Category: Football Season Previews

Volatility at its Finest: Middlebury Football Preview 2019

2018 Record: 5-4

Projected 2019 Record: 5-4

Projected Offensive Starters (*6 returning)

QB – Will Jernigan ‘21*

RB – Peter Scibilia ‘21*

WR – Maxim Bochman ‘20*

WR – Maxwell Rye ‘20*

WR – Aidan Power ‘20

TE – Frank Cosolito ‘20*

OL – Kevin Woodring ‘20*

OL – Jack Purcell ‘20

OL – Colin Paskewitz ‘21

OL – Ben Berry ‘21

OL – Charles Ferrell ‘22

Projected Defensive Starters (*6 returning)

CB – Coltrane Marcus ‘20

CB – Jourdon Delerme-Brown ‘20

S – Jonathan Hobart ‘21*

S – Gordon Pollock ‘22*

LB – Wyllis McKissick ‘20

LB – Pete Huggins ‘21*

LB – Jack Pistorius ‘21*

DL – Martin Williams ‘20*

DL – Charles Roselle ‘21*

DL – Elijah Thiam ‘22

DL – Nick Leone ‘22

Projected Specialists (*2 returning) 

PK – Carter Massengill ‘20*

P – Maxwell Rye ‘20*

KR/PR – Greg Livingston ‘22

Offensive MVP: QB Will Jernigan ‘21

I know it’s a cop out to continue selecting the quarterbacks of each respective team, but Middlebury REALLY (emphasis on really) needs Jernigan to take a step forward in 2019. As a sophomore, Jernigan played in all nine games, but did not replace the turnover-prone Jack Meservy ‘19 until the fourth game of the season. The Georgia product did some solid things with both his arm and his legs (1,143 passing yards, 321 rushing yards, 17 all-purpose touchdowns), but turnovers were (and still are) a concern; Jernigan threw an interception in every single one of those starts in addition to a handful of fumbles. The good news is that most of his core weapons return to Middlebury, including workhorse Peter Scibilia and freakish tight end Frank Cosolito. If Jernigan can severely cut down on the turnovers and find a way to get these guys the ball in space, the Panthers could be a dark horse in the NESCAC Championship race. 

Defensive MVP: DL Martin Williams ‘20

Middlebury finished with a mere 11 sacks as a team last season; while this is surprisingly good enough for fifth in the ‘CAC, it’s merely half of the next highest number (Trinity had 22 sacks) on the list. If Middlebury is going to improve upon some disappointing defensive statistics from 2018 (allowed 28.3 ppg, including the third-worst pass defense), it needs to start with creating havoc behind the line of scrimmage. Here is where Martin Williams steps in, ready to improve upon last season’s performance. In 2018, Williams led the defensive line in tackles and finished tied for the lead in sacks, which was good enough for a selection on the 2018 All-Conference Second Team Defense. Williams and his partner-in-crime Charles Roselle ‘21 are more than capable of changing the momentum of a ballgame at any given moment, and the Panthers will undoubtedly need Williams (and the rest of the D-line) to step up in a major way this season in order for the Panthers to have a shot at dethroning the likes of Trinity, Amherst, Williams, etc. 

Team Slogan for 2019: #MiddKickoffCountdown19 #GoMidd #PantherNation

Middlebury might win the award for most generic team slogan of 2019. The supposedly seventh-ranked liberal arts school by US News decided to leave their wits in the classroom and play it way too safely with their selection(s). Do better, Panthers. Rating: -2.36/10

On the bright side (literally), this picture courtesy of Middlebury athletics is absolutely breathtaking and was an absolute must-add to the article. Middlebury photography skills: 1000/10

Everything else:

While I’m on the subject of artistic skills, shoutout to the Middlebury graphic design team. These images of players are absolutely D1 caliber. Exhibit A and B: 

Back to the real football talk: Middlebury’s major concerns come on the defensive side of the ball, but there is room for optimism as they return key contributors at nearly every position. Despite losing All-Conference Second Team linebacker Kevin Maxwell ‘19, the Panthers return Pete Huggins ‘21 (who finished tied for second with Maxwell in tackles) as well as starter Jack Pistorius ‘21 (34 tackles, 5.5 TFL) and key contributor Wyllis McKissick ‘20 (24 tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery). Along with Williams and Roselle, sophomores Elijah Thiam ‘22 and Nick Leone ‘22 will most likely round out the defensive line. Both underclassmen contributed greatly as freshmen last season, combining for 33 tackles and 3 TFL. Alex Norton ‘20 (11 tackles 5 TFL) and Emo Schiappa ‘22 (11 tackles) will likely play a significant role as role players, although it would not surprise me if Norton ends up starting based on his high tackle for loss numbers. 

The real question mark for this Panther defense is at defensive back. For a team that had the third-worst pass defense in the NESCAC a season ago, I’m not sure if losing both starting corners is a good or bad thing; nevertheless, Coltrane Marcus ‘20 and Jourdon Delerme-Brown ‘20 will attempt to keep opposing receivers in check, with reserves Nate Stewart ‘22 and Kevin Hartley ‘20 ready to go on a moment’s notice. 

