Amherst College (5-2) vs. Williams College (7-0)
November 11, 2006 * Pratt Field
Amherst, MA * 12:00 noon
THE SERIES
Williams holds the overall advantage over Amherst, winning 67 of 120 matchups dating back to 1884. The Ephs have also won or shared the Little Three Championship 54 times dating back to 1910, compared to Amherst's 37. The home team has won every matchup dating back to 1999, a span in which the winner was decided by an average of just six points. The largest margin of victory came last season, when the Ephs defeated the Jeffs 34-23 at Weston Field. The rivals have gone to overtime only once - Williams defeated Amherst 23-20 in 2001.
SCOUTING AMHERST
The Amherst College football team sits at 5-2 on the season after dropping a game last weekend to perennial powerhouse Trinity College. The Jeffs' top-ranked defense surrendered a season-high 24 points in the loss, giving up 253 yards on the ground. And, Amherst couldn't score against the Bantam defense, and suffered its first shutout loss since Oct. 7, 2000, a 17-0 loss at Middlebury College. Amherst comes into the final game of the season with a very balanced attack, having outscored its opponents 139-53 this season. Amherst has a high-powered offense led by senior quad-captains Nick Kehoe and Mark Hannon. Senior quad-captains Brendan McKee and Mike Salerno lead the smothering Jeff defense.
WILLIAMS head coach MIKE WHALEN
Mike Whalen is in his 11th year at Williams and his third as head coach. He joined Dick Farley's staff in 1996 as the offensive line coach and then assumed offensive coordinator duties in 2001. Whalen posted consecutive 6-2 records his first two years, is 7-0 this season and is 1-1 against Amherst. In the second week of this season, Whalen's Ephs ended Trinity's 31-game win streak, downing the Bantams 41-16 in Williamstown.
Whalen has coached at least one First Team All-NESCAC offensive lineman every year he's been at Williams. He also coached quarterback Joe Reardon, the only player ever named NESCAC Offensive and ECAC-New England Offensive Player of the Year in consecutive years. Whalen graduated from Wesleyan University in 1983, and holds a master's degree in physical education and athletic administration. Prior to coming to Williams, Whalen coached at Wesleyan, Springfield College, the Unversity of Pennsylvania, Lafayette College and Colgate University. He's been nominated for the 2006 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award, and resides in Williamstown with his wife, Karen, and their two sons, Jake (12) and Luke (10).
LAST MEETING
Amherst compounded two decades of Weston Field misfortune with a 34-23 loss, finishing its season at 5-3 and surrendering the coveted Little Three title to Williams (6-2). The Jeffs struggled defensively, as Williams rebounded from an early 7-0 deficit, racked up 488 yards of total offense and outscored Amherst 24-13 in the second half with a punishing ground attack and a pair of quarterbacks – Pat Lucey and Sean Gleeson – who played nearly mistake-free football.
After halftime, Williams racked up 17 unanswered points for a 27-10 edge from which the Jeffs would never recover. Amherst showed signs of life when junior defensive back Mike Salerno made a spectacular one-handed interception near midfield, and classmate Mark Hannon capitalized with a 43-yard touchdown sprint on fourth-and-inches, cutting the deficit to 27-17 with 11:02 left in regulation. Williams answered again with an eight-play, 56-yard scoring drive, as Cory Catelli hit paydirt with a backbreaking three-yard touchdown run.
Junior quarterback Nick Kehoe managed to lead the Jeffs on one final scoring drive, highlighted by a 36-yard heave to sophomore wideout Mike Myers and cemented by Hannon's two-yard jaunt. But the ensuing on-side kick failed, and Williams was content to run out the clock, and Amherst 's season.
AMHERST LAST TIME OUT
Amherst dropped its second game of the season last weekend, a 24-0 loss at Trinity. Amherst used a pass-heavy attack, leaving senior quad-captain quarterback Nick Kehoe free to throw a season-high 44 attempts. Amherst's top-ranked defense surrendered a season high 24 points on 423 total yards, the bulk of which came from the Bantam ground game. The Trinity running corps ran for an amazing 253 yards in the game, while its defense held the Jeffs to -1 total rushing yards.
WILLIAMS LAST TIME OUT
Williams clobbered visiting Little Three opponent Wesleyan University in its homecoming game last weekend, 51-21. The Ephs jumped out to an early 42-7 lead in the first half, as their offense ran wild on the Cardinal defense. Williams quarterback Pat Lucey finished the day with 199 yards through the air and three touchdowns on 11-of-14 passing. The win leaves Williams sitting on top of the conference at 7-0 coming into the final game of the season.
