Week #1

Saturday, September 13, 2025

Game of the Week

MIDDLEBURY AT WESLEYAN at 1pm

Last Game: Wesleyan 43, Middlebury 7 @ Middlebury

Last Five: Wesleyan 3-2 

When Middlebury has the ball: One would expect the Panthers to use experienced QB Brian Moran to attack a revamped Wesleyan secondary.  Can four new faces on the Middlebury offensive line hold off an experienced Cardinal defensive front’s pass rush?

When Wesleyan has the ball: Expect the Cardinals to run the ball and leverage a strong returning stable of running backs including Matt Diaz.  Who wins the line of scrimmage battle that features all new starters on Wesleyan’s offensive line and Middlebury’s defensive line?

Bigger picture: This match-up is between the last two champions in the NESCAC, with Middlebury winning 21 games over the past 3 seasons and Wesleyan winning 20.  It will serve as an early barometer of the rebuild of these perennially strong football teams.

The Rest of the Slate

AMHERST AT BATES at 1pm

Last Game: Amherst 19, Bates 7 @ Amherst

Last Five: Amherst 4-1

When Amherst has the ball: Can the Amherst offense, which has struggled in past seasons, find a productive rhythm with sophomore QB Marek Hill at the controls?  Bates started several underclassmen in the past two seasons on defense, so it will be interesting to see if they have improved with more experience.

When Bates has the ball: Bates is a run first team, featuring the league’s top rusher from a year ago, RB Ryan Lynskey.  Amherst will have several new faces in their defensive front seven, so their ability to slow the Bobcat running attack will be a pivotal factor in this game.

Bigger Picture: Amherst has historically been dominant against Bates, but the Mammoths have struggled in recent seasons, and the Bobcats, who will be celebrating their 150^th anniversary of football in Lewiston, are looking to improve their standing in the league with a win.

TRINITY AT COLBY at 1pm

Last Game: Trinity 17, Colby 7 @ Trinity   

Last Five: Trinity 5-0 

When Trinity has the ball: As the Bantams are breaking in a new quarterback, they will likely initially attack Colby on the ground behind RB Tyler DiNapoli and an experienced O-line.  Can the Mules’ defensive front hold up?

When Colby has the ball: Assuming the Bantams focus their defensive attention on Colby WR Jack Nye, whom on the Mule offense will provide a complimentary weapon for QB Miles Drake?  Colby has not scored more than 7 points in a game against Trinity in the past three seasons.

Bigger Picture:  Colby last beat Trinity in 1995, having lost the 13 straight, and face another challenging game against the Bantams in their home opener.

WILLIAMS AT HAMILTON at 1:30pm

Last Game: Williams 42, Hamilton 7 @ Williams

Last Five: Williams 4-1

When Williams has the ball: Expect the Ephs to attack Hamilton on the ground, behind a strong running attack featuring RB Jon Oris and an experienced offensive line.  Can the new starters on the Continentals front seven slow Williams?

When Hamilton Has the Ball: The Continentals will look to run the ball with RB Nate Wildman and QB Luke Kurzum to avoid a strong Williams’ secondary.  Can their playmaking wideout, Chester Boynton, find success when needed against an experienced Eph secondary?

Bigger picture: Williams appears to be a program on the rise, while Hamilton is looking for overall improvement after a tough ’24 campaign.

TUFTS AT BOWDOIN  at 3pm

Last Game: Tufts 23, Bowdoin 21 @ Tufts

Last Five: Tufts 5-0

When Tufts has the ball: The Jumbos will likely attack Bowdoin on the ground behind RB Christian Shapiro, alleviating the pressure on their new QB and testing the new starters on the Polar Bear front seven.  Bowdoin, who plays an attacking style defense, will look to put consistent pressure on the new Tufts QB.

When Bowdoin has the ball: Bowdoin has an experienced offensive line and will likely look to leverage that against a retooled Jumbo front seven.  Can whomever emerges at running back for the Polar Bears find success on the ground?

Bigger Picture: Bowdoin has lost 9 straight games to Tufts, last winning in ’14, but played the Jumbos tough a year ago, losing on a late interception by Tufts.

Week #2

Saturday, September 20, 2025

Game of the Week

WESLEYAN AT TUFTS  7pm

Last Game: Wesleyan 20, Tufts 9 @ Wesleyan

Last Five: Wesleyan 4-1

When Wesleyan has the ball: The Cardinals struggled to get their running game going against Middlebury, so will likely use freshman WR Donte Kelly to attack Tufts through the air.  Can the Jumbos contain Kelly with an inexperienced secondary?

When Tufts has the ball: Tufts showed a balanced offensive attack against Bowdoin, but will they find the same success, including on the ground with their multiple running options, against a stout Cardinal defensive line?

Bigger Picture: Like last week’s Wesleyan-Middlebury contest, this game is an early indicator (under the lights) of where these perennially strong football teams stand.  If Wesleyan can pass this 2^nd early season test, it will put them in very good shape in the league standings.  Tufts has had success against Wesleyan in Somerville, winning the last two of three on their home field.

The Rest of the Slate

BOWDOIN AT MIDDLEBURY   1pm

Last Game: Middlebury 39, Bowdoin 15 @ Bowdoin

Last Five: Middlebury 5-0

 When Bowdoin has the ball: The Polar Bears will look to improve their offensive output and reduce their turnovers against the Panthers.  What complementary weapons will emerge for Bowdoin around QB Michael Wolfendale?

 When Middlebury has the ball: The Panthers will look to get their running game on track, but will likely start by attacking through the air, leveraging QB Brian Moran and WR Michael Ahonen.  Can Middlebury’s revamped line slow an aggressive Bowdoin pass rush?

 Bigger Picture:  The Panthers currently enjoy a 10-game win streak over Bowdoin, with the Polar Bears winning last in 2009.  Bowdoin’s defense held up against Tufts, but for the Polar Bears to have a chance in this one they will need to get better production from their offense.

COLBY AT WILLIAMS   1pm

Last Game: Williams 24, Colby 19 @ Colby

Last Five: Williams 4-1

 When Colby has the ball: Colby struggled on offense against a very good Trinity defense, but QB Miles Drake had success throwing to their star wideout, Jack Nye.  Can Williams DB Holden Gering and the Eph secondary slow Nye and can the Mules find some earn some yards on the ground to balance their attack?

 When Williams has the ball: A strong Williams rushing attack meets a very stout Colby rush defense; in ’24, Williams had the 2^nd best rushing attack and Colby had the best rush defense.  Can the Ephs find success on the ground against the Mules, and if not, can QB Owen Johansen make enough plays through the air to score?

Bigger Picture: This match-up features two teams that finished in the middle of the pack in ’24 and are looking to move up in ’25.  A win Saturday for Colby would be a key step for them earning their first winning season since 2005.

HAMILTON AT AMHERST  1pm

Last Game: Amherst 21, Hamilton 7 @ Hamilton

Last Five: Amherst 3-2

 When Hamilton has the ball: The Continental passing game found 2^nd half success against Williams, so Hamilton will likely look to attack Amherst through the air.  Can the young Continental offensive line provide adequate protection, and can the Hamilton wideouts find success against a veteran Mammoth secondary?

 When Amherst has the ball: The Mammoth offense could only muster 11 first downs against Bates but showed some promise in a 16-point third quarter.  Can the Mammoths find an offensive rhythm against an inexperienced Hamilton defense?

 Bigger Picture: These teams won a combined total of three games in ’24, so this game will be a good opportunity for both schools to notch a victory.

BATES AT TRINITY   1pm

Last Game: Trinity 28, Bates 7 @ Bates

Last Five: Trinity 5-0

When Trinity has the ball: Colby was able to bottle up Trinity’s offense, and the Bantam QB play, which had been outstanding for the past several seasons, will need to improve.  Can whomever takes the snaps for the Bantams limit the mistakes and get the offense rolling?

When Bates has the ball: Bates is a run first team while Trinity has a strong defensive line, so that battle will be a key factor in how this game unfolds.  Colby was able to find some success through the air against the Bantams, so can whomever is at quarterback for the Bobcats generate some passing offense?

Bigger Picture:  I haven’t looked it up, but it’s likely been a long while since an undefeated Bates team played a winless Trinity team.  Trinity has a 28-game win streak against Bates, with the Bobcats last winning in 1979.  The teams are coming into the game with different mindsets: Bates is coming off an emotional double overtime win as they celebrated 150 years of football, while Trinity is smarting over a tough loss in Waterville.

Week #3

Saturday, September 27, 2025

 NESCAC FOOTBALL POWER RANKINGS -Thru Week 2

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

1-Tufts (2-0)

Tufts won a critical home game over Wesleyan after a solid opening week shutout of Bowdoin.  On offense, the running game has been strong with RB Christian Shapiro and new QB Justin Keller, and the Jumbos have the benefit of RB Chartellis Reece back, who was a dominant runner in ’23.  The offensive line has been a strength – the Jumbos ran for 4.1 yards per carry and yielded just one sack and no QB hurries against a very good Wesleyan defensive line.  Those strengths should ease the need for immediate improvement in the passing game from their new quarterback, who is averaging below 120 passing yards per game.  Both the defense and special teams have made impactful plays early in the season, with LB Johnny Ferrelli, who leads the Jumbos in total tackles, making a game saving tackle against Wesleyan.  After this week’s game at Amherst, and major road test awaits Tufts against Trinity.  Tufts is in my top spot over Williams based on their win over Wesleyan.

2-Williams (2-0)

QB Owen Johansen has been the star for the Ephs in their first two games of ‘25, generating close to 230 yards of total offense per game.  Johansen moved from a productive wideout to quarterback at the end of the ’24 season and won the job over more traditional signal callers in ’25.  He and RB Jon Oris have fueled a dominant rushing attack: the Ephs rushed for 268 yards in their win over Hamilton, and then against a much better run defending team in Colby, rushed for a staggering 368 yards in their 2^nd win.  The Ephs have rushed the ball 89 times versus 25 pass attempts (completing just 15 through 2 games) and have yet to been forced to lean into a passing game.  The defense has been very good on 3^rd down, holding opponents to just 32% conversion rate and have generated 8 sacks through the first two games.  DE Ryan Carney has been effective in generating pressure through 2 games, notching 2.5 sacks, another 1.5 TFLs and 2 QB hurries.  The Ephs have big game this weekend in Williamstown against Trinity.

3-Wesleyan (1-1)

The Cardinals opened with an impressive win over Middlebury and then lost a tough game at Tufts.  Wesleyan matched Tufts’s offense but the Jumbos clearly won the special teams’ battle to edge the Cardinals.  Freshman WR Donte Kelly has had a major impact on the Cardinal offense, both as a receiver and returner, with 185 yards receiving and 82 yards on kickoff returns through two games.  New quarterback Matt Fitzsimons has won the starting job, has been an effective runner and has not turned the ball over.  On defense, the Cardinal defense has held opponents to under 3 rushing yards per carry and have 3 interceptions to date; returning All-NESCAC DB Dylan Connors leads Wesleyan in total tackles.  I have Wesleyan at the top of the 1-1 teams based on the strength of their schedule to date.

4-Trinity (1-1)

The Bantams opened with a loss at Colby, then rebounded nicely with a resounding win against Bates.  WR Nolan O’Brien is picking up where he left off in ‘24 as a dominant force in the passing and return game: he had generated 337 yds of total offense through two games.  QB Jaxon Carroll appears to be new starting QB in Hartford and will lean on O’Brien and a strong running game as he gets more experience and looks to reduce his interceptions.  On defense, Trinity has yielded just 2.1 yds per carry, the league’s lowest completion percentage of 51.2% and has 9 sacks, with LB Shane Mosia leading the Bantams in tackles.  I have Trinity second among the 1-1 team based on their defense and star players on offense.  The Bantams’ next two games, Williams and Tufts, will be big tests for their new quarterback.