Offensively, the Panthers have weapons all over the field. Cosolito is the best tight end in the league and will be salivating at the opportunity to be matched up with an opposing linebacker. Wide receivers Maxim Bochman ‘20 and Maxwell Rye ‘20 are more than capable of making up for Conrado Banky’s production (26 catches for 376 yards and 4 touchdowns) and Scibilia is one of the top five running backs entering the 2019 season. In my eyes, the Panthers’ season comes down to the offensive line. Losing four starters is absolutely brutal, and although three of the four newly projected starters are upperclassmen, we’ve seen time and time again that offensive linemen need time to gel and work together. Not only are they tasked with creating holes for Scibilia to run through, but they have to protect Jernigan and allow him to get comfortable throwing the ball. If defenders collapse the pocket time and time again, Jernigan will get happy feet and either make errant throws on the run, or not trust his offensive line and look to scramble. If the O-line can neutralize the defensive pass rush, Jernigan should have no excuses getting the ball to his talented playmakers, and the Panthers should be in a position to win 6+ games. If not, this could be a long season.

More Than Just the CBB: Colby Football Preview 2019

2018 Record: 3-6

Projected 2019 Record: 3-6

Projected Offensive Starters: (*8 returning)

QB – Matt Hersch ‘22*

RB – Chris George ‘20

WR – Rory Glavin ‘21

WR – Andrew DeFranco ‘20*

WR – Bernie Sander ‘21*

TE – Ethan Smith ‘21*

LT – Chris Shaffrey ‘20*

RT – Travon Bradford ‘20*

LG – Brandon Leibman ‘21*

RG – Evan Domonkos ‘23

C – Ty Mahar ‘22*

Projected Defensive Starters (*9 returning)

DE – Carson Katen ‘21*

DE – Nick Wilcox ‘22*

DT – Patrick Sopko ‘20*

DT – Harrison Vedrani ‘21*

LB – Sean Godin ‘20*

LB – Marcus Bullard ‘21*

LB – Will Terzi ‘22*

S – Gus Forseth ‘20

S – George Eisenhauer ‘22

CB – CJ Hassan ‘20*

CB – Asher Inman ‘21*

Projected Specialists (*2 returning)

K – Walter Thilly ‘21*

P – Moises Celaya ‘22*

Offensive MVP: QB Matt Hersch ‘22

Hersch, now entering his sophomore campaign, will command the offense from the get-go this season after earning himself the starting job early on in his freshman year. Following his promotion Hersch posted impressive numbers all season that we had not seen from a Mules’ quarterback in years. He threw for 288 yards and added 40 more on the ground in a tight win against Hamilton last season and he was able to find the back of the endzone 3 times against Wesleyan, amassing 277 yards in a tough 8-point loss. Hersch’s flashes of great talent and leadership led him to be named NESCAC Co-Rookie of the Year. He ranked second in the league in completion percentage (60.5%) and with an experienced group of receivers returning (DeFranco, Sander and TE Smith) one would have to think that his efficiency and accuracy would go nowhere but up. Hersch is also helped out by the fact that 4 of the 5 guys on his line are returning and should be ready to get going right where they left off last season. The biggest change for Hersch this year will be that he does not have the safety net of Jake Schwern ‘19 to rely on, so he and the Mules will need RB Chris George ‘20 to fill that void. There are lots of reasons to believe that Hersch will continue to develop and show himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the league this season, whether it be the 7 other offensive starts he has returning or whether it is the constant presence of Coach Cos in his ear giving him advice, Hersch has it all lined up to make his name known in the NESCAC.

Defensive MVP: LB Marcus Bullard ‘21

All eyes will be on Junior Marcus Bullard when the Colby defense takes the field this season. Bullard’s season was unfortunately cut short due to injury last year, but when he did play he put up the most impressive numbers on the team and some of the most impressive across the conference. Despite not playing in two games Bullard still lead the Mules with 55 tackles last season (30 solo) as well as recording an interception. These stats were good enough to earn him 5th in the NESCAC in tackles per game (7.9). Some of Bullard’s highlights last year include a 12-tackle game against Tufts as well as 9-tackle game against Bowdoin to end last season in which he also recorded his lone interception. I’m sure Marcus has been itching to get on the field and stay healthy so he can show off his dominance all season long. The Mules are lucky to have a deep roster on the defensive side with lots of returning starters who are hungry for more of the success they were finally able to taste under Coach Cosgrove last season. Bullard will be the focal point of this Colby defense and he will look to lead by example on the field.

Biggest Game: October 26th vs. Bates

The CBB games are obviously the biggest games of the year for us up here in Maine so it is pretty safe to say that Colby’s biggest game of the season will be their lone CBB contest at Harold Alfond Stadium. Last season the Mules were able to take their game against the Bobcats by a decisive score of 21-6 in what was a cold, snowy, sloppy affair. Hopefully this year’s contest has some fairer weather so that all CBB fans alike can get a slightly more interesting contest. After defeating Bowdoin to end the season Colby officially captured their first CBB crown in years and Coach Cosgrove proved his immediate impact on the program. Both Bowdoin and Bates will have targets on Colby’s back from the start of the season, so an opportunity to decrown the champs on their home field will not be something that the Bobcats take lightly. We still have 6 weekend of football before this contest, but I’m sure Colby fans and players alike have this date circled on their calendar.