2006 AMHERST SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Sept. 23 BATES W 31-6
Sept 30 @ Bowdoin W 20-7
Oct. 7 @ Middlebury L 7-3
Oct. 14 COLBY W 38-3
Oct. 21 @ Wesleyan W 23-0
Oct. 28 TUFTS (fw) W 24-6
Nov. 4 @ Trinity L 24-0
Nov 11 WILLIAMS (hc) Noon
2006 WILLIAMS SCHEDULE/RESULTS
9/23 BOWDOIN W 27-0
9/30 TRINITY W 41-16
10/7 @ Bates W 27-7
10/14 MIDDLEBURY W 40-9
10/21 @ Tufts W 38-14
10/28 @ Hamilton W 15-0
11/4 WESLEYAN W 51-21
11/11 @ Amherst 12:00 p.m.
AMHERST PROBABLE STARTERS
LORD JEFF OFFENSE
QB Nick Kehoe 11
FB Chris Gillyard 34
TB Will Beeson 3
WR Jim Eckenrode 14
WR Mark Hannon 1
TE Matt Dunleavy 83
C Justin Wiley 72
LT Dan Guariglia 66
RT Nate Riccardi 59
LG Matt Mascioli 76
RG Ryan Smith 75
LORD JEFF DEFENSE
OLB Guy Matisis 45
OLB Dakota Jones 90
DT Jon Attridge 98
DT Brendan McKee 55
NG Greg Smith 50
ILB Nick Boehm 29
ILB Mike Flanagan 44
CB Chris Mottau 7
CB A.J. Scola 13
SS Rob Grammar 8
FS Mike Salerno 2
WILLIAMS PROBABLE STARTERS
EPHS OFFENSE
QB Pat Lucey 15
RB Kevin Flynn 2
FB Corey Catelli 23
OT John Szawlowski 79
OG Jeff Callahan 58
C Chris Kenney 66
OG Mike Brown 62
OT Henry Szawlowski 78
TE Jim O'Leary 88
WR Brendan Fulmer 80
WR Jon Drenckhahn 81
K Scott Sobolewski 94
EPHS DEFENSE
DE Adam Kowalski 35
DT Devin McLaughlin 77
DT Andrew DeSalvo 83
DE Matt Boggia 99
LB Jordan O'Reilly 57
LB Jon Dolan 45
LB Nick Fersen 44
DB Tim Batty 6
DB Elliot Moffie 20
DB Luke Morgan 11
DB Jon Poppe 24
P Brendan Fulmer 80
AMHERST STATISTICAL LEADERS
PASSING
Nick Kehoe (118-for-210/1,443 yds./9TD/7 int.)
RUSHING
Eric NeSmith (73 att/363 yds./1TD)
Aaron Rauh (70 att/363 yds./3 TD)
RECEIVING
Mark Hannon (42 rec/496 yds./6TD)
Justin Macione (20 rec/293 yds/0TD)
SPECIAL TEAMS
Mark Hannon (16 punt ret./213 yds./1 TD)
WILLIAMS STATISTICAL LEADERS
PASSING
Pat Lucey (95-for-146/1,160 yds./11TD/4 Int)
RUSHING
Brendan Georges (105 att/427 yds./3TD)
Cory Catelli (38 att/126 yds./8 TD)
RECEIVING
Jon Drenckahn (46 rec/684 yds./6TD)
Brendan Fulmer (24 rec/467 yds./7 TD)
SPECIAL TEAMS
Scott Sobolewski (7-for-8 FGs/44 yd long)
2006 TEAM STATISTICAL COMPARISONS
Amherst Williams
Rushing Yards/Per Game 809 yds./115.6 avg. 957 yds./136.7 avg.
Passing Yards/Per Game 1,443 yds./206.1 avg. 1,712 yds./244.6 avg.
Total Offense/Per Game 2,252 yds./321.7 avg. 2,669 yds./381.3 avg. Total Points/Per Game 139 pts./19.9 avg. 239 pts./34.1 avg.
Rushing Allowed/Per Game 730 yds./104.3 avg. 348 yds./49.7 avg.
Passing Allowed/Per Game 925 yds./132.1 avg. 1,067 yds./152.4 avg.
Total Offense Allowed/Per Game 1,655 yds./236.4 avg. 1,415 yds./202.1 avg
Total Points Allowed/Per Game 53 pts./7.6 avg. 67 pts./9.6 avg.
THIS WEEK IN THE NESCAC
Trinity @ Wesleyan 12:00 p.m.
Hamilton @ Bates 12:00 p.m.
Williams @ Amherst 12:00 p.m.
Bowdoin @ Colby 12:30 p.m.
Tufts @ Middlebury 12:30 p.m.
