WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. --  The 2022 Amherst College football team saw its season conclude Saturday with another solid effort that did not yield the desired result. Despite leading at the half, the Mammoths suffered a 20-10 defeat to rival Williams in the 136th version of the Biggest Little Game in America, played at Farley-Lamb Field. 

The loss was the fifth time the Mammoths lost by 11 points or less this season. They finish the season 2-7.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

* After falling behind 7-0 mid-way through the opening stanza, the Mammoths fought back to tie the game thanks in part to junior linebacker Andy Skirzenski, who picked off a Dan Vaughn pass at the Williams' 30-yard line On the very next play, Mammoth QB Mike Piazza hooked with receiver Carter Jung for a 16-yard gain that placed Amherst on the Ephs' 14. runs by Jack Roberge and Piazza -- who gained four yards on a 3rd-and-3 play, set Amherst up with a first-and-goal situation. On 3rd-and-goal from the 5-yard line, Piazza found Caron Ochsenhirt in the back of the end zone for a 5-yard TD play with only 29 seconds remaining in the quarter. Conor Kennelly's PAT made it 7-7. 

* Amherst began the second quarter in fine fashion when Ethan Burdo and Angelo Fodera combined for a sack on third down that forced a punt. A 20-yard boot set up the Mammoths with a 1st-and-10 at their own 41. Piazza converted two third-down conversions - one with a 3-yard pass to Roberge on 3rd-and-2, and one when he found Jung for 9 yards on a 3rd-and-4. Facing 3rd-and-10 at the Ephs' 18, Piazza once again found Roberge, but the sophomore tailback was stopped three yards short of a first down. Kennelly came on to kick a 28-yard field goal with 7:01 left in the half for a 10-7 Mammoth lead. 

* Williams had two more possessions in the first half, but each was stopped by key third down plays from Skirzenski and later on, Burdo, who had another big sack. It remained 10-7 at the half. 

* The Ephs regained the lead on their opening possession of the third quarter. Amherst had three third-quarter drives, but all resulted in three-and-out punts. On their first drive of the final quarter, Ochenshirt tried a reverse option pass on third down, but it was picked off. 

* Williams could only add a field goal to take a 17-10 lead after Skirzenski sacked Vaughn and forced a fumble, only to have an Eph offensive lineman recover it. 

* Amherst began its drive from the 25 following the kick-off, and things seemed bright when Piazza opened the drive with a 23-yard pass to Jung to set up 1st-and-10 from the Mammoths' 48-yard line. However, three plays later Mike Mitchell came on to punt and Williams had the ball back. The Ephs took over at their 20 with 6:42 to go and proceeded to drive 79 yards and take all but 30 seconds off the clock. An 18-yard field goal gave them a 20-10 lead with 30 seconds remaining. 

BY THE NUMBERS:

* Williams nearly doubled the Mammoths' yard total, gaining 376 yards of total offense to 174 for Amherst. The time of possession was also heavily in the Ephs' favor, 37:21 to 22:39. 

* Amherst senior Charles McKissick led the way with 11 tackles and 10 solos. Skirzenski had 10 tackles, nine solo, a sack, a forced fumble, and an interception. Senior Tim Swope had six tackles and one sack. Burdo had five tackles and 1.5 sacks. Senior Flynn McGilvray had five tackles and four solos. 

* Offensively, Piazza was 17 of 27 for 139 yards and a score. Jung had six receptions for 75 yards. Roberge led the team with 16 yards rushing but had nine receptions for 48 yards.