Best Hair: DB Zacariah Cody ‘23

Cody may only be a freshman but he has the stare of a man who has seen things and a golden mane fit to rule all the light can touch. The freshman defensive back from Port Clyde, ME is on the lighter side at 149lbs, especially considering the flow, mutton chops and stache combo must account for a few pounds. Whatever he lacks in weight he clearly makes up for in confidence and intimidation…I mean, you don’t want anyone with mutton chops trying to tackle you.

Everything Else:

Looking at the number of returning starters that Mules have on offense, defense and special teams, it is safe to say that their experience will be one of their greatest assets this season. Although Hersch is still young, he was able to get nearly a full season under his belt last year and will have the vast majority of his offensive starters for last year returning with him. WR Andrew DeFranco ‘20 is the senior leader for this receiving core, leading the team in receiving touchdowns (2) and coming in second in receptions (19). Another important member of the offense that can’t be looked over is TE Ethan Smith ‘21. Smith had a breakout campaign in his sophomore year, quickly becoming Hersch’s favorite target. He had 8 more receptions than anyone else on the team (27) and far-and-away led the team with 274 receiving yards.

Coach Cosgrove had a successful first season, so we’ll see if he can keep the Mules trending upward in year two

With the departure of RB Jake Schwern ‘19, who accounted for the majority of Colby’s receiving and rushing yards last season, the Mules will need a new go-to guy in the red zone and Smith could be that guy. On the topic of running backs, RB Chris George ‘21 will have the torch passed down to him this year as he is expected to hold the majority of the carries for Colby. George has appeared in the majority of the Mules’ contests since his freshman year, but being in the shadow of Schwern saw his playing time limited. Now he has the opportunity to be a focal point of this offense so it will be very interesting to see how he plays into Coach Cosgrove’s new offensive scheme.

Defense is much of the same story as offense when it comes to returning starters. 9 of the 11 guys lining up on defense for the Mules started last year as well, which should give them the advantage of having developed over at least a full season together already. The Mules D allowed 254 points against last season, putting them at 6th in the NESCAC. It was clear last year that their defense had more than enough to handle teams like Bowdoin and Bates but weren’t quite up to the task against schools like Wesleyan and Amherst. A consistent defense is key for the Mules if they want to beat a school that is not from Maine and start to put Colby football back on the map. With the man, the myth, the legend, Jack Cosgrove at the helm and roster chock full of talent and experience, the Mules should look to compete for a spot in the middle of the conference and defend their CBB title this fall.

Is This the Year?: Williams Football Preview 2019

2018 Record: 5-4

2019 Projected Record: 7-2

Projected Offensive Starters (*9 returning)

QB – Bobby Maimaron ‘21*

RB – Carter Begel ‘22*

RB – TJ Dozier ‘21*

WR – Frank Stola ‘21*

WR – Justin Nelson ‘21*

TE – Justin Burke ‘21*

LG – Pat Watson ‘21

LT – Jeremy Subjinski ‘20*

C – Jeff MacArthur ‘20*

RG – John Rooney ‘20*

RT – Ryan Pruss ‘20

Projected Defensive Starters (*6 returning)

S – Ben Anthony ‘20*

S – Ed Manzella ‘21

CB – Jake Kastenhuber ‘21*

CB – TBD

OLB – Coleston Smith ‘22

ILB – TJ Rothmann ‘21*

ILB – Jarrett Wesner ‘21*

OLB – Luke Apuzzi ‘21*

DE – Oscar Unobskey ‘20*

DT – TBD

DE – TBD

Projected Specialists (*2 Returning)

K/P – Andrew Schreibstein ‘22*

KR/PR – Frank Stola ‘21*

Offensive MVP: QB Bobby Maimaron ‘21

There are so many people who need to perform at a high, high level for the Ephs to have a chance to win the league this year, but none moreso than their junior signal caller under center. It was a weird sophomore season for Maimaron, who earned ROY honors in his magical freshman season that saw Williams go from 0-8 to 6-3. He was one of the top ball carriers in the entire league, finishing 4 th in rushing yards per game (68.4) and 5 th in rushing TDs (8). But his yards per carry only jumped from 3.4 yards to 3.8, the only evident change in his rushing numbers was due to the number of carries. There were a number of reasons outside of his control for why he went from throwing for 200 yards per game and completing 58% of his passes to just 143 yards per game and a 53% completion percentage—lack of weapons, playcalling, line play, etc., but those numbers need to look a lot more like his 2017 numbers than his 2018 numbers. Luckily, Maimaron could be the most talented QB in the league, or most talented player in the league for that matter, he just needs to prove it.

Defensive MVP: CB Jake Kastenhuber ‘21

Kastenhuber makes the move over to cornerback this season after spending his first two patrolling the secondary as a safety. Williams graduated both of its starting corners last year, and the fact that they felt the need to move a two-year starter over to fill a need speaks to their lack of confidence in being able to find other CBs on the roster. Hopefully it is a seamless transition for Kastenhuber because the Ephs have struggled with locking down the top wide receivers around the league in recent years, and their lack of depth on the defensive line means they cannot afford to have any holes elsewhere.

