Amherst College (4-0) vs.
Wesleyan University (3-1)
Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015 * Pratt Field
Amherst, Mass. * 1 p.m.
JEFF REPORT PODCAST
LIVE COVERAGE
Saturday's game will feature
live stats and a high-definition (HD)
webcast broadcasted by the Northeast Sports Network (NSN), with play-by-play from Hugh Campbell.
THIS WEEK IN THE NESCAC
Colby @ Hamilton…12 p.m.
Wesleyan @ Amherst …1 p.m.
Middlebury @ Bates …1 p.m.
Bowdoin @ Trinity…1 p.m.
Tufts @ Williams…2 p.m.
THE SERIES
Amherst won 50 of the first 99 games in what was once a tug-of-war Little Three rivalry, but the Jeffs have defeated the Cardinals in 19 of the past 21 matchups to take a commanding 69-42-9 lead in the all-time series. Most recently, Amherst held a 10-game unbeaten streak against Wesleyan and outscored its rival by a 282-51 margin during that stretch, while also shutting out the Cardinals four times in that span. However, Wesleyan snapped the streak in 2013 when it handed the Purple & White a 20-14 defeat on Homecoming. Since then, Amherst has won 15 straight overall including a 33-30 overtime thriller against the Cardinals on the road last season.
LAST MEETING (Box Score/Recap)Placekicker Phillip Nwosu '15 went 4-for-4 including game-tying and game-winning field goals to help lift Amherst College over Little Three rival Wesleyan University on the road in overtime last season, 33-30. It was the Cardinals' first and only loss of the 2014 campaign.
Nwosu sent a 41-yard field goal through the posts to knot the game at 30-30 with :23 remaining in regulation. After a huge fourth-down stop by Amherst in the overtime period, the Jeff placekicker once again sent the ball through the uprights with a 35-yarder to give Amherst the thrilling win. His four field goals set an Amherst record, surpassing the mark set by David Bobruff '97 in 1995 (3).
In an incredibly even contest, the home team held the edge in several offensive categories including a 433-322 advantage in total offense. They threw for 305 yards, while pilling 128 on the ground. The Purple & White tallied 158 yards through the air and 164 on the ground. The Cardinals also held a 34:30-25:30 edge in time of possession, but Amherst recorded 119 kickoff return yards compared to 22 by Wesleyan. Amherst's sophomore tailback Nick Kelly found the endzone three times while rushing for a third-consecutive 100-yard game. He amassed 122 yards on 22 carries and also recorded five receptions for 20 yards. Leading the Cardinals offensively was quarterback Jesse Warren, who went 19-of-26 for 305 yards and two touchdowns, but also threw a costly interception in the fourth quarter.
SCOUTING AMHERST
Through the first four games of the 2015 season, Amherst leads the league in several categories; scoring (32.3 ppg), total offense (467.3 ypg), rushing (238.3 rpg), rushing touchdowns (10), first downs (91), third-down conversions (32-66), PATs (15-16), red zone percentage (84%), red zone touchdowns (10-19), defensive touchdowns (1), and sacks (14). Additionally, the Purple & White rank eighth in the country in scoring defense (10.0 ppg).
Quarterback Reece Foy '18 is enjoying a stellar sophomore season, his first as a starter, and is 75-of-124 for 916 yards (5 TD, 1 INT) while also rushing for 146 yards (2 TD) on 26 carries. He ranks second in the conference in completion percentage (60.5%) and touchdowns, and third in yards. Foy's favorite targets have been wide receivers Devin Boehm '17 and Jackson McGonagle '16. Boehm's 24 catches are second-best in the league, while his 278 receiving yards are seventh among conference leaders. McGonagle ranks seventh in the NESCAC in receptions (19) and 10th in yards (257). The league's top rushing attack is led by Kenny Adinkra '16, Jack Hickey '19 and Foy who sit fourth, fifth and 16th in the league in rushing yards, respectively. Hickey is averaging an incredible 7.2 yards per carry to rank tops in the conference.
The Purple & White boast a strong defensive unit again this year, allowing just 10.0 points and 296.8 yards per game. Junior linebacker Evan Boynton, named NESCAC Player of the Week for the week ending Oct. 11, leads the team and ranks eighth in the conference in tackles with 31 (19 solo). He also ranks third in the league in sacks (3.5) and has an interception this season. Amherst's front-seven has allowed just 97.8 yards per game on the ground, while the veteran secondary is surrendering just 199.0 through the air.
SCOUTING WESLEYAN
After dropping its 2015 season and home opener to Middlebury, 28-25, the Cardinals have won three straight with victories over Hamilton (15-10), Colby (24-21) and Bates (24-16), respectively. Through four games thus far, Wesleyan has relied on a stingy defense and a strong rushing attack. The Cardinals have allowed just 18.8 points per game, while surrendering 298.3 yards of total offense – 203.5 passing and 94.8 rushing. Offensively, they boast one of the top rushing attacks in the conference and rank second in the league with an average of 220.0 yards per game.