5-Middlebury (1-1)

The Panthers lost to one of the top teams in the NESCAC, Wesleyan by 14 and then beat a rebuilding Bowdoin by 21 points.  The aerial assault looks good: WR Mike Ahonen has over 180 receiving yards through just 2 games, while QB Brian Moran is averaging over 260 yards a game through the air.  The offense will look to improve its 3^rd down efficiency of 30%. On defensive line, the Panthers lost all their returning starters including two 1^st team NECSAC players, but DL Owen Halter leads the team with 12 total tackles, has 1 sack and another 1.5 TFLs.  I have Middlebury slightly above Colby among the 1-1 teams, but that relative ranking will be settled on the field Saturday in Waterville.

6-Colby (1-1)

Colby opened with an impressive defensive effort in beating Trinity 13-6 and followed that up with getting steamrolled 38-0 by Williams’ run game.  The offense has struggled early, with QB Miles Drake completely close to 61% of his passes but throwing 5 interceptions in two games.  The offense has converted just 24% of its 3^rd down chances, but WR Jack Nye has built on his Rookie of the Year honors from a year ago: he had 99 receiving yards against a strong Trinity defense.  The Mule defense is led by DE Jack Mullen, who leads Colby with 14 total tackles to go along with 3 sacks.  Colby continues through a challenging early season slate, as they host Middlebury Saturday.

7-Bates (1-1)

Bates had an emotional double overtime win over Amherst and then a sobering loss at Trinity.  WR Sergio Beltran has played the role of quarterback, running back and wide receiver, compiling 90 yards rushing, 103 yards passing and 62 yards receiving.  Bates has played three quarterbacks in both of their games, so it will be interesting to see if they settle on one starter.  RB Ryan Lynskey continues to be a focal point of the offense, and the run heavy Bobcats will look to improve their 2.6 yd/rush average.  The defense features two productive linebackers in Ryan Rozich and Carmel Crunk, whom each have 22 total tackles after two games.  Bates takes on another tough opponent in Wesleyan on Saturday.

8-Amherst (1-1)

The Mammoths had a tough loss at Bates but then came home and handled Hamilton.  QB Marek Hill has been a dual threat weapon, passing for 4 TDs and rushing for 2 TDs on the season, and limiting his interceptions.  WR Carter Jung has 12 catches for 129 yards and 3 touchdowns in his first two games and is an asset in the return game.  Through two games the Mammoth defense has 5 sacks and 5 quarterback hurries, with LB Carson Skotak notching 24 total tackles and 2 fumble recoveries.  The Mammoths’ next two games, Tufts and Middlebury, will be stiffer tests for Amherst.

9-Hamilton (0-2)

Hamiton opened the season with a 7-point loss to Williams and a 10-point loss to Amherst, but the Continentals were down 24-7 and 23-0 in the 4^th quarter of each of those games, respectively.  Hamilton has a paltry 63 yards rushing through 2 games, but QB Luke Kurzum has compensated for that shortfall by leading the league in passing yards, averaging just under 300 yds per game, and throwing 4 TDs and no interceptions.  The Continental rush defense has been a sore spot, allowing over 200 yards per game and 5.7 yards per carry.  LB Mat Bucher has 16 total tackles across two games.  I have ranked Hamilton slightly above two loss Bowdoin based in large part due to Kurzum, but that ranking order will be sorted out on the field in Clinton on Saturday.

10-Bowdoin (0-2)

It’s been a tough start for the Polar Bears, who dropped their opener to Tufts and then were beaten soundly by Middlebury.  Through the opening two games, Bowdoin has gained the least yards in the league and yielded the most, but those statistics are impacted by a tough early schedule and several young players on the field.  Bowdoin turned to freshman QB Soren Hummel in the 3^rd quarter of last week’s game in an effort to improve the offense.  Of the Polar Bears’ 22 starters (assuming Hummel starts this coming week), half are sophomores or freshmen.  One of those sophomores, LB Zach Taylor, leads Bowdoin with 19 total tackles.  The Polar Bears have one of their better opportunities this season for a win this weekend against Hamilton.

Game of the Week

TRINITY (1-1) AT WILLIAMS (2-0) 1:30 pm

Last Game: Trinity 45, Williams 14 @ Trinity

Last Five: Trinity 3-2

Williams lost their last three games to Trinity by an average of almost 26 points (none closer than 19 points), but the Ephs have improved over the past three seasons.  This game provides a measuring stick for Williams’ improvement, especially to see if they can run effectively against Trinity’s stout defense, as well as another early road test for new Bantam QB Jaxon Carroll.

Rest of the Slate

WESLEYAN AT BATES 1pm

Last Game: Bates 24, Wesleyan 13 @ Wesleyan

Last Five: Wesleyan 4-1

Last year, Bates had a signature win in stunning eventual NESCAC champ Wesleyan in Middletown to snap a 17-game losing streak to the Cardinals.  Wesleyan will be looking for revenge and to use their strong defensive line to slow Bates’ rush heavy approach.

MIDDLEBURY AT COLBY  1pm

Last Game: Middlebury 24, Colby 16 @ Middlebury

Last Five: Middlebury 4-1

Both teams come into this game 1-1, and Colby, in their quest to have their first winning season since 2005, would love to win this one at home.  This series has produced close games in the past three matchups, and a key factor will be the battle between Middlebury’s passing game and Colby’s pass rush and experienced secondary.

BOWDOIN AT HAMILTON  1pm

Last Game: Bowdoin 28, Hamilton 21 @ Bowdoin

Last Five: Bowdoin 3-2

This game features the two teams at the bottom of my Power rankings, with both teams likely viewing the contest as one of their better chances for a win in ’25.  A key match-up will be the Continental passing game against an experienced Polar Bear secondary.

TUFTS AT AMHERST  1pm

 Last Game: Tufts 25, Amherst 0 @ Tufts

Last Five: Amherst 3-2

Tufts has won the past two meetings by a combined score of 59-14, but the Mammoths hope to close the gap behind new QB Marek Hill.  Can Amherst’s front seven, including LB Carson Skotak, hold up against an impressive Tufts running attack?

NESCAC FOOTBALL POWER RANKINGS – After Week 3

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

1-Trinity (2-1)

I have Trinity atop the list based on their impressive road win against Williams, but it was a close call between Trinity, Williams and Wesleyan.  The two offensive stars, Nolan O’Brien and Tyler DiNapoli have been delivered as expected, and QB Jaxon Carroll is showing improvement week to week – he had zero interceptions last week in their big win against Williams and increased his completions and meaningfully increased his yards per completion from the Bates win to the Williams win.  A consistent compliment to O’Brien, who has 20 catches, has yet to emerge; no other WR or TE has more than 2 catches in any of the Bantams’ first three games.  The Trinity defense’s yardage statistics are not as dominant as years past, but their front seven has generated the most combined sacks, quarterback hurries and tackles for loss in the conference.  DL Luke Ventura has 3.5 sacks.  The Bantams face two 2-1 teams, Tufts and Middlebury, over the next three weeks.

2-Williams (2-1)

The Ephs’ offense, fueled by QB Owen Johansen, has scored the most points (30 points per game), the most yards and by far the best yards per carry of 5.9 (the next best team is at 4.2).  After being a run heavy team in their first two games, Williams attempted and completed more passes in the Trinity game than their first two games combined, passing for 311 yards and 3 TDs.  With more experienced wideouts sidelined, WR Zack Falls had a big game against Trinity.  The Eph defense is in the middle of the pack in terms of yardage yielded but shut out Hamilton for the first three quarters and Colby for the entire game.  Freshman DB Connor Acheson has emerged as a major force; he leads the team with 24 tackles through 3 games.  I have ranked Williams slightly above Wesleyan, with the playmaking of Johansen being the difference.  After playing Bowdoin this week, Williams will host Middlebury.

3-Wesleyan (2-1)

Wesleyan’s offense is 6^th in terms of offensive yardage in the NESCAC.  Cardinal running backs are averaging just over 3.5 yards per carry, with RB Tyler Flynn the best, averaging 4.0 yds per carry.  Two wideouts, Donte Kelly and Blake Newcomb have provided chunk plays for Wesleyan.  The Cardinal defense continues to be stout; they have yielded the least points and the 2^nd lowest yards to date.  Like last year’s defense that scored 4 TDs, the ’25 squad is making game changing plays as LB AJ Morris has 2 INTs and a pick six.  Wesleyan’s next three games feature teams ranked in the bottom half of my power rankings: Hamilton, Colby and Bowdoin.

4-Middlebury (2-1)

The Panthers have shown good balance to date: they are 3^rd in the league in yards gained and 1^st in yards yielded.  The Panthers have the 2^nd most passing yards in the NESCAC, which is not a surprise with the return of QB Brian Moran and WR Mike Ahonen, who rank 2^nd and 3^rd in the league in passing yards and receiving yards, respectively.  RB Connor McClellan is 3^rd in the NESCAC in rushing yards, sports a 4.8 yard per carry average and has 5 TDs.  On defense, LB Michael Votta has 13 tackles, 4.5 TFLs which include 2 sacks.  I have Middlebury ranked 4^th in my power rankings based on their solid play across the board, but we will learn more about the Panthers in the next three weeks as they play Amherst, Williams and Trinity.

5-Amherst (2-1)

Last Saturday’s game was major victory for Amherst both in terms of the quality of win as well as the awakening of an offense that has been dormant for several seasons.  The Mammoths scored 30 points in the first half against a formidable Tufts defense, and for perspective the last time Amherst scored more than 30 points in a full game was October of 2019.   Sophomore Marek Hill has been a force averaging just about 200 yds passing and 50 yards running per game and has shown marked improvement: last year in 4 games, Hill had 3 touchdowns and 7 interceptions, while this year he has 7 touchdowns and just 2 interceptions.  Similar improvement is evident on the defensive side of the ball, with the Amherst front seven limiting opponents to 2.5 yards per carry and generating 8 sacks; in ’24 they had 12 sacks all season.  LB Carson Skotak is tied for 1^st in the NESCAC in tackles with 33.  I have Amherst just below Middlebury (although that ranking will be settled Saturday in Vermont), and slightly above Tufts based on their victory over the Jumbos.

6-Tufts (2-1)

Tufts opened the season 2-0, but was blitzed by Amherst last weekend, falling behind 30-0 at the half, before losing 30-14.  The running game has been solid, but the passing game hasn’t yet found its footing: the Jumbo are 7^th in league in passing yards, average just 6.0 yards per completion (which ranks 9^th) and have just 1 touchdown pass to 2 interceptions through a third of the season.  QB Justin Keller has gotten the majority of the snaps, but QB Hudson Weidman played four series in the first half on Saturday, so that position may still be in flux.  On defense, despite the first half onslaught by Amherst, Tufts has yielded the 2^nd least points in the league, with DB Cameron Pineda notching 2 interceptions (including a pick six) through three games.  Tufts heads to Hartford Saturday to face Trinity.

7-Colby (1-2)

After an impressive win over Trinity to open the season, the Mules dropped the next two to Williams and Middlebury.  The Colby offense sits 9^th in the league and last in rushing yards, but the Mules have played three of the best teams in the league.  WR Jack Nye has been a difference maker on offense, but no other Colby wideout had more than 3 catches in a game this season.  QB Miles Drake has yet to throw a touchdown pass and has 7 interceptions.  On defense, the Mules are 8^th in yards yielded, with the rush defense an issue through three games; Williams rushing for 364 yards against Colby impacts that statistic.  The Mules have two of the top three sack leaders in the conference, defensive lineman Cooper Bunnell and Jack Mullen.  I have Colby at the top of the 1-2 teams based on the quality of their win (Trinity), but they travel to Bates Saturday to validate the ranking.

8-Bates (1-2)

Bates started the season with a dramatic OT win over Amherst, but has since lost to tough NESCAC foes, Trinity and Wesleyan.  The offense is 8^th in the league in yards, and more surprising 7^th in rushing yards.  RB Ryan Lynskey, who led the league in rushing in ‘24, has approximately 100 less rushing yards and 1 yard per carry less from where he stood after 3 games a year ago, so Bates will look for improved play from its offensive line and complimentary rushers to help Lynskey.  Another major issue is QB/WR Sergio Beltran left last week’s game with an injury, and he is a multifaceted offensive weapon for the Bobcats.  The defense has surrendered the most points in the league, but some of that can be attributed to a tough early schedule.  Two Bates linebackers, Ryan Rozich and Carmel Crunk have been very productive and are tied for 1^st and 3^rd in the NESCAC, respectively, in total tackles.  I have Bates ahead of Hamilton based on their better win.  The Bobcats host a big CBB match-up Saturday night against Colby.