Biggest Game: September 14th @ Middlebury

This is an absolute must win for both teams, and I would imagine they know that. But especially for the Ephs with the way their schedule is so backloaded. I’m sure most people are aware and will be made more aware as the season progresses, but for those who don’t know, Williams, Amherst, Wesleyan, and Trinity all play each other in the last 3 weeks of the season. If any of those teams have serious championship aspirations, they better plan on showing up for their Week 7 matchup with an unblemished 6-0 record. Beating Middlebury on the road Week 1 and defending home turf against Tufts the following week is certainly doable for Williams, who really could be 6-0 when that last stretch rolls around. It all starts on Saturday.

Everything Else:

It was a weird 2018 season for Williams, which makes forecasting this season pretty tough. On one hand, they were the only team to beat Trinity last year. On the other hand, they went 1-4 in their final 5 games, a combination of catching the injury bug and a touch of complacency following their big win against the eventual champs. The good news is that they return all but 6 of their points, and their 8 leading tacklers. On paper, they should be poised to take a huge leap forward. But the bad news is that they do not appear to have improved their weaknesses from last season—namely the defensive line, cornerbacks, and the ability to stay healthy. The front 3 is still largely up for grabs, as is one of the starting CB spots, and they already lost their expected starting RT, freshman John Freeman, for the year.

WR Frank Stola ’21 evades a Middlebury tackler during a 2018 game

So, one of two things (preferably both) needs to happen. The first is that the studs they have been able to rely on for 2 or 3 years now need to really carry this team—Maimaron, all-league WR Frank Stola ’21, and their arguably league-best linebacking core, led by all-league juniors Jarrett Wesner and TJ Rothmann. These guys need to ball out and stay healthy. The other thing is that guys whose names we don’t know yet need to have breakthrough seasons. The overwhelming individual talent in the junior class across the board for Coach Mark Raymond has made it tough for other guys, namely in the sophomore and senior classes, to find playing time, but injuries and graduation have finally opened some holes up.

This team is one of the best in the league, without a doubt. They just need a little bit more help if they hope to achieve what they really want to achieve. This might not be the year yet, but then again, they are arguably the favorite to win each of their first 7 games, if they ever get over their mental block against Wesleyan. Show up 7-0, give Trinity a run for their money in Week 8, and defend their home turf against Amherst in the finale? Maybe go 8-1 and see what happens? Crazier things have happened.

Only One Way From Here: Bates Football Preview 2019

2018 Record: 0-9

2019 Projected Record: 1-8

Projected offensive starters (*8 returning)

QB – Brendan Costa ’21*

RB – Jaason Lopez ’21*

RB – Liam Spillane ’21*

WR – Christian Olivieri ’22

WR – Jackson Hayes ’22*

TE – Isaiah Saunders ’21

C – Jack O’Brien ’20*

LG – Phil Simplicio ’20*

LT – Matt Flanagan ’20*

RG – Nick Florio ’22

RT – Julian Nicolas ’21*

Projected defensive starters (*8 returning)

DB – Jon Lindgren ’20*

DB – Connor Hunt ’21*

CB – Devin Clyburn ’21*

CB – Owen Straley ’22

ILB – Pete Daley ’20*

ILB – Zach Doyon ’20*

OLB – Mike Bulman ’21*

OLB – Liam Greene ’21*

DL – Ramon Ruiz ’21*

DL – Shane Collins ’21*

DL – Jack Ryan ’22

Projected specialists (*2 returning)

K – Simon Redfern ’22

P – Tyler Bridge ’23

KR/PR – Milan Lemon ’21*/Jon Lindgren ’20*

Offensive MVP: RB Jaason Lopez ’21

The Bobcats made the switch last season from the triple option to the spread, moving away from the run game to favor the pass. This change, in fact, moved Bates from first in the NESCAC in rushing yards in 2017 to last in the league in rushing yards in 2018. This is quite a dramatic change – and serves to show that in order to throw the ball you have to be able to run it, too. Lopez saw some action as a freshman in 2017 and did not disappoint, posting a season total of 98 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on just 13 carries, while catching 15 passes for a team-high 288 yards and 3 touchdowns as well. Last year Lopez saw action in just 2 games while battling injury and not getting a ton of touches. The junior is finally healthy this year and is ready to lead a strong and experienced backfield coming off a down year on the ground. If Lopez can have a breakout year then it will give Coach Patterson an entirely new tool to work with on offense in just his second year with the team.

Defensive MVP: DB Jon Lindgren ’20

Last year I wrote all about how Lindgren got snubbed from the 2017 All-Conference teams despite leading the league (by a large margin) in pass break ups and being top-10 in tackles. Well he followed that up with another outstanding year in which he led the league in solo and total tackles and finally received the All-NESCAC recognition that he deserved (we can talk about how he should have been first team instead of second team another time). The senior captain has improved every year and will lead a relatively experienced Bobcat defense in its second season under Coach Hall. Last year the defense had several games in which they played very well in the first half but spent too much time on the field and were overwhelmed by fatigue late in the second half. With that experience under their belt and some help from the offense, this unit is poised to have a much-improved year. That certainly won’t happen without Lindgren leading the way.

