AMHERST, Mass. – In a tough battle on Pratt Field at Lehrman Stadium, the Amherst College Mammoths were defeated by the Wesleyan Cardinals during Homecoming Weekend.

After a promising first quarter for the Mammoths, the Cardinals gained momentum to end the game with a final score of 31-14.

The Mammoths will face Trinity College on November 2 on Pratt Field at Lehrman Stadium, surrounded by family and friends for Amherst College Family Weekend 2024.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

* Amherst College emerged strong in the first quarter, establishing an early lead over Wesleyan. The Mammoths opened with a quick 50-yard drive, capped by quarterback Marek Hill's 20-yard touchdown pass to Carter Jung, putting them up 7-0. Amherst's defense followed up with a stellar stand, sacking Wesleyan's QB Niko Candido for a 7-yard loss and forcing a short punt. Capitalizing on the field position, Hill connected with Matthew Diaz for a 37-yard touchdown, extending Amherst's lead to 14-0.

* Amherst's defense displayed resilience in the second quarter, making Wesleyan work for every yard. Carson Skotak set the tone with a quarterback hurry, disrupting Wesleyan's passing game. Phil Slaughter and Skotak combined to contain the run, while Solomon Christopher's tight coverage led to a near stop, though a pass interference penalty extended the drive. Critical tackles from Kemit Fisher, Avery Romain and Hugh McLaughlin further slowed Wesleyan's progress, ultimately forcing the Cardinals to grind their way down to the red zone. Amherst held strong near the goal line, with Skotak again making a crucial stop, stalling Wesleyan until they finally broke through for a touchdown.

* In the fourth quarter, Amherst's defense made a valiant effort to hold off Wesleyan, forcing key stops and creating disruptive pressure in crucial moments. Early in the quarter, Ty Kazanowsky and Phil Slaughter held firm against the run, while multiple penalties set Wesleyan's offense back. Kazanowsky also hurried the Wesleyan quarterback on a critical third down, causing an incomplete pass and stalling a red-zone drive. Later, Ethan Burdo delivered a momentum-shifting sack, pushing Wesleyan back 10 yards and setting up a third-and-long. Though Wesleyan eventually found the end zone late in the quarter, Amherst's defense made them work hard until the final whistle.

BY THE NUMBERS:

* Wesleyan led with 21 first downs to Amherst's 12, dominating especially in the rushing game, where they recorded 148 net yards and two rushing touchdowns. Amherst's ground game struggled in comparison, with just 73 yards on 24 attempts. However, Amherst held their own through the air, matching Wesleyan's eight first downs from passing and totaling two passing touchdowns, the same as Wesleyan.

* Offensively, Wesleyan maintained a slight edge in total yards, 335-211, and yards per play, 5.1-4.2, though both teams managed the ball well with no fumbles. Penalties were a factor for both teams, with Amherst whistled for 61 penalty yards on seven infractions compared to Wesleyan's 36 yards on four penalties.

* Amherst's passing game was led by Hill, who completed 14 of 26 attempts for 138 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Hill connected with his receivers for some crucial plays, including a long pass of 37 yards.

* Hill led the team with 28 net yards on nine carries, including a long run of 17 yards and an average of 3.1 yards per carry. Jack Roberge added steady support with 23 yards on eight carries, averaging 2.9 yards per attempt. Jung and Art Nwobi Jr. both had single, impactful runs, with Jung's 8-yard rush highlighting his efficiency and Nwobi adding 5 yards on his only attempt.

* Diaz made the game's longest reception for Amherst, a 37-yard touchdown that showcased his ability to break open for significant gains. Owen Gaydos was a consistent target, pulling in five catches for 34 yards, with an 11-yard long, providing steady yardage across multiple drives. Sam Gerber added three receptions for 29 yards, hitting an 11-yard long, while Jung contributed a valuable 20-yard touchdown catch. Cato Legaspi rounded out the receiving effort with two catches for 14 yards, his longest a 15-yard gain.

* Luke Harmon, Kevin Agnew and Skotak led the team in total tackles, each recording seven, demonstrating their presence and tackling consistency. Skotak also registered two quarterback hurries and one tackle for loss, applying critical pressure throughout the game.

* Nathaniel Jackson was a standout in the backfield, contributing four tackles with two tackles for loss (7 yards) and one sack, while Slaughter added four tackles and a tackle for loss. Christopher was effective in pass coverage with four pass breakups, thwarting Wesleyan's passing game, while Kazanowsky pressured the quarterback with two hurries.