9-Hamilton (1-2)

The Continentals opened with two losses to Amherst and Williams and then beat Bowdoin at home.  Hamilton has struggled to run the ball (last in the league) but has found success through the air behind QB Luke Kurzum.  Kurzum, who leads the league in passing yards, is averaging 304 yards per game and has 7 touchdowns and no interceptions; for the full ’24 season he had 6 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.  WR Matthew Kearns has emerged as a big play wideout for the Continentals, with 238 yards receiving and 3 touchdowns through three games.  The Hamilton defense continues to struggle and ranks 9^th in the league in yards allowed.  The defensive line is inexperienced and the line rotation includes several freshmen, so the 5.0 rush yard per carry average yielded and lack of sacks (1) could be expected.  LB John Young has 20 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and pass breakup through their opening games.  Hamilton faces two very tough foes, Wesleyan and Trinity in their next two games.

10-Bowdoin (0-3)

It has not been pretty to date in Brunswick, with Bowdoin last in yards gained (trail 9^th by 52 yds per game) and last in yards yielded (trail 9^th by 68 yards per game) in the NESCAC, with just 2 offensive touchdowns on the year.  The results appear to be typical growing pains as the Polar Bears offense starts a freshman quarterback, sophomore running back and have two freshmen in their wideout rotation.  Former QB Michael Wolfendale has moved to wide receiver and was productive last week, with 6 catches for 83 yards.  On defense Bowdoin is young as well: their top eight tacklers are either sophomores or freshmen.  The Polar Bears lead the league with 23 tackles for loss, with DL Angus Leary having 6.5 (including 3 sacks on the year).  The schedule is not friendly over the next four games as Bowdoin takes on Williams, Amherst, Wesleyan and Trinity.

Game of the Week

TUFTS AT TRINITY   1:30pm

Last Game: Trinity 42, Tufts 24 @ Tufts

Last Five: Trinity 4-1

This match-up features two of the top teams in the NESCAC that are both looking for growth from their new signal callers.  A key match-up will be whether the Jumbo secondary can hold down an explosive WR Nolan O’Brien.

Rest of the Slate

WILLIAMS AT BOWDOIN  1pm

Last Game: Williams 34, Bowdoin 14 @ Williams

Last Five: Williams 4-1

This game features Williams, who has gained the most yards in the league, against Bowdoin, who has yielded the most.  Can the Polar Bear offense show some improvement led by their freshman quarterback?

HAMILTON AT WESLEYAN  1pm

Last Game: Wesleyan 19, Hamilton 7 @ Hamilton

Last Five: Wesleyan 5-0

Wesleyan appears to have the advantage on both lines and will likely look to leverage WR Donte Kelly against the Hamilton defense.  Can the Continental offensive line provide QB Luke Kurzum enough time to attack Wesleyan through the air?

AMHERST AT MIDDLEBURY 2pm

Last Game: Middlebury 29, Amherst 21 @ Amherst

Last Five: Middlebury 4-1

This is a pivotal contest between two 2-1 teams in the NESCAC.  Can QB Marek Hill keep the Amherst offense humming against a stingy Middlebury defense and can Panther QB Brian Moran find success against a veteran Mammoth secondary?

COLBY AT BATES  7 pm

Last Game: Colby 28, Bates 26 @ Colby

Last Five: Colby 5-0

These CBB foes meet under the lights in Lewiston and both teams look to snap 2 game losing streaks.  Colby has 6 straight wins over Bates in this series, and a key factor in the outcome will be whether Colby’s struggling offense can score against a young Bates defense.

NESCAC FOOTBALL POWER RANKINGS–After Week 4

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

1-Trinity (3-1)

Trinity maintains my top spot with their dominating win against Tufts, in large part as they hold the most impressive win of the 3-1 teams: an overtime win in Williamstown.  The Bantams rank 3^rd in both offensive yards gained and least yards yielded.  On offense, an impactful 2^nd receiver or tight end option opposite Nolan O’Brien has yet to emerge, but Trinity has leveraged their running backs in the passing game: in ’24 their top two running backs generated 14% of their receiving yards whereas in ’25 the percentage is 25%. On defense, the Bantams have yielded a league low 30.9% on opponent 3^rd down conversions and are tied for tops in the NESCAC with 12 sacks.  Lastly, with respect to special teams, the Bantams, courtesy of Mr. O’Brien, have more punt return yards than the rest of the league combined.  Trinity plays Middlebury in two weeks, sandwiched between games with Hamilton and Bowdoin.

2-Williams (3-1)

Williams has been incredibly productive leaning heavily on their run game (72% of their offensive plays): the Ephs have over 100 more rush yards per game than the 2^nd highest NESCAC team.  Although their passing yards are consequently lower, the Williams’ passing game has been efficient through the air, completing 62% of their passes, averaging a strong 8.9 yds per attempt and a healthy 7:2 TD to interception ratio.  The Ephs lead the league in third down conversion rate (55%) and converted both of their 4^th down tries.  In short, the offense, which is averaging over 31 points per game, is humming.  The defense is not as dominant, specifically against the pass, but some of that yardage is a factor of opponents (Trinity) and score (large Eph leads through 3 quarters).  A major test awaits Saturday against Middlebury.

3-Wesleyan (3-1)

Wesleyan has been dominant, enjoying the largest point differential (+70) in the NESCAC through 4 games.  Their offense ranks 2^nd in the league in yards, with a solid 3.9 rushing yards per carry and a robust passing game.  The passing game has been very effective with a new Wesleyan starter in ’25 completing a league high 69% of Cardinal passes and having a 9:1 touchdown to interception ratio.  On the defensive side, Wesleyan has replicated its ’24 dominance and playmaking: the Cardinals have yielded a league low 70 yards per game on the ground and lead the league in interceptions (6) and interception return yardage (123 yards).  Wesleyan faces two Maine foes, Colby and Bowdoin, in their next two games.

4-Amherst (3-1)

The 4^th rated team in my Power Rankings is also 4^th in both points scored and allowed in the league.  The Amherst offense has made quantum leap from ’24 behind their new quarterback, who has improved both their run and pass game.  The Mammoths had just 332 yards rushing in the ’24 season whereas they already have 495 yards through 4 games in ’25.  The offense’s success has increased their time of possession year on year from 26 minutes (last in the league in ’24) to 30 minutes per game.  The time of possession swing has provided more rest for the defense, which coupled with improved production from their front seven led the Amherst rush defense to rank 3^rd in the league in terms of yards, surrendering just 2.5 yards per carry.  Amherst plays two Maine schools, Bowdoin and Colby in the next two weeks before closing with the top three teams in my Power Rankings: Wesleyan, Trinity and Williams.

5-Middlebury (2-2)

The Panthers are 5^th in points and 5^th in total offensive yards, doing most of their damage through the air.  The Middlebury aerial attack is averaging 240 yds per game, but their completion percentage (60%) and touchdown to interception ratio (5:2) rank in the middle of the league. The rushing attack is 6^th in yards per carry at 3.4.  On defense, the Panthers have limited opponents to the lowest yards per play (4.4) in the NESCAC but have given up just over 21 points per game as Middlebury has averaged a 28-to-32 minute time of possession deficit.  The Panthers take on Williams followed by a match-up against Trinity.

6-Tufts (2-2)

Tufts has a negative 28-point differential through 4 games, and although their running game has been solid, their passing game ranks 7^th in total yards, is near the bottom of the league in yards per attempt (5.5) and has 3 interceptions to 2 touchdowns.  The Jumbos have played three different quarterbacks meaningful snaps through four games, looking to find the best answer at the position.  The inverse is true for the defense: the Jumbo pass defense has been good and has almost as many interceptions (5) as touchdown passes allowed (6), but their rush defense is allowing 134 yards per game including 4.2 yards per carry.  The Jumbos’ early season schedule was challenging, but their next two games are against Bates and Hamilton.

7-Colby (2-2)

The Mules offense has really struggled in ’25, sitting 9^th in points and last in rushing yards. On the ground they are averaging a paltry 2.3 yards per carry, and through the air they have a head scratching 1 touchdown to 9 interceptions.  Colby has given up 15 sacks and has converted just 32% of its third down chances.  The Colby defense ranks 5^th in yards yielded, and has allowed the least passing yards in the NESCAC while snagging 6 interceptions versus giving up 4 touchdown passes.  The rush defense has not been as effective and is allowing 5.0 yards per carry.  That spread is impacted in part by their opponents: the Mules have faced run-heavy teams Williams and Bates in their first four games.  Challenging games await the Mules: home against Wesleyan and at Amherst.

8-Bates (1-3)

Bates has rushed the ball on 69% of their offensive snaps but are averaging just 2.5 yards per carry.  The pass offense is completing just 49% of its passes and the Bobcats have been sacked 12 times, the 2^nd most times in the league.  Bates averages 13 points per game, and an injury to their starting quarterback has not helped the cause.  The Bates defense ranks 4^th overall in yards allowed, with solid metrics across the board in rush and pass defense, showing improvement in ’25 as several underclassmen starters improve with experience.  Bates has a challenging three game slate upcoming: at Tufts, home against Williams and at Middlebury.

9-Hamilton (1-3)

The Continentals have come out throwing and lead the NESCAC in passing yards.  Hamilton has attempted passes on 64% of their offensive plays, have completed 61% of their passes for over 7 yards per attempt and have 8 touchdowns to just 2 interceptions.  The run game sits at 3.3 yards per carry.  On defense the chronic issues continue for the Continentals in ’25, as Hamilton has given up the most yards and points in the league through 4 games, with the rush defense yielding over 5 yards per carry.  On special teams the field kicking has regressed: Hamilton was 5 for 6 in ’24 but are just 1 for 5 so far in ’25.  A visit from Trinity looms this Saturday.

10-Bowdoin (0-4)

The statistics are not kind to the winless Polar Bears, who hold the league’s worst point differential at -66 points.  The Bowdoin offense is scoring just 40 points this season or a paltry 10 points a game.  Bowdoin went to their third starter at quarterback in 4 games, as the passing game has the league’s lowest yards per attempt (5.3) and 8 interceptions on the season.  The running game is averaging 2.7 yards per carry.  The Bowdoin defense sits at 9^th in terms of yards yielded and yards allowed per play.  The young Bowdoin squad hosts Amherst and then faces Wesleyan and Trinity.

Game of the Week

Saturday, October 11, 2025

MIDDLEBURY (2-2) AT WILLIAMS (3-1)  2pm

Last Game: Middlebury 32, Williams 29 (OT) @ Middlebury

Last Five: Middlebury 4-1

Both teams need to win this game to keep their chances of a NESCAC championship alive.  After struggling to contain Amherst’s Marek Hill, can the Middlebury defense slow the Ephs’ dual threat star QB Owen Johansen?  On the flip side, can the Williams’ secondary limit the Panthers’ aerial attack?

Other Games

AMHERST (3-1) AT BOWDOIN (0-4)  1pm

Last Game: Bowdoin 35, Amherst 7 @ Amherst

Last Five: Amherst 3-2

Amherst is coming off a big win in Vermont and now head to Maine to take on a winless Polar Bear squad.  Can the young Bowdoin offense generate some points against a solid Amherst defense?

WESLEYAN (3-1) AT COLBY (2-2)  1pm

Last Game: Wesleyan 23, Colby 17 (OT)  @ Wesleyan

Last Five: Wesleyan 4-1

These teams have split the last two contests, with both settled in OT.  The Colby offense has been anemic and improvement could be tough against a stout and opportunistic Cardinal defense.