Biggest Game: November 2nd, 5:30pm vs. Bowdoin

When you go winless one year, it’s hard to argue that your biggest game the following season isn’t against the team that only won one game the prior year. It’s also no secret that the CBB games are particularly important to the Maine schools, so Bowdoin checks both of these boxes. Throw in the fact that it’s their only night game of the season and it’s at home late in the year and this one is definitely a winner. Bates had a few close games last year and even led at halftime on several occasions, but if they can’t beat the team that finished one place ahead of them a year ago then it’ll be very difficult to get out of the cellar in 2019.

Best Tweet:

This is a quality tweet because it shows not only that the Bates football coaching staff knows what GIFs are, but that they know how to use them correctly. It’s always exciting to land a prized recruit, particularly one from a historically successful football state like New Hampshire.

Everything Else:

Coach Hall and the rest of the coaching staff got their feet wet in NESCAC football last year during their first season in Lewiston. An 0-9 season is not what they were hoping for but hey, there’s nowhere to go but up right? They now have a their first official recruiting class on campus and they’re familiar with the ins and outs of the 9-game NESCAC season. Fortunately they return lots of key personnel on both sides of the ball, as well. Brendan Costa ’21 returns under center behind an offensive line that has quite a bit of experience under its belt. In fact, the starting five offensive linemen have played in a combined 62 games in their careers, so experience is certainly not an issue. Costa has a number of receivers to throw to, including sophomores Jackson Hayes ’22, Christian Olivieri ’22, and Derek Marino ’22, juniors Isaiah Saunders ’21, Parker Smith ’21, and potentially any of the exciting freshmen that Coach Hall brought to Lewiston in his first recruiting class. They even have a sneaky red zone threat in RB Christian Sanfilippo ’21 to work with as well.

There’s work to be done, but things are looking promising in Lewiston

On the other side of the ball the Bobcats return one of the best safeties in the league in Jon Lindgren ’20, but they also return Devin Clyburn ’21 and Connor Hunt ’21 in the secondary as well. At linebacker they bring back 5th year senior Pete Daley ’20, Zach Doyon ’20, David Campbell ’21, Mike Bulman ’21, and Liam Greene ’21, while Ramon Ruiz ’21 headlines a mostly-returning defensive line as well. It’s clear that there is a plethora of age and experience in this lineup. These guys have almost all been through two or three full seasons of college football, so they know the grind. The coaching staff is settled in and they have a battle-tested lineup so all the pieces are in place for a turnaround from last year. There are definitely opponents on their schedule that they can beat and they showed flashes of what they were capable of last season, but we’ll have to wait and see if they can put it together for 60 minutes to get back in the win column.

The Road Back from Heartbreak: Amherst Football Preview 2019

2018 Record: 8-1

Projected 2019 Record: 7-2

Projected Offensive Starters (*5 Returning)

QB – Ollie Eberth ‘20*

RB – Biafra Okoronkwo ‘20

WR – Turner Garland ‘21

WR – James O’Regan ‘20*

WR – Joe Masterson ‘21*

TE – Justin Berry ’20*

C – Dan Papa ’20*

RT – Brendan Coleman ’20*

OL – Jacob Ayyub ’21

OL – Nick Diprinzio ’22

OL – Peter Jerome ’20

Projected Defensive Starters (*4 Returning)

CB – Avery Saffold ‘20*

CB – Ricky Goodson ‘21

DB – John Ballard ‘20*

DB – Matt Durborow ‘21*

LB – Matt Schiano ‘22

LB – John Schiano ‘22

LB – Manny Malone ‘22

DL – Alex Katchadurian ‘20

DL – Joe Kelly ‘21

DL – Flynn McGilvray ‘22

DL – Greg Franklin ‘20*

Projected Specialists (*2 Returning) 

PK – Henry Atkeson ‘20

P – Henry Atkeson ‘20*

KR/PR – Joe Masterson ‘21*

Offensive MVP: QB Ollie Eberth ‘20

The Amherst offense entirely revolves around it’s 6’2’’, 185 lb dual-threat quarterback. A two-year starter, Eberth enters his final campaign with the Mammoths in search of an elusive NESCAC Championship, one that slipped through his fingers in 2018 after suffering Amherst’s lone loss of the season against Trinity. Despite falling short of the ultimate goal, the Massachusetts native had a season to remember, finishing second in passing yards per game and fifteenth in total rushing yards en route to an All-Conference First Team selection. James O’Regan ‘20 is back to receive the bulk of Eberth’s targets in the passing game, but losing fellow wide receiver Bo Berluti ‘19 (44 rec, 610 yds, 4 TD’s) certainly hurts. On the ground, the combination of Eberth and running back Biafra Okoronkwo (95 carries for 581 yards and 4 TD’s in 2018) will be the focal point for Coach Mills and the Mammoth offense. All in all, Eberth is the true conductor on the offensive side of the ball and will be counted on time and time again to carry the Mammoths with his arm and legs in 2019. 