Four Cardinals have rushed for 100-plus yards this season with sophomore Jaylen Berry leading the committee with 226 yards on 56 carries (4.0 ypc). Quarterback Gernald Hawkins ranks second on the team in rushing yards (188), with Devon Carrillo and Lou Stevens adding 177 and 146 yards, respectively. Carrillo is averaging 6.1 yards per rush and ranks tied for third in the NESCAC in touchdowns (4), while also contributing in the passing game with 118 yards receiving – second most on the team. Hawkins, who is 54-of-104 (51.9%) for 717 yards (4 TD, 5 INT) has favorited Mike Breuler thus far and has connected with his senior wide receiver a team-high 19 times for 157 yards. Breuler also has a receiving touchdown on the season. Wesleyan leads the NESCAC in time of possession (34:58) and fourth-down conversions (80%).
On the defensive side of the ball, Justin Sanchez leads the team in tackles with 28 (11 solo, 17 assisted) followed by Shayne Kaminski and Alex Daversa-Russo with 26 and 24, respectively. The unit has 10 sacks to tie for third-most among league leaders, and is led by Jordan Stone with 2.5. Kaminski and Jeff DeMango have two each, while Sanchez and Daversa-Russo each have an interception.
PROBABLE STARTERS
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AMHERST OFF.
QB – R. Foy
RB – K. Adinkra
WR – J. McGonagle
WR – D. Boehm
WR – N. Widen
TE – R. Thoma
LT – S. Hart
LG – C. Boehmer
C – J. Daniels
RG – E. Zabludoff
RT – M. Arthur
K – C. Wall
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AMHERST DEF.
DE – S. Caldwell
DT – P. Johnson
DE – N. Odewade
OLB – J. Drew
ILB – T. Kleyn
ILB – E. Boynton
OLB – P. Chapman
SS – J. Fairfield-Sonn
FS – C. Gow
CB – J. Spears
CB – S. Soucy
P – McGonagle
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WESLEYAN OFF.
QB – Gernald Hawkins
RB – Jaylen Berry
WR – Devon Carrillo
WR – Mike Breuler
WR – Neil O'Connor
TE – Dan Laorenza
LT – Blake Cunningham
LG – Matt Kuhn
C – Joe Wilson
RG – Beau Butler
RT – Shane Jenkins
K – Ike Fuchs
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WESLEYAN DEF.
DE – Jordan Stone
DT – Shane Donovan
DT – Grant Williams
DE – Greg Blaize
LB – Alex Daversa-Russo
LB – Shayne Kaminski
LB – Jon Spivey
DB – Justin Sanchez
DB – Elias Camacho
DB – Zac Cuzner
DB – Rob Manning
P – Ike Fuchs
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2015 STATISTICAL LEADERS
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AMHERST
Passing:
Reece Foy (75-of-124/916 yds/5 TD/1 INT)
Rushing:
Kenny Adinkra (62 att/297 yds/3 TD)
Jack Hickey (34 att/246 yds/3 TD)
Receiving:
Devin Boehm (24 rec/278 yds/1 TD)
Jackson McGonagle (19 rec/257 yds/2 TD)
Defense:
Evan Boynton (31 tackles/19 solo/3.5 sacks)
Jimmy Fairfield-Sonn (22 tackles/15 solo/3 BrUp)
Parker Chapman (20 tackles/13 solo/1 sack)
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WESLEYAN
Passing:
Gernald Hawkins (54-of-104/717 yds/4 TD/5 INT)
Rushing:
Jaylen Berry (56 att/226 yds/2 TD)
Gernald Hawkins (42 att/188 yds/0 TD)
Receiving:
Mike Breuler (19 rec/157 yds/1 TD)
Devon Carrillo (7 rec/118 yds/1 TD)
Defense:
Justin Sanchez (28 tackles/11 solo/3 BrUp)
Shayne Kaminski (26 tackles/11 solo/2 sacks)
Alex Daversa-Russo (24 tackles/8 solo/1 INT)
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2015 STATISTICAL COMPARISON
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RUSHING OFF.
A: 238.3 avg.
W: 220.0 avg.
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TOTAL OFF.
A: 467.3 avg.
W: 420.8 avg.
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RUSHING DEF.
A: 97.8 avg.
W: 94.8 avg.
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TOTAL DEF.
A: 296.8 avg.
W: 298.3 avg.
|
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PASSING OFF.
A: 229.0 avg.
W: 200.8 avg.
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SCORING OFF.
A: 32.3 avg.
W: 22.0 avg.
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PASSING DEF.
A: 199.0 avg.
W: 203.5 avg.
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SCORING DEF.
A: 10.0 avg.
W: 18.8 avg.
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