TRINITY (3-1) AT HAMILTON (1-3)   1:30pm

Last Game: Trinity 31, Hamilton 7  @ Trinity

Last Five: Trinity 5-0

Trinity has won 29 straight games over the Continentals, with Hamilton last winning in 1994.  The streak will be tough for Hamilton to snap on Saturday and will require, among other things, the inexperienced Continental offensive line to give QB Luke Kurzum time to throw against a deep and talented Bantam front seven.

BATES (1-3) AT TUFTS (2-2)  6 pm

Last Game: Tufts 45, Bates 22 @ Bates

Last Five: Tufts 4-1

Both teams are coming off tough losses, and two key factors may impact Saturday night’s result: Can Bates get more production from their running game and can Tufts offense get more production, including from their quarterback, whomever the Jumbos play?

NESCAC FOOTBALL POWER RANKINGS–After Week 5

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

Just past the halfway point of the season, so I have noted the strengths and the areas of improvements for each team in the Power Rankings, as well as future opponents.  Following that, I have my game reviews, including the Game of the Week: Middlebury at Trinity.

1-Trinity (4-1)

Strengths: The Trinity offense leads the NESCAC in yards and points scored, averaging 32.0 points per game.  WR/KR Nolan O’Brien is 1^st in the league in touchdowns, all-purpose yards, punt return yardage and is 3^rd in receptions.   The rushing game is averaging 4.5 yards per carry, leveraging an impressive running back duo of Tyler DiNapoli and Jack Tosone.  On defense, the Bantams rank 2^nd in points allowed and have more interceptions (5) than touchdown passes (4) allowed.  DL Luke Ventura is tied for the league lead in in sacks with 4.

Areas for Improvement: Not many, but a consistent impactful WR or TE opposite O’Brien has yet to emerge.  In ’24, Trinity threw just 2 interceptions, but in ’25 they have 6 interceptions to date.  Some of that increase relates to settling on a new starter, and QB Jaxon Carroll has 6 touchdowns to 1 interception over the last 3 games.

Looking Ahead: Trinity has a tough home game against Middlebury this week, before a road game against Bowdoin and a home contest against Amherst.  Trinity finishes the year in what is shaping up to be a very significant game at Wesleyan.

 2-Wesleyan (4-1)

Strengths: QB Matt Fitzsimons leads the NESCAC in passing yards, completion percentage and touchdown passes.  The Cardinal offense is 2^nd in scoring and is converting over 55% of their 3^rd down tries.   WR Donte Kelly is 1^st in the NESCAC in catches and receiving yards and 2^nd in all-purpose yards.  The Wesleyan defense has allowed the least points in the league, and the rush defense is yielding less than 75 yards a game on the ground.  The Cardinal pass defense has only allowed 2 touchdown passes while picking off 6 passes. With their impressive statistical profile, I have nudged Wesleyan ahead of Williams in my Power Rankings.

Areas for Improvement: Like Trinity, not many, but Wesleyan ranks 6^th in rush yards and yards per attempt (3.6 yards), which one might expect to be higher based on the strong group of running backs in Middletown.

Looking Ahead: The Cardinals host Bowdoin and then close the season against top teams in my Power Rankings: home against Amherst, at Williams and home against Trinity.

3-Williams (4-1)

Strengths: The Ephs are 1^st in rushing offense, averaging above 232 yards per game (the next highest team in the NESCAC is at 165) with a robust 5.8 yard per carry average.   QB Owen Johansen and RB Jon Oris rank 2^nd and 3^rd in the league in rushing yards, combining for over 900 yards.  WR Zach Falls has emerged as a big play wideout for Williams; he is 3^rd in the league in receiving yards.  On defense, the Ephs have a NESCAC leading 15 sacks.

Areas for Improvement: The Williams pass defense ranks 9^th in the league in yards yielded and is 8^th in yards per attempt allowed, so that area needs improvement as they head into the 2^nd half of the season.   The loss of DB Holden Gering for multiple games could be a factor.

Looking Ahead: Trips to Bates and Tufts are followed by hosting a huge Big 3 contest against Wesleyan.  Williams finishes the year at archrival Amherst.

4-Amherst (4-1)

Strengths: QB Marek Hill leads the NESCAC in total offense, averaging over 278 yards per game between his passing and running.  WR Carter Jung is 2^nd in the league in catches and receiving yards, as well as 2^nd in kickoff return average.  RB Demetrius Smith is 5^th in league in rushing yards.  On defense, the Mammoth defense has held opponents to the lowest yards per rush (2.3) and the lowest yards per attempt (5.9).  LB Carson Skotak is 3^rd in the league in total tackles.

Areas for Improvement: Amherst is the most penalized team in the NESCAC, conceding over 56 yards per game to penalties, and will look to convert more redzone trips into touchdowns as they have scored 11 touchdowns in 20 red zone trips.

Looking Ahead: Amherst hosts Colby and then plays the top three teams in my Power Rankings: at Wesleyan, at Trinity and home against Williams.

5-Middlebury (2-3)

Strengths: The Panthers are 3^rd in the NESCAC in passing yards led by QB Brian Moran, and WR Mike Ahonen is 4^th in the league in receptions.  RB Connor McClellan sits 4^th in rushing yards with a 5.4 yard per carry average.  On defense, LB Matt Shaw is 4^th in the league in total tackles.

Areas for Improvement: The Panthers sit in the middle of the pack in most statistical categories and have scored and allowed the exact same number of points, 109, through 5 games.  One area to improve is to limit major runs by their opponents: Wesleyan scored 24 unanswered against the Panthers while Amherst opened their game with a 27-3 lead.  Another is to limit mistakes in the red zone where they have an interception, fumble and were stopped twice on downs.

Looking Ahead: Middlebury plays at Trinity, which has been a great contest in past years.  The Panthers close the year with Bates, Hamilton and Tufts.

6-Colby (2-3)

Strengths: The Mules have the top pass defense in the league in terms of yards yielded, have limited opponents to just 6.4 yards per attempt and have 6 interceptions versus 6 touchdowns allowed.  Two defensive players have stood out: DB Ameer White is tied for tops in the league with 3 interceptions and LB Declan McNamara tied for 1^st in pass break ups.   WR Jack Nye is a Top 10 receiver in the league in receptions and yards.

Areas for Improvement: The offense is averaging just 10 points a game and passing offense is a true sore spot: they have 9 interceptions thrown versus 1 touchdown pass, have just 5.0 yards per attempt, been sacked the most in the NESCAC (18 times) and could only complete 3 of 16 passes for a total of 20 yards against Wesleyan.

Looking Ahead: Colby is at Amherst, home against Hamilton and then travel to Tufts.  They finish the year with an opportunity to win the CBB when they host Bowdoin under the lights.

7-Bates (2-3)

Strengths: RB Ryan Lynskey leads the NESCAC (again) in rushing yards, averaging over 100 yards per game, 4.0 yards per carry and has scored 7 rushing touchdowns.  The defense has improved materially from ’24 as the young Bobcat starters have matured; Bates has the most interceptions in the league with 7 while last year they had just 1 interception for the entire season.  LB Ryan Rozich has 59 total tackles through 5 games with the next highest NESCAC player at 43.

Areas for Improvement: The passing game has the lowest completion percentage in the NESCAC at 47%, while all other teams are north of 51%.  Despite the 2^nd lowest number of passing attempts in the league, the Bobcats have given up the 2^nd most sacks (12).  The loss of QB/WR Sergio Beltran to injury has been a factor in the Bates passing game.

Looking Ahead: Bates hosts Williams, travels to Middlebury and then takes on Bowdoin in a CBB clash in Brunswick.  The Bobcats close the season with a home game against Hamilton.

8-Tufts (2-3)

Strengths: The Jumbos, despite five new faces in the secondary, boast the league’s 2^nd best pass defense by yardage.  Their rush offense is 4^th in the league, with their leading rusher, RB Christian Shapiro averaging 4.1 yards per carry.  On special teams, KR Keller Rogers is 1^st in the league in kickoff return yardage, including two 60+ yard returns against Wesleyan and Trinity.

Areas for Improvement: The Jumbo passing game is averaging under 6 yards an attempt (8^th in the league) and has 5 interceptions to go with 5 touchdown passes.  Tufts has given three quarterbacks snaps in ’25.  The rush defense ranks 9^th per rush attempt and 7^th in league in total rush yards yielded.  The Jumbos are near the bottom of the league in red zone conversions, turning just below 69% of their trips inside the 20 into points.

Looking Ahead: Tufts heads to Hamilton, then they host Williams and Colby.  The Jumbos end the season in Vermont against Middlebury.

9-Hamilton (1-4)

Strengths: Hamilton leads the NESCAC in passing yards, with a solid 59% completion percentage, 6.8 yards per attempt average and throwing 8 touchdowns to 3 interceptions.  QB Luke Kurzum is 3^rd in the league in passing yards (7 yards separate the top 3) and is also 3^rd in total offense.  WR Matthew Kearns has emerged as a weapon for the Continentals and ranks in the Top 8 in the league in catches and receiving yards.

Areas for Improvement: Hamilton’s chronic defensive shortcomings persist; they have given up the most yards in the league, yield 5.3 yards per rush and have allowed a league high 11 touchdown passes.  The Continentals simply could not stop Wesleyan or Trinity in any meaningful way, and some of issues could be related to Hamilton playing younger players along their defensive line and in their secondary.

Looking Ahead: The Continentals have already played the Top 4 teams in my Power Rankings.  They host Tufts, head to Colby, host Middlebury and finish up at Bates.

10-Bowdoin (0-5)

Strengths: DL Angus Leary leads the NESCAC with tackles for loss (10) and is tied for the top sack spot with 4 sacks.  P Caden Perry leads the league with 11 punts inside the 20 and is 2^nd in net average at 41 yards per punt.

Areas for Improvement: Bowdoin is starting several sophomores and freshmen, and the growing pains are evident in the statistics.   The Polar Bears are last in the league in scoring (9.4), have the least offensive yards, and rank 9^th in yards yielded (over 405 yards per game) in the NESCAC.  4^th downs have been an issue: Bowdoin is 1 for 8 on 4^th down and have allowed opponents to be successful 6 times on 9 attempts.

Looking Ahead: The schedule is tough for the next two: at Wesleyan and home for Trinity.  The Polar Bears then finish the year with their annual CBB games: home against Bates and at Colby.

Game of the Week

MIDDLEBURY AT TRINITY  1pm

Last Game: Middlebury 20, Trinity 15 @ Middlebury

Last Five: Middlebury 3-2

The Panthers have beaten Trinity the last two times they have faced each other; starting with the ’23 season, Trinity is 0-2 against Middlebury and 19-2 in all other games.  One key question is whether Middlebury’s defense can slow a potent Bantam offense.

Rest of the Slate

WILLIAMS AT BATES   1 pm

Last Game: Williams 24, Bates 21 @ Williams

Last Five: Williams 5-0

The Ephs have won 7 straight games over Bates, and one would expect a lot of running attempts in this contest.  A key factor is which teams’ rush defense is more effective in slowing the other’s rushing attack.

COLBY AT AMHERST  1pm

Last Game: Colby 38, Amherst 7 @ Colby

Last Five: Colby 4-1

Colby has won four straight in this series but will need to get their offense on track to compete with the Mammoths in Amherst.  Can Colby’s defense slow the dual threat posed by Mammoth QB Marek Hill?

BOWDOIN AT WESLEYAN  1pm

Last Game: Wesleyan 17, Bowdoin 14  @ Bowdoin

Last Five: Wesleyan 4-1

This contest is a tough spot for a young Bowdoin team.  Can the Polar Bear pass rush slow an uber efficient Wesleyan passing attack?

TUFTS AT HAMILTON  1pm

Last Game: Tufts 20, Hamilton 13  @ Tufts

Last Five: Tufts 3-2

Tufts is looking to snap their three-game losing streak.  There is an interesting match-up in this game between a strong Hamilton pass offense and a stingy Tufts pass defense.

Saturday October 25, 2025 

NESCAC FOOTBALL POWER RANKINGS–After Week 6

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

As I did a deeper dive last week, this week I zoomed out 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 my Game of the Week, Amherst at Wesleyan.

