can the returning starters at each level improve the overall defense?

The returning starters did not improve the defense, which had major issues stopping the pass. Opponents completed 67.5% of their passes and threw for 23 touchdowns, with the next worst team giving up 17 TDs. DB Kyle Bratcher was impactful: he finished 2nd on the team in tackles (55), and first in INTs (2) and PBUs (8). LB Ian Fratarcangeli led the team in tackles with 58 (finishing 9th in the league) and DL Chase White had 6 TFLs in 7 games. The rush defense ranked 5th in yards but that was likely a function of opponents focusing on an aerial attack; the Continentals yielded 4.1 yards per rush. P Tighe Hoey was the NESCAC’s best punter averaging 44.1 yards per punt, close to 4 yards ahead of the next best punter, and hitting 16 punts over 50 yards.