September 21, 2002
AMHERST, MA – All-NESCAC junior running back Fletcher Ladd (Amherst, NH) rushed for 160 yards and a touchdown, while the Amherst College defense forced NESCAC rival Bates College into five turnovers, including three interceptions, as the Jeffs blanked the visiting Bobcats 19-0 in Saturday's football season opener. It was the Jeffs' third consecutive shutout in a season opener. Amherst led the nation (all divisions) in scoring defense last season, allowing just 6.1 points per game, and continued its defensive dominance on Saturday.
Sophomore place-kicker David Bodner (Atlantic Beach, NY) accounted for all six of Amherst's points in the first half, banging home 21-yarder with 4:38 left in the opening quarter and a 23-yarder with 3:26 left before halftime. Amherst senior defensive back Jeremy Carroll (Winchester, MA) hopped on a fumble by Bates senior quarterback Kane Jankoski (Spencer, MA) to set up the opening score, and the Jeffs moved into field goal range via seven rushes for 34 yards by Ladd, and a 14 yard pass play from senior quarterback Jeff Browne (Victor, NY) to sophomore wideout Jason Wagstaff (Tewksbury, MA). Bodner's second field goal was set up by a 35-yard pass play from Browne to senior J.P. Zito (Coral Gables, FL). Amherst held the Bobcats to just 123 yards of offense in the first half, 80 of which came on 10-for-11 passing by Jankoski.
The second half began with a flourish for Bates, who took the opening kickoff and drove all the way to the Amherst 19, including a 30-yard hookup from Jankoski to senior John Katsarikas (Quincy, MA). However, on third-and-nine, the Bobcats attempted a halfback option pass, which Carroll sniffed out immediately and intercepted in the end zone. Not to be outdone, Bates sophomore defensive back Luis Martinez (Cleveland, OH) rebounded five plays later with an interception of his own, victimizing Browne at the Bates 27.
A four-and-out defensive stand by Amherst on Bates ensuing possession set up the game's first touchdown. Starting at their own 46, the Jeffs drove 54 yards on 11 plays, capped by a one-yard touchdown plunge by senior co-captain fullback Jeff Ryan (Belmont, MA). A failed two-point conversion attempt left the Jeffs ahead 12-0 with 3:03 left in the third quarter. Browne's 23-yard heave to Wagstaff and an 11-yard scurry by sophomore Matt Monteith (Madison, CT) were the key plays during the scoring drive.
Aside from an interception by Bates senior defensive back Pat Boyaggi (Cleveland, OH) at the start of the fourth quarter, the final stanza was all Amherst. The Jeffs allowed the Bobcats into Amherst territory only once, a threat that was eventually snuffed out by a Paul Whiting (Mission Viejo, CA) interception at the Amherst 14. The Jeffs then cemented the victory when sophomore defensive lineman B.J. Gaddour (Mequon, WI) smothered Jankoski at the line of scrimmage on fourth-and-10 inside the three-minute mark.
Ladd took advantage with a 29-yard jaunt, setting up his own 16-yard touchdown run two plays later. Bodner's extra point set the final score at 19-0, and Amherst senior defensive back Grant Webb (Brookline, NH) added an interception on Bates final drive for good measure.
Amherst ground out 252 rushing yards on 51 attempts, with Monteith and junior quarterback Jim Devine (Centreville, VA) – who saw extensive action behind center along with Browne – bolstering Ladd's efforts with 37 and 35 yards, respectively. Browne finished 10-for-20 passing for 140 yards. Wagstaff and Zito were the main beneficiaries, each racking up 70 receiving yards.
On defense, junior linebacker Ed Sylvester (Scituate, MA) led the way with 11 tackles, including two for loss, while Paul Whiting added 10 takedowns and an interception. The Jeffs also had four sacks on the afternoon, with Gaddour, senior Paul Miceli (Glendale, NY) and juniors Dan McNamara (Norwell, MA) and Mike Harrison (Hanover, MA) each finding Jankoski in the backfield. Miceli had several particularly crushing hits en route to six tackles.
Amherst will look to improve to 2-0 next Saturday at Bowdoin College. The Polar Bears dropped their season opener at Williams this afternoon, 38-7.
stats and play-by-play