1-TRINITY (5-1)

Wins: Bates, @Williams, Tufts, @Hamilton and Middlebury

Losses: @Colby

Next 3: @Bowdoin, Amherst and @Wesleyan

Trinity won a close game against nemesis Middlebury, which was a key win for their NESCAC title hopes.  The Bantams won the title outright in ’22, tied for the title in ’23 and fell short in the last game of the season in ’24.   Trinity is well positioned in ’25 as one of two one loss teams in the league, so if they win out they will be a champion.  Key match-ups against Amherst and Wesleyan loom.

2-WILLIAMS (5-1)

Wins: @Hamilton, Colby, @Bowdoin, Middlebury and @Bates

Losses: @Trinity

Next 3: @Tufts, Wesleyan and @Amherst

The Ephs sit at 5-1 and their 5 wins to date match or exceed their win totals from the past 3 seasons.  Among the title contenders, Williams has already lost to Trinity, but the NESCAC does not have a head-to-head tiebreaker if two teams finish tied; they recognize co-champions.   As such the Ephs control their own destiny but must manage some key injuries and a challenging final three game slate.

3-WESLEYAN (4-2)

Wins: Middlebury, @Bates, Hamilton and @ Colby

Losses: @Tufts and Bowdoin

Next 3: Amherst, @Williams and Trinity

Wesleyan’s NESCAC championship hopes took a hit last weekend by getting stunned by Bowdoin, who came into Middletown winless.  The game was reminiscent of the Cardinal loss to Bates last season, another home loss to a Maine team that was winless at the time (had lost 17 straight).  The good news for Wesleyan is they control their own destiny, playing the top three teams down the stretch, with two in Middletown.  The stretch run starts this Saturday against Amherst.

4-AMHERST (4-2)

Wins: Hamilton, Tufts, @Middlebury and @Bowdoin

Losses: @Bates and Colby

Next 3: @Wesleyan, @Trinity and Williams

Following a tough and somewhat maddening loss to Colby, the Mammoths are 4-2.  Amherst won just 2 games last season, and averaged 3.4 wins over the last 5 seasons, so the ’25 record to date is marked improvement.  The bad news is the Mammoths play the top 3 teams in my Power Rankings to close the season.  The good news is if they win out, they claim a share of the NESCAC title.

5-TUFTS (3-3)

Wins: @Bowdoin, Wesleyan and @Hamilton

Losses: @Amherst, @Trinity and Bates

Next 3: Williams, Colby and @Middlebury

The Jumbos held off Hamilton to get to .500 and appear to have settled on their quarterback.  Tufts won 7, 6 and 6 games in the past three seasons, respectively, so will need to run the table to match the past seasons’ standard.  Some major challenges await, starting this weekend with a visit from Williams.

6-COLBY (3-3)

Wins: Trinity, @Bates and @Amherst

Losses: @Williams, Middlebury and Wesleyan

Next 3: Hamilton, @Tufts and Bowdoin

The Mules are 3-3, with impressive wins over Trinity and Amherst.  Colby last had a winning record in 2005, so the team is hopeful to win at least two of their next three games to reach that plateau.  Two upcoming home games offer good opportunities to reach 5 wins, with the final game providing a chance to win back-to-back CBB championships and their 5^th outright in the last 7 seasons.

7-MIDDLEBURY (2-4)

Wins: Bowdoin and @Colby

Losses: @Wesleyan, Amherst, @Williams and @Trinity

Next 3: Bates, @Hamilton and Tufts

The Panthers had a tough loss at Trinity and sit at 2-4.  Middlebury has averaged 7 wins over the past 3 seasons, and the last time they had 4 losses was 2021.   They can earn a winning record by running the table, and the slate is more favorable with two home games and none of the top 4 teams in my Power Rankings left on the schedule.

8-BATES (2-4)

Wins: Amherst and @Tufts

Losses: @Trinity, Wesleyan, Colby and Williams

Next 3: @Middlebury, @ Bowdoin and Hamilton

The Bobcats are 2-4, with the two wins matching their ’24 total and right at their last 10-year average of 2.1 wins.  Bates faces the 7^th, 9^th and 10^th teams in my Power Rankings, which will provide ample opportunity to improve their win total from last season and years’ past.

9-HAMILTON (1-5)

Wins: Bowdoin

Losses: Williams, @Amherst, Trinity, @Wesleyan and Tufts

Next 3: @Colby, Middlebury and @Bates

Hamilton has one win on the season but was competitive in their last game against Tufts.  Last season the Continentals could only muster 1 win and will look to find another to show incremental improvement from ’24.  Hamilton’s next three games, which include two trips to Maine and their rivalry game against Middlebury, provide opportunities to double their total.

10-BOWDOIN  (1-5)

Wins: @Wesleyan

Losses: Tufts, @Middlebury, @Hamilton, Williams, Amherst

Next 3: Trinity, Bates and @Colby

The Polar Bears started the ’25 season 0-5 but registered a major upset at Wesleyan last weekend.  The young Bowdoin team faces another tough opponent in Trinity this Saturday followed by games against Maine foes Bates and Colby.  The Polar Bears will be looking for continued growth from their young roster as well as a chance to win the CBB in the final two weeks.

Game of the Week

AMHERST AT WESLEYAN –  1pm

Last Game: Wesleyan 31, Amherst 14 @ Amherst

Last Five: Wesleyan 4-1

The first game in the Little Three contest features two 4-2 teams coming off upsets a week ago.  Wesleyan’s defense will look to contain Amherst QB Marek Hill, while the veteran Mammoth secondary will need to slow Cardinal WRs Donte Kelly and Blake Newcomb.  Wesleyan has won the last 3 Little Three crowns.

Other Games

WILLIAMS AT TUFTS –  1:30 PM

Last Game: Tufts 27, Williams 24   @ Williams

Last Five: Tufts 3-2

A key battle of Massachusetts teams.  Can the Jumbo front seven, which is 9^th in the league in rush yardage yielded, slow a very potent Williams’ running attack?  Can newly starting QB Hudson Weidman continue his strong play against a Williams’ pass defense which has been below average? The availability of Eph QB Owen Johansen is a major factor in this game.

HAMILTON AT COLBY – 1 pm

Last Game: Colby 16, Hamilton 13  @ Hamilton

Last Five: Hamilton 3-2

A very interesting match-up as Colby has a strong defense, including in the secondary, and Hamilton has a very good passing attack.  On the flip side, it’s a match-up between two units, the Mule offense and the Continental defense, that have struggled this season.

BATES AT MIDDLEBURY –  1pm

Last Game: Bates 21, Middlebury 20  @ Bates

Last Five: Middlebury 4-1

Bates snapped a Middlebury 33-game winning streak a year ago in Lewiston and look to make it two in a row.  Can Bates generate enough of a passing game to keep Middlebury’s defense honest, and can a good Panther passing game find success against an opportunistic Bobcat secondary?

TRINITY AT BOWDOIN –  1 pm

Last Game: Trinity 34, Bowdoin 14 @ Trinity

Last Five: Trinity 5-0 (Trinity has won the last 25 games)

Trinity has won 25 straight games against Bowdoin, with the Polar Bears last beating the Bantams in 1998.  Bowdoin is coming off an upset win over Wesleyan and hope their freshman quarterback can find success against a strong Trinity defense.  Can the Polar Bear defend a Bantam offense with multiple playmakers?

NESCAC FOOTBALL POWER RANKINGS–After
Week 7

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

Below are my Power Rankings with a write-up on each team. In addition, I have
this weekend’s game previews including the Game of the Week, Wesleyan at
Williams.

1-TRINITY (6-1)

With Williams’ loss at Tufts, Trinity stands alone atop the NESCAC standings at 6-1. The Bantams have won six straight since their opening loss to Colby and hold the league’s largest point differential (+136) with the next highest team at +89. Starting WR Darison Hooper had just 5 catches in the 1st four games of the season, but in the last 3 games has caught 11-167 yards becoming another viable target for QB Jaxon Carroll. The quartet of running backs Tyler DiNapoli, Jack Tosone, Josh Woodward and Tate Hoffmeister have combined to rush for 1,040 yds (5.6 per carry average) and Trinity is the only offense in NESCAC averaging over 400 yds per game. The Bantam defense leads the league in least passing yards yielded and wins on 3rd down: their offense has the highest conversion percentage, while their defense has yielded the lowest. With a win over Amherst Saturday, the Bantams clinch at least a tie for the NESCAC crown.

2-WESLEYAN (5-2)

The Cardinal defense has allowed the least yards in the league and continues to make game changing plays, which was a key factor in their latest win over Amherst. Wesleyan has the most combined tackles for loss (including sacks) and quarterback hurries in the league and is tied for the league lead with 9 interceptions, which they have returned for 151 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Cardinal offense is 2nd in the league in passing yards leveraging a very effective QB Matt Fitzsimons and two wideouts, freshman Donte Kelley and Blake Newcomb, who both rank in the Top 4 in the NESCAC in catches and receiving yards. One area that may need to improve down their challenging stretch is offensive line play: Wesleyan has yielded the most combined tackles for loss (including sacks) and quarterback hurries in the league and are averaging just 3.0 yards per rush. A key Little Three game awaits the Cardinals in Williamstown as they look to repeat as NESCAC champions.

3-WILLIAMS (5-2)

The Ephs got QB Owen Johansen back against Tufts but could not stop the Jumbo offense in their loss last weekend. Williams features the best rushing attack in the NESCAC averaging over 216 yards per game with RB Jon Oris leading the league in rushing yards and sporting a 5.9 yard per carry average. WR Zach Falls is the definition of a big play receiver: he leads the NESCAC in receiving yards (722), TD catches (8) and has a staggering 24.9 yards per catch average. The good news on defense is the Ephs are generating pressure, leading the league with 19 sacks including 5 sacks from DL Ben Yedid. The bad news is that the pass defense is last in the NESCAC in passing yards allowed (over 252 yds per game) and 8.5 yards per attempt with injuries a potential culprit. Williams takes on their two Little Three rivals in the final two weeks of the season, with NESCAC championship hopes on the line.

4-AMHERST (4-3)

Amherst have lost two straight, dropping games to Colby and Wesleyan. The Mammoths have been a very balanced team, with their offense ranked 3rd in the league in yards gained and their defense 2nd in least yards allowed. QB Marek Hill continues to lead the NESCAC in total offense (over 282 yards per game) and WR Carter Jung is 2nd in the league in catches, averaging 14.3 yards per catch and scoring 8 touchdowns. The issue for Amherst has been offense and special teams’ mistakes in the past two games, where they have thrown 4 interceptions, endured multiple punt blocks and gone 0-8 on 4th down attempts. They have a league worst -7 turnover differential. The defense has a strong pass rush, with 18 sacks (2nd in the league) and surrendered just 5.8 yards per pass attempt. LB Carson Skotak has been impactful and sits 3rd in the league with 62 total tackles. The Mammoths face Trinity and archrival Williams to close the season, and to have a chance for victory must eliminate
their miscues.

5-TUFTS (4-3)

Tufts has won three straight and although the Jumbos rank 5th overall in offense, the latest trend tells a better story for the Jumbos. QB Hudson Weidman has started the past three wins for Tufts and has increased his completion percentage and yardage in each game throwing 9 touchdowns to 1 interception over those games; he topped out going 17-23 for 335 yards against Williams last weekend. Weidman adds a rushing threat to supplement RB Christian Shapiro, who is 5th in the NESCAC in rushing yards, averages 4.8 yards per carry and has the most points (56) scored in the league. The Jumbo secondary is solid against the pass, but Tufts defense is 8th in rush yards allowed, 9th in rush yards per attempt and have generated the lowest combination of tackles for loss (including sacks) and quarterback hurries in the NESCAC. Tufts plays two teams just below them in my Power Rankings, Colby and Middlebury, to end the season.

