CLINTON, N.Y. -- The Hamilton College football team collected a handful of big plays Saturday on Steuben Field, and those plays ultimately made the difference as the Continentals dispatched Amherst College, 24-10.

The Mammoths fell to 0-2 on the season. They will host Trinity Saturday, October 1st, on Pratt Field at Lehrman Stadium. Kick-off is slated for 1 p.m.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

* Hamilton took the opening kick-off and began to drive down the field before Amherst Flynn McGilvray forced a fumble that teammate Solomon Christopher recovered at his own 25-yard line.

* Amherst then drove 75 yards down the field as quarterback Mike Piazza constructed a 14-play drive that culminated with a Tylon Crump 2-yard run into the end zone with 6 minutes and 34 seconds left in the first quarter. Kicker Conor Kennelly booted the PAT for a 7-0 Amherst lead. Piazza accounted for 64 of the 75 yards, going 5 for 6 through the air on the drive for 51 yards and rushing 4 times for 13 yards. 

* Hamilton answered with a 75-yard scoring drive of its own, tying the game 7-7 on a  Lucas Perez-Segnini 37-yd TD reception. 

* On the ensuing Amherst possession, the Mammoths had their punt attempt blocked by Matt Howrigan. The loose ball was scooped up by Ian Esliker and returned to the Amherst 9-yard line for a first-and-goal. Four plays later it was 14-7 Hamilton as Kamau Hopewell ran it in from the 1-yard line. 

* Hamilton stuffed an Amherst 4th-and-2 attempt and forced two punts in the second quarter. The Continentals were driving for another score late in the quarter when Amherst's Andy J. Skirzenski intercepted a pass at the Amherst 26 and the teams went into the locker at the half with Hamilton leading 14-7.

* After punting on its first possession of the second half, the Mammoths faced a 3rd and 1 near midfield, but Crump was stopped. Going for it on 4th down, the Continental defense came up big again, stopping Piazza for no gain. Amherst sopped the Continentals on their ensuing drive, but took over on their own 9-yard line and had to punt. A 18-yard boot set Hamilton up 1st and-10 at the Amherst 22 and five plays later Evan Reed kicked a 20-yard field goal for a 17-7 advantage. 

* Prior to the field goal, Mammoth Anthony Leneghan had a huge tackle of Hopewell on a 3rd-and-goal from the 1-yard line. 

* On the first play of the 4th quarter, facing a 4th-and-4 at their own 42, Amherst faked a punt and ran the ball with Kevin Girardi, but Howrigan made another big play, tripping Girardi up after no gain on the play. It took Hamilton six plays to score from there, with Hopewell running the ball all six plays and scoring on a 3-yard run. The extra point made it 24-7 with just over 12 minutes to go ni the game. 

BY THE NUMBERS: 

* Some of the key stats were ultra close. Hamilton held a 274-257 edge in total yards and a 19-16 advantage in first downs. Amherst actually led in time of possession, 31:29 to 28:31. 

* The Mammoths finished 1 of 5 on 4th down conversion opportunities. 

* Louie Eckelkamp led Amherst with 73 yards on 17 carries. Piazza had 46 on 15. Hopewell had a career high 107 yards on 35 carries for the Continentals. 

* Piazza was 18 of 34 for 134 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions. Austin Pieck led Amherst with 5 receptions for 62 yards. Owen Gaydos had 5 receptions for 26 yards.

* Skirzenski led Amherst with 6 tackles, 4 solo. Christopher and Ryan Monteleone had 5 each, as did Tim Swope.