Defensive MVP: DL Joe Kelly ‘21

Senior Greg Franklin is the lone returning starter on the defensive line for Amherst, but it’s Kelly that i’m selecting to break out in wake of two-time NESCAC Defensive Player of the Year Andrew Yamin’s departure. He finished second on the team (and tied for sixth in the conference) with 4.5 sacks as just a second-teamer, and with Franklin likely receiving most of the attention early on in the season, Kelly could burst onto the scene. He finished the 2018 season on a strong note, registering at least .5 sacks in five of his last six games. With another spring/summer of refining his game and improving under the tutelage of defensive wizard Coach Mills, Kelly is my pick to emerge as the star of the defensive line. 

Biggest Game: November 2nd vs. Trinity 

Amherst could very well be undefeated when they welcome the reigning NESCAC Champions, the Trinity Bantams, on senior day. Last season’s matchup ended up serving as the de-facto Championship game, with the Bantams snagging a 27-16 win after Max Chipouras ‘19 busted a game-clinching 70 yard run with under three minutes left in the fourth quarter. An early tilt with Tufts will be a tough game, but I’m not as high on the Jumbos after the departure of Ryan McDonald ‘19. Even without Chipouras, the Bantams are still the team to beat in the NESCAC, so the rematch between these two football giants will surely be one of the most entertaining matchups of the 2019 season. 

Team Slogan for 2019: #Crankit

Not the most creative slogan I’ve come across in recent years, plus there’s too many ways to run with this hashtag in a negative connotation. Rating: 4.5/10 

Everything Else: 

Despite the talent on this squad, there are undoubtedly glaring holes on both sides of the ball. On the offensive end, the Mammoths lost three starters on the line. Juniors Eric Papa and Brendan Coleman will be tasked with leading the group, but Amherst will have to find five guys that can gel together and protect their quarterback.  There are questions amongst the receivers as well; O’Regan and Berluti combined for 83 of the team’s 124 receptions, but the latter graduated in the spring. The only other player with double digit receptions last season was tight end Justin Berry ‘20 (11 receptions). Masterson was electric in the return game during 2018, but he’s being thrust into the WR2 position despite catching a mere eight targets last season. Masterson and others such as Turner Garland ‘21 and Brendan Popovich ‘20 need to emerge to give Eberth options and keep opposing defenses honest. 

Matt Albino ‘21 and Greg Franklin ‘20 are looking to create havoc on the defensive line in wake of Andrew Yamin’s departure

Defensively, the Mammoths are strong at the back end. Three of the four returnees on defense reside at the corner and safety positions, and there is plenty of depth. The major question revolves at linebacker. In addition to Yamin, (who was more of a pass rush specialist despite being listed at the BUCK position), Amherst has to replace two more starters (Andrew Sommer ‘19 and John Callahan ‘19) and key reserve Jack Barrett ‘19. The quartet of linebackers accounted for 189 tackles, 15 sacks, and four interceptions. That is A LOT of production to replace in one season, and trusted to take over are (from what I can tell) three sophomores that have minimal playing experience. One possibility to ensure some more stability to the position is moving corner Ricky Goodson ‘21 back to outside linebacker; he played linebacker in high school, so at the very least he would bring knowledge to the position. I’m not too worried about the defensive line position – despite the lack of returning starters, guys like Kelly, Alex Katchadurian ‘20 and Flynn McGilvray ‘22 were key role players on last year’s team and will fill the void. 

Looking at the schedule, I do think it will take time for the Mammoths to find their footing on both sides of the ball; their opening two games are perfect to work out the kinks, as they host Bates before traveling to Colby. If the Mammoths can beat the Jumbos (which I believe they will), they have a real shot at entering the Trinity matchup at 7-0. Trinity is still the clear favorite to repeat as NESCAC Champions, but Amherst has the pieces and talent to run the table early and give the Bantams a run for their money. 

It’s a Dynasty in Hartford: Trinity Football Preview 2019

Editor’s Note: This article was written by one of our new writers this year – Haven Cutko from Trinity. A fun fact about Haven is that he was actually accepted into Harvard as a senior in high school but chose to attend Trinity due to its superior location.

2018 Record: 8-1 

Projected 2019 Record: 9-0

Projected Offensive Starters: (*7 returning) 

QB- Seamus Lambert ‘22*

RB- Spencer Lockwood ‘22 

OT- Austin Baiardi ‘20*

G- Alex Wukovits ‘20*

C- Kyle Woodring ‘22 

G- Matt Evans ‘20

OT- Kalvin Guillermo ‘22*

WR- Jon Girard ‘21*

WR- Koby Schofer ‘20* 

WR- Devante Reid ‘22

FB/TE- Joe Samuelman ‘20* 

Projected Defensive Starters: (*6 returning) 

DL- Jimmy Christiano ‘21*

DL- Devyn Perkins ‘20*

DL- Hassan Azeem ‘22 

LB- Daniel Negron ‘20*

LB- Will Dencker ‘21*

LB- Brian Casagrande ‘22 

LB- Sean Smerczynski ‘20 

DB- Matt Patry ‘20*

DB- Matt McCarthy ‘21*

DB- Jalen Weathers ‘22 

DB- Rob Levine ‘22

Projected Specialists: (*2 returning)