6-COLBY (4-3)

Colby picked up their 4th victory over Hamilton, winning 17-10. Their winning formula has been low scoring affairs, with their other 3 wins ending in 13-6, 13-6 and 13-9 scores. The defense, led by a slew of experienced and talented defenders, is 3rd in the NESCAC in least points allowed, has held opponents to league low 5.7 yards per pass attempt, and has the highest combined interception plus pass breakup metric in the league. LB Declan McNamara is 5th in the league in total tackles. The Mule offense is last in the league in yards gained, but freshman QB Patrick Miller saw some action against Amherst two weeks ago and led the Mules in their victory over the Continentals, adding a running threat and rushing for 119 yards. WR Jack Nye has been the Mules’ most impactful skill player, notching over 300 yards receiving. Colby last had a winning record in 2005 and needs a victory over either Tufts or Bowdoin to reach that plateau in 2025.

7-MIDDLEBURY (3-4)

Middlebury picked up their 3rd win over Bates. The Panthers are 4th in both offensive output and least yards allowed on the season. RB Connor McClellan has been impressive, sitting 2nd in the league in rushing yards, averaging 4.8 per carry and leading the NESCAC in rushing touchdowns with 9.  QB Brian Moran has been steady and WR Mike Ahohen is 5th in the league in catches but oddly does not yet have a TD reception. On defense, the Panthers have one of the best 3rd down defenses, yielding just a 38.2% conversion rate, but need to improve their 4th down defense where they have let opponents convert 5 out of 7 chances. Middlebury has the league’s best turnover margin at +7 and will look to finish the season with a winning record by beating Hamilton and Tufts.

8-BATES (2-5)

Bates lost their last two games to drop to 2-5 and played their most recent game without star RB Ryan Lynskey. Earlier in the season the Bobcats lost QB/WR Sergio Beltran to injury as well. Both players were critical for the Bobcats rush heavy attack, and in part due to their absence, the Bates rushing attack ranks 5th in the league and averages just 3.0 yards per rush. The Bobcat passing game has not been efficient with a league low 48% completion percentage, and Bates has given up the 2nd most sacks in the league (17). WR Quinn Carver has provided a spark on special teams; he leads the NESCAC in kickoff return yards (369 yds). On defense, Bates ranks 6th overall in terms of yardage, and has two very productive linebackers: Ryan Rozich leads the league with 89 total tackles and Carmel Crunk is 2nd with 63 total tackles. The Bobcats have two chances to top their two wins from ’24 as they face Maine rival Bowdoin Saturday and then complete their season against Hamilton.

9-HAMILTON (1-6)

The Continentals sit at 1-6 after a close loss to Colby. Hamilton leads the NESCAC in passing yards behind QB Luke Kurzum, who is tied for the league’s most passing yards, is 2nd in total offense (274 yards per game) and has thrown 11 touchdowns to 4 interceptions. Hamilton has leveraged multiple targets, with 3 different players, WR Matthew Kearns, RB Alastair Orr and WR Jack Hoag, breaking the 100-yard mark in different 5 games this season. The Continental defense remains a unit that has struggled, sitting at 9th in yards allowed and last in points surrendered (over 31 points per game). Hamilton has just one sack and one interception this year; for context the rest of the league averages 12.8 sacks and 6.9 interceptions on the season. The absence of DB Kyle Bratcher has not helped the cause. Hamilton has two chances to exceed their single win total from ’24 with games against Middlebury and Bates.

10-BOWDOIN (1-6)

The Polar Bears are 1-6 but scored a major upset when they beat Wesleyan in Middletown. Bowdoin is 9th in offense yardage and league worst in yards allowed, in large part due to growing pains from playing several sophomores and freshmen. Freshman QB Soren Hummel has taken the reins on offense and will look to improve their conversion rates: they are last in both 3rd and 4th down offensive conversions, including going 1 for 9 on 4th down. QB turned WR Michael Wolfendale has played a series of roles, providing offense by passing (132 yards), rushing (58 yards) and receiving (244 yards). On defense, of the Polar Bears’ 8 top tacklers, 7 are sophomores and 1 is a freshman. Sophomore DL Angus Leary has been impactful, leading the NESCAC in sacks and tackles for loss and generating 13 quarterback hurries. Bowdoin closes the season with a pair of their Maine rivals and will look to get more valuable experience as they compete for the CBB.

Game of the Week

WESLEYAN AT WILLIAMS – 1pm

Last Game: Wesleyan 25, Williams 24 @ Wesleyan
Last Five: Wesleyan 4-1

Wesleyan has won last three Little Three titles, and in addition to that title being on the line, the game has major NESCAC championship ramifications. The contest pits the league’s best rushing offense (Williams) against the league’s best rushing defense (Wesleyan). Another area to watch is whether the Eph secondary can hold up against a potent Cardinal passing game led by QB Matt Fitzsimons and some very talented wideouts.

Rest of the Slate

MIDDLEBURY AT HAMILTON – 12:30 pm

Last Game: Middlebury 35, Hamilton 0 @ Middlebury
Last Five: Middlebury 5-0 (Middlebury has won the last 28 games)

Middlebury looks to win the Old Rocking Chair Classic for the 29th straight time.  Can the Panther pass rush and secondary slow the Continentals’ air attack? Will Hamilton’s defense be able to get stops against a very balanced Middlebury offense?

COLBY AT TUFTS – 1pm

Last Game: Tufts 28, Colby 21 @ Colby
Last Five: Tufts 5-0 (Tufts has won the last 14 games)

Tufts has won 14 straight against Colby, but both teams come into this game at
4-3. QB Hudson Weidman has been impressive in his last three starts but can
he continue his success against a much more accomplished pass defense in
Colby? Can the Mule offense, led by freshman Patrick Miller on the road,
generate enough points to keep the game close?

AMHERST AT TRINITY – 1pm

Last Game: Trinity 45, Amherst 20 @ Amherst
Last Five: Trinity 5-0

Trinity is getting closer to another NESCAC title, and a win over Amherst would
go a long way to reaching that goal. Can a stingy Trinity defense limit Marek Hill and can the Mammoths avoid miscues which have doomed their chances in their last two losses? Can Amherst’s defense, which has been very stout, slow a balanced Bantam attack?

BATES AT BOWDOIN – 1 pm

Last Game: Bowdoin 35, Bates 24 @ Bates
Last Five: Bates 3-2

The second leg of the CBB kicks off in Brunswick between Bates and Bowdoin, and over their last seven games, the accumulated score is remarkably even: Bowdon 161, Bates 158. Will Bates RB Ryan Lynskey return from injury and repeat his ’24 effort against Bowdoin when he rushed for a league record 344 yards? Can the Polar Bears offense find some rhythm and points behind a freshman signal caller?

Saturday November 8, 2025

NESCAC FOOTBALL POWER RANKINGS–After Week 8

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

Above are my Power Rankings after Week 8 and below I have my final weekend game previews, including the Game of the Week, Trinity at Wesleyan, which will determine either an outright or co-champion in the NESCAC.  As there is a great slate of matchups for the last games of the ’25 season, I haven’t done my traditional listing in power ranking order but rather have analyzed each team by game.

Game of the week

TRINITY AT WESLEYAN – Noon  

Last Game: Wesleyan 27, Trinity 21 @ Trinity

Last Five: Trinity 3-2

1-TRINITY (7-1)

Trinity’s defense shutdown Amherst to gain at least a share of the NESCAC championship, and like a year ago, this rivalry game against Wesleyan will have title ramifications.  A Bantam win and they are outright champions; a loss they are co-champions.  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 yards, Wesleyan (1^st in rush and 2^nd in pass yards allowed).  This year’s Bantam offense does not have the same elite passing statistics as the ’24 and ’23 teams, but has been more balanced, with more rushing yards and higher rush per carry than a year ago.  Two areas that Trinity should be focused on Saturday: Assuming the Cardinals will try to limit WR Nolan O’Brien, Trinity should look to other playmakers to help in their passing attack, including their stable of talented running backs.  The other area is Trinity needs to limit Wesleyan’s defense and special teams from making game changing plays; the Cardinals lead the league in interceptions and return yardage from those picks.

2-WESLEYAN (6-2)

Last weekend Wesleyan won their 4^th straight Little Three title, and like a year ago, earned it with an incredible late win over Williams.  Saturday, they look to win a share of the NESCAC championship.  When Wesleyan has the ball, it will be great match-up between the NESCAC’s top passing attack led by Cardinal quarterback Matt Fitzsimons and the Bantams’ league best pass defense, which has limited opponents to less than 155 yds per game and only 5 touchdown passes while having 6 interceptions.  Two areas that Wesleyan should be focused on in this huge game: Protecting Fitzsimons, as the Cardinals have given up among the most pressure (sacks, QBHs) in the league and Trinity has a formidable front seven.  The other is finding some success in the rushing game to keep the Bantam defense honest.

Other Games

WILLIAMS AT AMHERST – Noon

Last Game: Williams 21, Amherst 0 @ Williams

Last Five: Williams 4-1

3- WILLIAMS (5-3)

A heartbreaking loss to Wesleyan ended their chances at the 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 continue their year-on-year improvement and get them to 6 wins, an improvement over 5 wins in ’24 and back-to-back 3-win seasons in ’22 and ’23.  When Williams has the ball, it will feature the NESCAC’s best rushing attack (gaining 5.5 per carry) against the league’s 2^nd best rushing defense, Amherst, who allows a league low 2.2 yards per carry.   Which team wins the line of scrimmage battle when the Ephs have the ball will be critical.  Two areas that Williams should be focused on in this historic rivalry: Assuming injuries dictate that Williams starts freshman QB Mustafa Mozawal, the Ephs need to run the ball and leverage WR Zach Falls to take the pressure off their inexperienced signal caller.  The second key for Williams will be using their pass rushers, who have the most sacks in the league, to affect Amherst’s quarterback and compliment their struggling secondary.

5-AMHERST (4-4)

Amherst has a ton to play for this weekend: snap a 3-game losing streak, achieve their first winning record since 2021, and gain a victory over Williams, who has won 5 of the last 7 in this iconic rivalry, the Biggest Little Game in America.  When the Mammoths have the ball, they will likely look to the air behind QB Marek Hill, who is 3^rd in the league in passing yards, and attack an Eph secondary that is depleted by injury and has yielded by far the most passing yards in the NESCAC.  Two areas that Amherst should be focused on Saturday:  Limit turnovers and special team breakdowns, which have plagued the Mammoths in past losses, especially limiting interceptions thrown, where Amherst is near the top of the league.  The second is for the Mammoths to use their stout front seven to control a very potent Williams’ running attack and disrupt their freshman quarterback.

TUFTS AT MIDDLEBURY – 12:30pm

Last Game: Tufts 17, Middlebury 7 @ Tufts

Last Five: Tufts 3-2

6-TUFTS (4-4)

Tufts lost badly to Colby at home last weekend and is looking to rebound in Vermont to achieve a winning record, a mark they cleared easily in the past three seasons winning between 6 and 7 games a year.  When Tufts has the ball the Jumbos will likely attack Middlebury through the air, with QB Hudson Weidman looking to connect with a slew of solid Tufts receivers led by WR Henry Fleckner.  The Panther defense is tied for 7^th in yards allowed per pass attempt and near the bottom of the league in sacks.  Two areas that Tufts should be focused on this Saturday: Stopping Panther RB Connor McClellan, which is easier said than done, and limiting interceptions thrown, a spot where Middlebury is at the top of the league.

7-MIDDLEBURY (4-4)

Like Tufts, Middlebury is sitting at 4-4 after a tight win over Hamilton and would like nothing more than to get to their 5^th win to secure a winning record.  The Panthers have not been below .500 since 2021.  When the Panthers have the ball, expect a heavy dose of RB Connor McClellan, who leads the NESCAC in rushing, averages 5.1 yds per carry and has 11 rushing touchdowns.  The Jumbo rush defense is 9^th in yards yielded and yards per carry allowed, so expect the ground game to be the focus of Middlebury’s offense.  Two areas that Middlebury should be focused on: Keeping Tufts rush defense honest by leveraging QB Brian Moran and WR Mike Ahonen in the passing game, and improving their 4^th down defense, where they have allowed 6 of 8 opponent conversions.

