October 6, 2001
AMHERST, MA - The Amherst College football team used a 12-play, 89 yard drive - capped by a two-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back Fletcher Ladd (Amherst, NH) - to overcame a 3-0 halftime deficit and outlast visiting Middlebury College, 7-3, Saturday afternoon at Pratt Field. With the win, Amherst improved to 3-0 and avenged a two-game losing streak against Middlebury, which fell to 1-2 with the loss.
Down 3-0 with 11:31 remaining in regulation, Amherst gained possession at its own 11-yard line after a 23-yard punt by Middlebury junior Denny Smith (Weybridge, VT). A pair of unsuccessful running plays forced Amherst to go to its passing game, and junior quarterback Jeff Browne (Victor, NY) responded with a 20-yard heave to senior wideout Jerimy Hiltner (Limon, CO) and a 36-yard connection with junior wide receiver J.P. Zito (Coral Gables, FL), moving the ball to the Middlebury 32. From there, Browne hit junior fullback Jeff Ryan (Belmont, MA) for a six-yard completion, Ladd rushed twice for 12 yards and junior wide receiver Brian Hart (Rutland, VT) tiptoed the sideline for a 13 yard reception, giving the Jeffs first-and-goal from the Middlebury two-yard line. Two plays later, Ladd rumbled through the middle for his first career touchdown, resulting in a 7-3 lead the Jeffs would never relinquish.
Middlebury had two more possessions to mount a comeback, but junior defensive back Jeremy Carroll (Winchester, MA) ended the first bid with an interception at the Amherst 37, and a pass from Panther sophomore signal caller Colin Lantry (Hackettstown, NJ), intended for Smith on fourth-and-three, fell incomplete with 35 seconds left in regulation.
Amherst appeared ready to take command late in the first period when senior defensive back Jay Hutchins (Columbus, OH) - who finished with a game-high 12 tackles - used a violent hit to dislodge the ball from Middlebury first year Eric Shanley (Plymouth, MA). Amherst sophomore Paul Whiting (Mission Viejo, CA) fell on the ball at the Middlebury 38 and Browne took advantage with a 24-yard strike to Hiltner, followed by a 22-yard pass to first-year wideout Jason Wagstaff (Tewksbury, MA). With first-and-goal at the Middlebury two-yard line, senior tailback Okey Ugwonali (Dallas, TX) rushed twice for a loss of two yards and Browne threw an incomplete pass to Hiltner, setting up a 22-yard field goal attempt by first-year place kicker David Bodner (Atlantic Beach, NY), who missed wide left.
With the wind at its back, Middlebury benefited from excellent field position three possessions later, fielding an 18-yard punt by junior Geoff Bough (Los Altos, CA) at its own 26. A one-yard gain on its next three plays set up a 42-yard field goal attempt by junior Mike Frissora (Sudbury, MA), who split the uprights with a boot that would have been good from 50.
The game was yet another illustration of Amherst's defensive dominance, as the Jeffs - who allow a league-low 171.3 yards per game - nearly posted their third shutout in as many games. Aside from Hutchins' career-high 12-tackle effort, senior defensive tackle Pat McGee (Marshfield, MA) - named the NESCAC Co-Defensive player of the week on Monday - finished with nine tackles and two sacks, pushing his team-leading sack total to four on the season. Senior linebacker Dan Lalli (Watertown, MA) also posted nine tackles, while classmates Gregg Stankewicz (Portland, CT) and Brad Hensley (Cincinnati, OH) added a sack each.
Offensively, Ugwonali finished with a game-high 104 rushing yards on 27 carries before re-aggravating an ankle injury in the third quarter. Browne was steady at quarterback completing 12 passes for 163 yards and one interception. Hiltner had four catches for 59 yards, while senior wideout Derrell Wright (Hudson, OH) caught three passes for 24 yards.
Sophomore linebacker Paul Barnwell (Concord, NH) led Middlebury defensively with 12 total tackles, including two for loss, followed by senior defensive lineman Daryl Tracy (Easton, MA) and junior defensive back Ernie Miller (Rensselaer Falls, NY) with nine takedowns each. Junior defensive back Craig Schuette (Derby, CT) also posted his first interception of the season.
Meanwhile, Lantry finished 12-for-20 passing for 93 yards and one interception for Middlebury. Senior co-captain Scott Roberts (Madison, CT) also saw action behind center, completing five passes for 34 yards. Junior Bill Lazzaro (Manlius, NY) paced the Panther running attack with 21 carries for 81 yards, while Smith had a game-high five catches for 47 yards.
With the win, Amherst kept pace with archrival Williams College as the two remaining undefeated teams in the NESCAC. Williams improved to 3-0 with a 35-14 win over visiting Bates College, also on Saturday.
Amherst returns to action next Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Colby College (2-1). The Jeffs downed Colby 28-14 last season in Amherst.
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