K- Kimball Winans ‘20 

P- Ian McDonald ‘20* 

KR- Colin Beaulieu ‘21* 

Offensive MVP: QB Seamus Lambert ‘22 

This was not an easy pick to make, because WRs Koby Schofer ‘20 and Jonathan Girard ‘21 have both probably proven more at this point in their careers. However, they are both elite receivers (arguably the NESCAC’s two best) and they complement each other so well on the field that I’d be remiss to select one over the other for this honor. They also cannot do what they do without a great quarterback, which is what Lambert proved to be as he stepped in after an early season loss at Williams and did nothing but win games while leading Trinity to a third straight championship. Lambert’s stats were not off the charts, but he made accurate throws and showed that he could run the ball as well, posting 75 rushing yards against Bowdoin and 56 against Middlebury the following week. Look for former Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year Spencer Lockwood ‘22 to have a breakout season at running back as well. Lockwood had to play behind Max Chipouras last year, but he still put up 425 yards and 7 TDs getting plenty of garbage time reps in the Bantams’ various blowout wins. As the number 1 back he’ll get a chance to prove himself against the top defenses and their first stringers, which Lambert did from the quarterback position last season. Lambert has all the weapons in place to ball out this season and continue to win games, but if he falls off at all, URI transfer Jordan Vazzano ‘20 will be motivated to win back the starting job he had up until the Williams loss last season. Not many D1 transfers ride the bench in the NESCAC, but it’s hard to sit a QB who came in as a freshman and won every one of his starts as Lambert did. Either way, Trinity’s offense is in great position to make a mockery of their opponents as they have done for the past few years. 

Defensive MVP: DE Jimmy Christiano ‘21

Christiano has steadily improved over his career at Trinity, and with two more seasons to play, the sky is the limit for this burly edge rusher. An all-NESCAC first teamer last season on a loaded defense, Christiano was third in the conference in both sacks and tackles for loss and will be looking to boost both numbers this year. He can force fumbles (3 last year) and he also recorded both a blocked punt and an interception. While the Bantams graduated some strong defensive players, they return another NESCAC first teamer on the other end of the D-line, Devyn Perkins ‘20. With offensive lines having to gameplan for both of those guys, Christiano has an opportunity to have an even better season than his last. He also plays without gloves. Does your favorite defensive lineman do that? 

Biggest Game: October 26th vs. Williams 

These days, Trinity football is at the point where one loss is jarring to everyone associated with the team and the league. When the Bantams lost at Williams last year, they had to refocus and make changes- this was Jordan Vazzano’s last game starting at quarterback before Coach Jeff Devanney switched to Seamus Lambert. Although the team righted the ship and still took home the NESCAC title (would we expect anything less?), the one loss is still a blemish on the record that the Bantams would undoubtedly  love to get back. Williams did not play up to their potential towards the end of last season due to some injuries, but they return a lot of their best players and will be coming for that number one spot this year. This matchup also kicks off a gauntlet of three tough games for Trinity to finish the season: Williams, Amherst, and Wesleyan. If they can pass each of those tests, there’s a good chance a four-peat is in the cards. The matchup with the Ephs in the Coop will be one that everyone in the league has an eye on. 

Best Tweet: 

Real recognize real. Coach Belichick may be a Wesleyan alum, but his son played lacrosse at Trinity and he is clearly smart enough to know who the superior NESCAC program is. It’s possible that Belichick has some other fall commitments, but if he made it to a game in Hartford in the past four years, maybe we’d be preparing to see Max Chipouras on Sundays this season at Gillette. The Patriots are a running back by committee kind of team, right? 

Everything Else:

How dominant has this team been in recent years? Trinity’s senior class currently has more championship rings than total losses in their college careers. If the Bantams can again win the NESCAC championship with one loss or by going undefeated, they will be able to make that claim for the rest of their lives…in addition to achieving a four-peat. While it will feel different for many not seeing Max Chipouras in the backfield, the team returns plenty of talent on both ends of the ball and has to be looked at as the heavy favorite once again coming into the 2019 season. What this means is that every NESCAC team, contender or bottom-feeder, will be aiming to knock Trinity off their throne this fall. As Amherst and Williams have shown the past two seasons, the Bantams are not unbeatable, but another team will need to step up and put together a complete season if anything is going to change. If the Bantams can win their opener at Tufts and get past the other NESCAC heavyweights in their final three games, a fourth ring for Coach Devanney and the boys will be in the forecast in Hartford.

Sophomore Slump? Williams College Season Preview

Coach Raymond and the Ephs shocked everybody in 2017, but can they improve?

Sophomore Slump? Williams College Season Preview

2017 Record: 6-3

NBN Projected 2018 Record: 5-4

Projected Starters:

Offense (8 Returners*):

QB: Bobby Maimaron ‘21*

RB: TJ Dozier ‘21

FB: Kyle Horihan ‘20

WR: Frank Stola ‘21*

WR: Justin Nelson ‘21*

WR: Rashad Morrison ‘21

TE: Justin Burke ‘21*

LT: Jeremy Subjinski ‘20*

LG: Mike Ludwig ‘20*

C: Jeff MacArthur ‘20

RG: Pat Watson ‘21*

RT: Karsten Salveson ‘19*

Defense (9 Returners*):