BOWDOIN AT COLBY   5pm

Last Game: Colby 34, Bowdoin 10 @ Bowdoin

Last Five: Colby 3-2

4-COLBY (5-3)

This season Colby earned their first winning season since 2005 and snapped losing streaks to Trinity and Tufts of 25 and 14 games, respectively.  Saturday is an opportunity to hit the six-win mark and capture their 5^th outright CBB crown in the last seven years.  Expect two freshman quarterbacks to compete under the lights in this rivalry game.  When Colby has the ball, they will likely run behind RB Andre Moreis, who averaged just over 37 yards rushing per game in his first 7 games, but exploded for 172 yards last weekend against Tufts.  A running approach will ease the pressure on freshman QB Patrick Miller and leverage his strong skills in that area.  Bowdoin ranks 8^th in the league in rush yards allowed.  Two areas that the Mules should be focused on Saturday night: protecting Miller, as Bowdoin features the NESCAC leader in sacks, and on the other side of the ball generating pressure on the Polar Bears’ freshman quarterback.

8- BOWDOIN (2-6)

This night tilt will give Bowdoin an opportunity to beat their rival Maine school and win the CBB championship.  After starting 0-5, Bowdoin has won 2 of 3 while featuring several underclassmen.  In their win over Bates last weekend, their freshman QB Soren Hummel hit two big touchdown strikes in the 2^nd quarter and the Polar Bear defense made the scores hold up.  When Bowdoin has the ball, it will be a challenge for the Polar Bears, who have scored the least points in the NESCAC while Colby has allowed the 2^nd fewest.  They will look for production from Hummel and WR Michael Wolfendale to generate points.  Two areas that the Polar Bears should be focused on in this rivalry: Avoid turnovers and special teams’ mistakes, which fuel a defensive oriented Colby team.  The second is to stop the run and pressure Miller on passing downs, using DL Angus Leary and their attacking front seven.

HAMILTON AT BATES – Noon

Last Game: Hamilton 24, Bates 21 @ Hamilton

Last Five: Bates 3-2

 9– BATES (2-6)

Bates is coming off a tough loss at Bowdoin and will be looking to exceed their ’24 win total with a 3^rd win in their finale against Hamilton.  Bates has the league’s lowest completion percentage (under 49%), but they are playing a Hamilton pass defense that is dead last defending the pass (almost 69% completion yielded).  When Bates has the ball, one would expect them to continue their run heavy approach, although the status of RB Ryan Lynskey, who was limited last week, is a major factor.  Two areas that Bates should focus on in their final: finding rhythm in their passing game with either QB Jack Perry or Sean Greene against a porous Continental defense, and creating turnovers with their pass defense, which has 8 interceptions on the year, against a pass dominant Hamilton offense.

10- HAMILTON (1-7)

After three competitive efforts but nonetheless losses, Hamilton sits at 1-7.   This game will provide the Continentals with a chance to break through with a win and improve on last year’s one win campaign.  The game features some struggling units as noted above: Bates’ passing offense struggles to consistently connect and Hamilton’s overall defense is last in the league.  When the Continentals have the ball, they will likely attack through the air, using QB Luke Kurzum, who is 2^nd in the NESCAC in passing yards, and a stable of productive wide receivers. Two areas that Hamilton needs to focus on in their finale: improve their 4^th quarter execution on both sides of the ball to close out tight games with victories and find ways for their defense to win on 3^rd down, where they allow an over 52% conversion rate by their opponents.

NESCAC FOOTBALL POWER RANKINGS –2025

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

1-WESLEYAN (7-2)

2025 Recap

The Cardinals won decidedly over Middlebury, Bates, Hamilton and Colby, but lost a tight game to Tufts and a head scratching home game to Bowdoin.  From there, Wesleyan won both their Little Three games including beating Amherst and rallying late to top Williams.  Wesleyan closed the season with a win over Trinity to take their second consecutive NESCAC Championship.

Offense

Yardage Ranking in League: 2^nd Overall; 7^th Rush and 1^st Pass

Meaningful Stat: QB Matt Fitzsimons led the NESCAC in passing yards

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Offensive Assets: Productive group of running backs

Key Offensive Question: Can 8 new offensive starters gel?

The eight new starters on defense played at a championship level, starting with QB Matt Fitzsimons who led the league in passing yards, completion percentage and touchdown passes.  Two Cardinal wideouts were outstanding: WR Blake Newcomb and freshman WR Donte Kelly finished in the top three in the NESCAC in both catches and receiving yards.  Newcomb was 1^st in receiving yards and Kelly was 2^nd in the league in all-purpose yards.  Wesleyan was not as effective on the ground (3.0 per carry) and yielded the most combined tackles for loss and quarterback hurries in the NESCAC, but RB Angelo LaRose delivered 218 rushing yards in their final game to seal the win over Trinity.

Defense

Yardage Ranking in League: 1^st Overall; 1^st Rush and 4^th Pass

Meaningful Stat: The Cardinal defense yielded the least yards in the league

 Preseason Assets & Question

Top Assets on Defense: DB Dylan Connors

Top Question on Defense: How will the new linebacking corps and secondary fare?   

 Wesleyan had the best overall defense and best rush defense in the NESCAC, so the linebacking corps fared quite well.  The Cardinals generated the most combined tackles for loss and quarterback hurries in the league.  LB Austin Baker led the team with 61 total tackles, had 2 sacks, 5.5 other tackles for loss, 4 quarterback hurries and 4 pass breakups.  DB Dylan Connors proved again to be a top defender in the league, finishing with 51 total tackles, 2 interceptions and 7 pass breakups.  Connors scored 4 defensive or special teams’ touchdowns in his career in Middletown.

2-TRINITY (7-2)

2025 Recap

Trinity opened the season with a stunning loss to Colby but then found their footing, winning their next 7 games.  During the winning streak, they had three close games (wins over Williams, Middlebury and Amherst) and four lopsided wins over Bates, Tufts, Hamilton and Bowdoin.  The Bantams fell three points short in the final to Wesleyan, effectively losing the NESCAC Crown.  Trinity finished with a league high +140 point differential.

Offense

Yardage Ranking in League: 1^st Overall; 2^nd Rush and 3^rd Pass

Meaningful Stat: Trinity scored the league’s most points, averaging over 30 points per game

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Offensive Assets: WR Nolan O’Brien and RB Tyler DiNapoli

Key Offensive Question: Can the new QB continue the dominant play of the past seasons?

QB Jaxon Carroll continued the historically strong play at quarterback for Trinity, taking full-time reins for the Bantams in the 2^nd game and leading the Bantam offense to the league’s most points and yards.  Carroll threw for just under 2,000 yards and fired 18 touchdown passes with six interceptions.  Trinity was very balanced on offense averaging over 168 yds per game in the air and over 154 yards on the ground.  Four Bantam running backs had over 230 yards rushing on the season, with RB Tyler DiNapoli the leader with 392 yards.  WR Nolan O’Brien had 9 touchdowns, finished 6^th in the league in receiving yards and 6^th in all-purpose yards despite seeing limited action in two blowouts.

Defense

Yardage Ranking in League: 3^rd Overall; 4^th Rush and 1^st Pass

Meaningful Stat: Trinity held opponents to a league low 28% 3^rd down conversion rate

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Defensive Assets: Productive starters at LB and DB

Key Defensive Question: Can any team in the league match Trinity’s defense?

The Bantam pass defense gave up the least passing yards in the NESCAC, an under 53% completion rate and just 7 touchdown passes versus picking off 6 passes.  The rush defense was not as dominant, yielded over 105 yards per game, but did limit opponents to 3.3 yards per carry.  DL Luke Ventura notched 5 sacks on the year, finishing tied for 2^nd in the league.  LB Lincoln Moore led Trinity with 58 total tackles, 1 sack, 4.5 other tackles for loss and 6 quarterback hurries. Six different Bantam defenders had an interception.

3-COLBY (6-3)

2025 Recap

The Mules opened the season with an upset over Trinity, then lost badly to Williams and then to Middlebury, but followed that up with winning 5 of their last 6.  Their only loss down the stretch was to eventual champion Wesleyan, with the wins including a blowout of Tufts and a sweep of their Maine rivals to capture the CBB.  The Mules earned their first winning season since 2005.

 Offense

Yardage Ranking in League: 9^th Overall; 6^th Rush and 10^th Pass

Meaningful Stat: Colby averaged less than 107 yds per game through the air

 Preseason Assets & Question

Top Offensive Assets: QB Miles Drake and WR Jack Nye

Key Offensive Question: Can the Mules replace the loss of several skill players?

 The Colby offense struggled throughout the season, finishing 9^th in total offense and scoring and having a loss where they completed just 3 passes for 20 yards.  Two key factors occurred that helped the Mules offense complement their strong defense.  First was the elimination of turnovers: in their first four games they had 11 turnovers (including 9 interceptions), while in their next 5 games they had 1 turnover.  Freshman QB Patrick Miller filled in for an injured Miles Drake and did not have an interception while adding a rushing element (5.2 yards per carry average).  The second was the emergence of RB Antoine Moreis, who increased his output over the season and ended up 5^th in rushing yards in the NESCAC.  WR Jack Nye finished with almost 370 yards receiving.

Defense

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

Meaningful Stat: Colby gave up the least points in the NESCAC

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Defensive Assets: Slew of productive returning linebackers and defensive backs

Key Defensive Question: Can Colby replace several defensive line starters?

Despite ranking 6^th in the league in yards allowed, the Colby defense allowed the least points in the league due to their strong 4^th down defense, allowing conversions at a 21% clip (4-19) with the next best team in the league at 33%.  Consistent with the 4^th down defense, their 62% red zone defense is best in the league (yielding the least scores when opponent is inside the 20) and is over 10% better than the 2^nd best team.  The veteran Mule linebacking corps was impactful, with LB Declan McNamara finishing 7^th in the league in tackles and 2^nd in pass defended.  DB Drew Ramos finished 1^st in passes defended in the NESCAC while fellow DB Ameer White had the most interceptions (4). P Eli Soehren led the league in punting average, with over 42 yards per punt.

4-AMHERST (5-4)

2025 Recap

Amherst opened the season with an overtime loss at Bates, but then won four straight contests, including solid wins over Tufts and Middlebury.  The Mammoths then lost three straight games, including tight losses to Colby and Trinity.  Amherst finished the year with a one-point win over rival Williams.

Offense

Yardage Ranking in League: 7^th Overall; 8^th Rush and 4^th Pass

Meaningful Stat: QB Marek Hill was 3^rd in the league in total offense

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Offensive Assets: Returning starters in each offensive area

Key Offensive Question: Can Amherst snap out of its offense struggles in ’25?

Amherst made marked improvement offensively in ‘25, with QB Marek Hill finishing 3^rd in the league in passing as well as 3^rd in total offense.  WR Carter Jung had the most catches in the NESCAC and scored 8 touchdowns while fellow WR Christian Moore finished 5^th in the league in catches.  The rushing offense was not as potent, although RB Demetrius Smith ended up 6^th in the league in rushing yards with a healthy 4.9 yard per carry average.  The Mammoth offensive line yielded the lowest number of sacks (7) in the NESCAC.  PK Hudson Fulcher-Melendy went 10-12 in field goal tries.

Defense

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

Meaningful Stat: The Mammoths held rushers to a league low 2.3 yards per carry

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Defensive Assets: LB/DB Luke Harmon and an experienced secondary

Key Defensive Question: Can the new defensive line improve the pass rush?

Amherst had a top defensive unit, allowing the 2^nd least overall yards, rushing yards and passing yards in the NESCAC.  The new starters on the ’25 Mammoth defensive line certainly added pass rush, notching the 2^nd most sacks (23) in the league, with DL Wyatt Morgan generating 5 sacks.  LB Carson Skotak had 79 total tackles which was 2^nd in the league and added 8 tackles for loss.  DB/LB Luke Harmon finished off his impressive career with another impactful season: he had 67 total tackles, 2 sacks, 10.5 other tackles for loss and 2 forced fumbles.