2006 NESCAC STANDINGS
1. Williams 7-0
2. Trinity 6-1
3. Middlebury 5-2
Amherst 5-2
5. Tufts 4-3
6. Wesleyan 3-4
7. Colby 2-5
Hamilton 2-5
9. Bowdoin 1-6
Bates 0-7
ALL-TIME RESULTS
Amherst vs. Williams All-Time:
Williams leads 67-48-5 (120 meetings)
1884 Williams 15 Amherst 2
1884 Williams 11 Amherst 0
1885 Williams 57 Amherst 0
1885 Williams 18 Amherst 15
1886 Amherst 6 Williams 4
1886 Williams 30 Amherst 0
1887 Williams 54 Amherst 0
1888 Williams 53 Amherst 0
1889 Tie 10-10
1890 Williams 6 Amherst 0
1891 Tie 0-0
1892 Amherst 60 Williams 0
1893 Williams 30 Amherst 12
1894 Williams 34 Amherst 10
1895 Amherst 16 Williams 4
1896 Amherst 6 Williams 4
1897 Tie 6-6
1898 Amherst 16 Williams 5
1899 Williams 38 Amherst 0
1900 Williams 16 Amherst 5
1901 Williams 21 Amherst 5
1904 Amherst 22 Williams 6
1905 Amherst 17 Williams 0
1906 Tie 0-0
1907 Williams 26 Amherst 6
1908 Amherst 4 Williams 0
1909 Williams 17 Amherst 0
1910 Amherst 9 Williams 0
1911 Williams 8 Amherst 0
1912 Williams 12 Amherst 0
1913 Amherst 12 Williams 0
1914 Williams 14 Amherst 6
1915 Amherst 31 Williams 0
1916 Williams 26 Amherst 0
1917 Williams 20 Amherst 0
1918 Amherst 30 Williams 0
1919 Williams 30 Amherst 0
1920 Amherst 14 Williams 7
1921 Williams 20 Amherst 0
1922 Williams 27 Amherst 0
1923 Williams 23 Amherst 7
1924 Williams 27 Amherst 6
1925 Amherst 13 Williams 7
1926 Amherst 20 Williams 6
1927 Amherst 7 Williams 6
1928 Williams 40 Amherst 15
1929 Williams 19 Amherst 0
1930 Williams 16 Amherst 13
1931 Williams 33 Amherst 7
1932 Amherst 31 Williams 7
1933 Williams 14 Amherst 0
1934 Amherst 19 Williams 7
1935 Williams 13 Amherst 0
1936 Amherst 14 Williams 13
1937 Amherst 13 Williams 6
1938 Amherst 41 Williams 0
1939 Williams 16 Amherst 8
1940 Williams 19 Amherst 6
1941 Williams 28 Amherst 6
1942 Amherst 12 Williams 6
1946 Williams 21 Amherst 13
1947 Amherst 14 Williams 6
1948 Amherst 13 Williams 7
1949 Williams 19 Amherst 13
1950 Williams 27 Amherst 13
1951 Williams 40 Amherst 7
1952 Amherst 21 Williams 19
1953 Amherst 28 Williams 14
1954 Amherst 21 Williams 14
1955 Amherst 13 Williams 6
1956 Williams 27 Amherst 12
1957 Williams 39 Amherst 14
1958 Williams 12 Amherst 7
1959 Amherst 13 Williams 0
1960 Amherst 21 Williams 6
1961 Williams 12 Amherst 0
1962 Amherst 7 Williams 0
1963 Amherst 19 Williams 13
1964 Amherst 20 Williams 7
1965 Amherst 42 Williams 8
1966 Amherst 54 Williams 21
1967 Williams 14 Amherst 10
1968 Amherst 24 Williams 17
1969 Amherst 56 Williams 25
1970 Amherst 35 Williams 7
1971 Williams 31 Amherst 14
1972 Williams 21 Amherst 12
1973 Williams 30 Amherst 14
1974 Williams 17 Amherst 14
1975 Williams 25 Amherst 6
1976 Amherst 16 Williams 0
1977 Williams 21 Amherst 13
1978 Williams 7 Amherst 2
1979 Williams 19 Amherst 13
1980 Williams 10 Amherst 3
1981 Amherst 21 Williams 17
1982 Amherst 52 Williams 26
1983 Amherst 14 Williams 13
1984 Amherst 23 Williams 6
1985 Amherst 35 Williams 20
1986 Amherst 10 Williams 7
1987 Williams 25 Amherst 7
1988 Williams 21 Amherst 0
1989 Williams 17 Amherst 14
1990 Williams 46 Amherst 18
1991 Williams 37 Amherst 0
1992 Williams 41 Amherst 6
1993 Williams 31 Amherst 2
1994 Williams 48 Amherst 14
1995 Tie 0-0
1996 Williams 19 Amherst 13
1997 Williams 48 Amherst 46
1998 Williams 35 Amherst 16
1999 Williams 10 Amherst 7
2000 Amherst 20 Williams 12
2001 Williams 23 Amherst 20 OT
2002 Amherst 45 Williams 35
2003 Williams 14 Amherst 10
2004 Amherst 13 Williams 10
2005 Williams 34 Amherst 23
