In even more dramatic fashion than last year's game-winning touchdown with 36 seconds left on the clock, archrival Williams spoiled Amherst's quest for the Jeffs' first undefeated season since 1984, and their first victory over the Ephs since 1986. Football finishes its 1997 campaign with its second straight 7-1 season with a piece of the Little III title.
Leading Amherst to within two seconds of a perfect season was senior Co-Captain Rich Willard (Johnstown, NY), who concluded his collegiate football career with his best game in four years. Rallying the Jeffs from 17- and 14-point deficits toward late-game leads, the quarterback threw 26-of-44 completions for a whopping 378 yards. His five touchdowns broke the Amherst record for most passing TDs in a single game, and it brought Willard's senior season total to 16, tying yet another Lord Jeff best. The signal-caller also challenged three more single-game records, falling one shy of most attempts in a game (45), two short of most completions (28) and just 15 off the most yards in one game (393). Already Amherst Career Passing Leader (4,387 yards) and Career Attempts Leader (563), Willard was recognized as the ECAC Offensive Player of the Week. The Football Writers of New England also named Willard the winner of the Coca Cola Gold Helmet Award, presented weekly to the most outstanding player in Divisions II and III football as the New England Player of the Week.
Amherst faced its first deficit of the season when Williams scored on the opening kickoff. However, the Jeffs matched the Ephs two minutes later to tie the game at 7-7 on a Darin Byrne (Winchester, MA) three-yard run. As Amherst prepared to respond to a second Eph score, Williams leveled its first sack against Willard and recovered the ensuing fumble to halt the Jeff momentum.
Surviving two more sacks, Willard had seen enough as Amherst trailed 24-7 with 1:24 left in the first half. The last time the Jeffs were on the short end of such a score was in their 33-10 loss to Trinity in 1995. Amherst mounted a seven-play scoring drive in just 1:17 to cut the lead to 10 at the break. Willard racked up 79 of his 109 first half passing yards on that drive, including a 36-yard bomb to senior wideout Shaun Quigley (Chicopee, MA) in the endzone.
The trademark Amherst defense resurfaced in the third quarter as it shut out the Ephs and allowed backup QB Sean Keenan (Rutland, VT) only five yards of total offense in 14 minutes. Picking up where they had left off in the first half, the Jeffs scored on three successive possessions on 8-11 passing by Willard and 132 total yards on 17 plays. A 34-yard field goal by rookie Liam Fleming (Braintree, MA) brough Amherst within a touchdown, which the Jeffs scored on a three-play 44 second drive. The 15-yard catch by Colin Barnacle (Denver, CO) in the endzone tied the game at 24 with 9:52 left in the third.
Amherst took its first lead of the game five minutes later on Willard's third TD pass of the day, a 4-yard lob to Todd Haggerty (Albany, NY), one play after an incompletion to the senior in the endzone. The Jeffs looked to extend their lead late in the quarter, but an interception at the Williams 20 again turned the momentum in the Ephs' favor. Williams converted the pick into a touchdown early in the fourth, and the Ephs would reclaim the lead on their next possession. Lining up for only their second field goal in 17 games (their first bringing their lead to 24-7 in the second quarter), ECAC and NESCAC Co-Rookie of the Week Colin Vataha (Lincoln, MA) sank a 22-yard field goal, but had the play called back as Amherst was penalized for roughing the kicker. First down Williams. A two-yard run gave Williams a 38-31 lead, and they reclaimed possession on a fumbled kickoff return at the Amherst 33. Taking advantage of the Jeffs' third turnover of the day, Williams let rookie running back Fred Storz (Rockaway, NJ) carry the Ephs to a 45-31 lead.
But, again, Amherst staged a dramatic comeback. Despite suffering his fourth sack on the opening play, Willard orchestrated a 10-play pure pass drive for 86 yards for Quigley's second score. The defense held Williams to three and out on their next possession as Amherst stormed down the field toward the endzone. Hitting Haggerty with a 15-yarder, Willard's next receiver was ECAC and NESCAC Co-Rookie of the Week Matt Hall (Lincroft, NJ), whose second collegiate catch was from 34-out into the endzone. Lining up for what appeared to be an ordinary extra point attempt, PAT holder Hall stood on the snap for a perfect pass to Haggerty deep in the endzone. Amherst led 46-45 on its only two-point conversion attempt of the year.
Unwilling to disappoint its Homecoming crowd or the television audience watching on NESN, Williams took advantage of the 1:49 remaining on the game clock. Despite a 13-yard sack by senior linebacker Jake Conca (Attleboro, MA), the Ephs plowed to midfield, where an Amherst personal foul pushed Williams to the 35. Defense held the Ephs to only three yards in three plays, but Williams turned to its newest weapon as Vataha positioned himself for a 27-yard field goal. With two seconds left on the clock, the ball sailed through the uprights as Williams forced a three-way tie for Little III.
GAME SUMMARY:
at Weston Field, Williamstown, Massachusetts
Amherst (7-1) 7 7 17 15 -- 46
Williams (7-1) 14 10 0 24 -- 48
First Quarter
10:41 W Peter Supino 10 run (Colin Vataha kick)
8:38 A Darin Byrne 3 run (Liam Fleming kick)
3:06 W Mike McAdam 1 run (Vataha kick)
Second Quarter
10:16 W Michael Cleary 5 pass from Supino (Vataha kick)
1:24 W Vataha 35 field goal
0:07 A Shaun Quigley 36 pass from Rich Willard (Fleming kick)
Third Quarter
11:17 A Fleming 34 field goal
9:52 A Colin Barnacle 15 pass from Willard (Fleming kick)
5:16 A Todd Haggerty 4 pass from Willard (Fleming kick)
Fourth Quarter
14:38 W Supino 2 run (Vataha kick)
9:53 W Paul Bethe 2 run (Vataha kick)
7:41 W Fred Storz 10 run (Vataha kick)
4:33 A Quigley 19 pass from Willard (Fleming kick)
1:49 A Matt Hall 34 pass from Willard (Hall pass to Haggerty good)
0:02 W Vataha 27 field goal
Attendance: 11,500
Amherst Williams
First downs 21 25
Rushing-yards 23-59 45-219
Passing yards 378 283
Return yards 176 122
Passes 44-26-1 40-19-0
Punts 5-127 7-204
Fumbles-lost 2-2 2-0
Penalties-yards 6-57 7-23
Rushing: A Darin Byrne 13-36, Bob DiSabato 4-15, Rich Willard 6-(-22). W Fred Storz 22-130, Peter Supino 11-49, Mike McAdam 7-23, Paul Bethe 1-2, Brandon Davidson 2-(-8), Sean Keenan 2-(-15).
Passing: A Willard 44-26-1 378 yards. W Supino 37-18-0 269 yards, Keenan 3-1-0 14 yards.
Receiving: A Shaun Quigley 7-135, Byrne 7-45, Todd Haggerty 7-105, DiSabato 1-10, Matt Hall 1-34, Paul Rieckhoff 1-31, Colin Barnacle 1-15, Stephen Cohen 1-3. W Matt Sigrist 6-152, Mike Cleary 5-46, Ian Macallister 4-24, Mike Paolercio 2-49, Fred Storz 1-10, Chris Cuneo 1-2.