5-WILLIAMS (5-4)

2025 Recap

Williams jumped out to a 5-1 record, including a 38-0 win over Colby, with their only loss in that span to Trinity in overtime.  From there the Ephs dropped their final three games: Williams lost to Tufts by 21, had a crushing late collapse against Wesleyan and fell one point short at archrival Amherst.

Offense

Yardage Ranking in League: 4^th Overall; 1^st Rush and 7^th Pass

Meaningful Stat: Williams rushed for over 1,700 yards at a 5.2 per carry average

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Offensive Assets: Experience returning at RB, WR and OL

Key Offensive Question: Can the Ephs’ new QB improve their passing game?

QB Owen Johansen improved the Williams passing game from a year ago: he was very impressive in the first six games of the season (prior to being injured) generating over 256 yards per game of total offense, throwing for 173 yards per game with 10 touchdown passes and rushing for 83 yards per game, with a gaudy 8.4 yard per carry average and 7 rushing touchdowns.  RB Jon Oris finished 2^nd in the NESCAC in rushing yards and averaged 5.3 yards per carry.  In the passing game, WR Zach Falls was a big play receiver: he was 2^nd in the league in receiving yards, 1^st in touchdown catches (8) and averaged an impressive 25 yards per catch.  In addition to aiding in a dominant rushing attack which gained 315 more rush yards than the 2^nd best unit in the league, the Ephs’ offensive line limited opponents to just 8 sacks on the season.

Defense

Yardage Ranking in League: 8^th Overall; 3^rd Rush and 10^th Pass

Meaningful Stat: The Eph pass defense gave up over 268 yards passing per game

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Defensive Assets: LB Luke Mangini and DB Holden Gering

Key Defensive Question: Does the experience gained by several young Eph defenders in ’24 translate to a top defense?

The Williams defense struggled in pass defense, yielding over 50 yards per game more than the 9^th ranked unit.  The loss of All-NESCAC DB Holden Gering after 3 games coupled with other injuries in the secondary did not help the cause.  Two linebackers shined in ’25: Zaccai Moore finished 3^rd in the NESCAC with 78 total tackles and added 9.5 tackles for loss and fellow LB Luke Mangini had 70 total tackles (5^th in league), 4 sacks, 11.5 other tackles for loss and 3 forced fumbles.  Williams led the league with 26 sacks with DL Ben Yedid contributing 5 of them.

6-MIDDLEBURY (5-4)

2025 Recap

Middlebury opened the season losing to Wesleyan, followed by beating Bowdoin and Colby, before losing three successive games to Amherst, Williams and Trinity.  They closed the season with wins over Bates, Hamilton and Tufts, who they beat in overtime.

Offense

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

Meaningful Stat: RB Connor McClellan led the league with 959 rushing yards

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Offensive Assets: QB Brian Moran and WR Michael Ahonen

Key Offensive Question: Can the Panthers replace four on its offensive line?

Middlebury finished 3^rd overall in rushing, led by the league leader in yards, RB Connor McClellan, who also led the NESCAC with 13 rushing TDs and averaged 4.8 yards per carry.  QB Brian Moran completed over 62% of his passes (2^nd highest amongst starters in the league) and threw 10 touchdowns to just 4 interceptions.  WR Mike Ahonen finished 5^th in the NESCAC in receiving yards but surprisingly had no touchdown catches.  In terms of the four new offensive linemen, they performed well, evidenced by the robust rushing numbers for McClellan as well as yielding a league average number of sacks.  PK Tony Wang finished with the most field goals (11) among the league’s placekickers and the longest successful field goal (44 yarder) of the year.

Defense

Yardage Ranking in League: 4^th Overall; 5^th Rush and 8^th Pass

Meaningful Stat: The Panthers finished tied for 1^st in the league with 13 interceptions

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Defensive Assets: LB Matt Shaw

Key Defensive Question: Can the Panthers replace their defensive line stars?

Middlebury was middle of the pack statistically in rush and overall defensive yardage allowed, but 8^th in pass defense, yielding a near top of the league 8.0 yards per attempt.  The Panthers were an opportunistic defense, with nine different defenders combining to pick off 13 passes; DB Charlie Grant led the team with 3 interceptions.  Those efforts, combined with an efficient offense, led Middlebury to have the league’s best turnover margin of +10.  LB Matt Shaw led the team with 64 total tackles, finishing 8^th the league in that category, and added 2 interceptions and 8 quarterback hurries.

7-TUFTS (4-5)

2025 Recap

The Jumbos opened the season with wins over Bowdoin and Wesleyan, before losing three straight including a tight loss to Bates.  Tufts followed that stretch by beating Hamilton, drubbing Williams but then losing to Colby and Middlebury to close the season.

Offense

Yardage Ranking in League: 3^rd Overall; 4^th Rush and 5^th Pass

Meaningful Stat: RB Christian Shapiro finished 2^nd in scoring in the NESCAC

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Offensive Assets: RB Christian Shapiro and OL Jack Lynch

Key Offensive Question: Who replaces Berluti at QB?

RB Christian Shapiro was a key cog in the Jumbo offense, finishing 4^th in the league in rushing yards, 2^nd in total points scored while averaging a robust 4.6 yards per carry.  QB Hudson Weidman filled the shoes of the departed Berluti, taking over the full-time starting job for the final 5 games, and over those games averaged an impressive 285 yards passing and close to 44 yards rushing.  WR Henry Fleckner finished 7^th in the league with over 500 receiving yards.  Fellow WR Keller Rogers made big plays in the passing game where he sported a 46 yard per catch average with 4 receiving touchdowns in just 7 receptions, and in the return game, where he led the NESCAC with an average of 26 yards per kickoff return.

Defense

Yardage Ranking in League: 7^th Overall; 9^th Rush and 3^rd Pass

Meaningful Stat: Tufts finished next to last in the league in points allowed

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Defensive Assets: LB Johnny Ferrelli

Key Defensive Question: How do the five new faces in the secondary hold up?

The Jumbos struggled against the run this past season, allowing 4.8 yards per carry, and generated the lowest combined tackles for loss and quarterback hurries in the NESCAC.  LB Johnny Ferrelli had a team high 59 total tackles and DL Suleiman Abuaqel had 4 sacks on the season.  The new faces in the Tufts’ secondary held up, with their opponents’ yards per attempt and percentage completion ranking in the middle of the statistical pack.  DB Cameron Pineda had 3 interceptions during the season, which included a 64-yard return.

8-HAMILTON (2-7)

 2025 Recap

Hamilton opened the season with competitive losses to Williams and Amherst, before beating Bowdoin.  The Continentals lost their next five, which included getting blown out by Wesleyan and Trinity, but playing Colby, Tufts and Middlebury competitively.  Hamilton picked up their 2^nd win over Bates in the finale.

Offense

Yardage Ranking in League: 6^th Overall; 9^th Rush and 2^nd Pass

Meaningful Stat: QB Luke Kurzum led the NESCAC in total offense

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Offensive Assets: WR Chester Boynton

Key Offensive Question: Can Hamilton get solid play from its O-Line?

QB Luke Kurzum averaged over 285 yards per game in total offense, finishing with the 2^nd most passing yards in the league and 10^th most rushing yards.  Kurzum leveraged multiple targets, with 4 different Hamilton players eclipsing the 100 receiving yard plateau on a combined 7 occasions.  WR Matthew Kearns finished 8^th in the league in receiving yards and averaged over 16 yards per catch.  RB Alastair Orr generated 492 yards of total offense in 7 games, including 210 rush yards at a 4.1 yard per carry clip.  The Continentals struggled in the red zone, converting league low 64% of its chances inside the 20 to points, which included 3 missed field goals.

Defense

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

Meaningful Stat: The Continental rush defense yielded 5.2 yards per carry

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Defensive Assets: DB Kyle Bratcher

Key Defensive Question: Can Hamilton’s new starters improve their defensive woes?

The new Continental starters did not improve their defense, which allowed over 29 points per game, over 189 yards rushing per game and the highest completion percentage (67%) in the NESCAC.  DB Kyle Bratcher, who was a playmaker on the ’24 defense, missed all but game of the season, which didn’t help the secondary which had to play all underclassmen.  The Hamilton defense lacked impact plays, finishing with just 2 sacks and 4 interceptions; the balance of league averaged 17 sacks and 9 interceptions.  LB Mat Bucher was 9^th in the league with 62 total tackles and added a sack and 5.5 other tackles for loss.  Fellow LB John Young had 59 total tackles.

9-BOWDOIN (2-7)

2025 Recap

Bowdoin opened the season with five straight double-digit losses before upsetting NESCAC champ Wesleyan in Middletown. The Polar Bears then lost badly to Trinity, beat rival Bates, and lost their finale to Colby, thereby losing the CBB.  Bowdoin had the league’s worst point differential of negative 129 points.

Offense

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

Meaningful Stat: Bowdoin threw a league leading 15 interceptions

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Offensive Assets: Four returning senior starters on the O-Line

Key Offensive Question: Can the new QB elevate the offense?

The Bowdoin offense, featuring several young players, struggled and scored a league low 98 points, averaging less than 11 points a contest.  The Polar Bears settled on freshman QB Soren Hummel to lead the charge, and although he engineered wins against Wesleyan and Bates, he threw for just 4.6 yards per attempt.  Bowdoin converted a league low 26% of its third down attempts.  QB/WR Michael Wolfendale generated a combined 450 yards between passing, rushing and receiving while RB Ty Connelly had 447 yards between his rushing and receiving efforts.

Defense

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

Meaningful Stat: DL Angus Leary led the NESCAC with 8 sacks

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Defensive Assets: Experience in the secondary

Key Defensive Question: Can Bowdoin replenish its front seven?

The defense allowed over 367 yards per game, but youth may have been a contributor: the Polar Beats top 8 tacklers featured 7 sophomores and 1 freshman.  The aggressive Polar Bear defense had the 2^nd highest combined tackles for loss and quarterback hurries in the league, and DL Angus Leary had a conference leading 8 sacks and the highest tackles for loss per game.  LB Zach Taylor’s 61 total tackles finished 10^th in the league and he added 2.5 sacks and 6 other tackles for loss.  K/P Caden Perry pinned the opponent inside their 20-yard line 26 times, more than anyone else in the NESCAC.

10-BATES (2-7)

 2025 Recap

The Bobcats opened the season with an overtime victory over Amherst, then lost to the top NESCAC teams: Trinity, Wesleyan and Colby.  Bates had an impressive win at Tufts, but then lost their final four games, including tight games against Williams, Bowdoin and Hamilton.

Offense

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

Meaningful Stat: The Bobcats averaged just 3.2 yards per carry

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Offensive Assets: RB Ryan Lynskey and WR Sergio Beltran

Preseason Offensive Question: Can the Bobcat passing game be more efficient?

Unfortunately, the Bobcats dealt with injuries to two key offensive players – QB/WR Sergio Beltran was lost early in the 3^rd game of the season, while star RB Ryan Lynskey went down after 6 games, when he had over 550 total rushing yards.  The passing game was not more efficient, and lagged other NESCAC teams, finishing last in completion percentage (49%) across four different signal callers.  WR Quinn Carver stepped up his game: he finished 10^th in the league receiving yards and 3^rd in all-purpose yards, contributing over 110 yards per game.

Defense

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

Meaningful Stat: LB Ryan Rozich led the NESCAC with 109 total tackles

Preseason Assets & Question

Top Defensive Assets: LB Ryan Rozich

Key Defensive Question: Can the slew of returning defenders improve their overall defense?

The Bobcats moved up to 5^th overall in the league in terms of yards allowed; they ranked next to last in pass and rush yards yielded in ’24, so there was improvement from the returning defenders as they got more experience.  LB Ryan Rozich had a monster year in terms of total tackles (109) and fellow LB Carmel Crunk had 76 total tackles which ranked 4^th in the league.  The Bobcats did not have a player in the league’s Top 25 for tackles for loss.  On pass defense, the Bobcats had 9 interceptions (they only had 1 pick in ‘24), with DB Major Spencer III snagging 2 interceptions.