DL: Jameson DeMarco ‘19*

DL: Brendan Rosseau

DL: Oscar Unobskey

OLB/DE: Austin Thomas ‘19*

ILB: TJ Rothmann ‘21*

ILB: Jarrett Wesner ‘21*

OLB: Luke Apuzzi ‘20*

CB: Amhyr Barber ‘19*

CB: Des Butler ‘19*

FS: Ben Anthony ‘20*

SS: Jake Kastenhuber ‘21*

Special Teams (2 Returning):

K: Min Kyu Park ‘21*

P: TBD

KR/PR: Frank Stola ‘21*

Offensive MVP:

Justin Nelson ’21

WR Justin Nelson ‘21

In this offense there are certainly a lot of options with this choice, but I’m going to go with the other Sophomore WR at Williams. Everyone knows about Frank Stola ’21, and for good reason, but Nelson has a chance to be the guy who takes this offense and this team to the next level. His freshman year looked like a typical freshman year—flashes of brilliance in the form of 6 catches and 125 yards, including a 76-yard TD vs. Hamilton—and games against Tufts and Amherst in which he failed to register a catch. Stola is still going to be their top big play threat but Nelson has the most unique skillset to be a target all over the field. He can catch it short and take it 76 to the house like he did against Hamilton, he can work the 10-15 yard routes that Coach Raymond loves in his offense, and he also might possess the most raw speed in the entire league. Williams’ running game looks to be their weakness offensively, but Nelson’s ability to turn short plays into big plays could make up for that.

Defensive MVP:

TJ Rothman ’21

LB TJ Rothmann ‘21

Is 83 tackles in just 8 games good? Because that’s what TJ Rothmann’s freshman year consisted of, good for 4th in the entire league. Despite returning 9 guys on defense, the two vacancies are up front on the line. All League NT Chris Hattar ’18 is gone and so too is Sam Gowen ’19, a fellow defensive lineman with a couple of years of starting experience. They might struggle at the line of scrimmage, especially early in the year. This team’s strength last year has been its run defense, and I expect that to continue, but it is going to be contingent upon Rothmann and the rest of the linebacking core stepping up and making a lot of tackles in the box. He has a legitimate chance to lead the NESCAC in tackles, and I expect him to be in the top 3 regardless. Ask anyone around the team and they’ll tell you that Rothmann is the most talented player on the team. He’s going to need to play like it if they want to continue to grow as an elite run-stopping unit.

Williams struggled to get anything going against Trinity in 2017.

Biggest Game: 9/29 vs. Trinity

Ironically enough, despite starting the season 4-1, it was the Ephs’ 17-9 loss in Week 3 @ Trinity that was arguably their most impressive performance. They lost a one score game on the road to the reigning undefeated league champions, and at no point did it seem like they couldn’t hang. But when the Bantams come to Williamstown this year on the last Saturday in September, it might as well be an elimination game. Both teams should be 2-0, and if you’re Williams, winning this game could mean starting the season 5-0 if they can get through Middlebury. But this league is Trinity’s until proven otherwise, regardless of who’s returning and who isn’t, and if the Ephs are the real deal this will be their chance to show it.

The Eph squad is young and has energy, but they need to bring the heat to replicate 2017.

Summary: What a difference a year makes, right? A year ago, this team was hoping to get on the board with a win in what felt like a huge game against fellow 0-8 Bowdoin. Now, it’s championship or bust in Williamstown. This team, on paper, has all the talent it needs to win the NESCAC. The offense has no shortage of weapons in 2017 ROY QB Bobby Maimaron ’21, WRs Frank Stola and Justin Nelson ’21, and swiss army knife WR Rashad Morrison ’21. The defense looks primed to be a top three unit in the league again, led by one of the best two linebacking groups in the NESCAC. It feels crazy to say but this team is returning 17 starters and yet I can’t get past the potential shortage up front on the defensive line. Whatever pairing gets rolled out there with DeMarco is going to be undersized and the weak link of a defense that relies heavily on being able to stop the run. Luckily, opening with Bowdoin and Colby should give them time to iron out the kinks. Other than that, any problem this team is going to have is going to be mental. Are the Ephs ready to take that next step and be a true championship contender, where every week is either spent dodging an upset bid or going toe-to-toe with another ring-chasing team? Last year, they were the happy-go-lucky group of upstarts who swung big and toppled a couple of giants. This year, can they be the last ones standing?

Karp’s Projected Record: 6-3

Jumbos Need to Prove They Can Hang; Tufts University Season Preview

The Tufts O Line should be solid, but their D Line leaves a lot to question.

2017 Record: 5-4

Projected Record: 4-5

Projected offensive starters (*9 returning)

QB – Ryan McDonald ’19*

RB – Mike Pedrini ‘21*

WR – Jack Dolan ‘19*

WR – Frank Roche ‘19*

WR – Dan de Leon ‘19*

WR — Winton Blount ‘20*

LT – Nick Roy ‘19*

LG – Josh Thibeault ‘19*

RG – Dan MacDonald ‘19*

RT – Logan Herodes ‘20*

C – Jack Rhodes ‘19

Projected defensive starters (*4 returning)

CB – Miles Shipp ‘20

CB – Mark Mastrog ‘20

S – Tim Preston ‘19*

S — Alex LaPiana ‘19*

LB – Greg Holt ‘20*

LB – Tylor Scales ‘20

LB —Stephen Timmins ‘20

DL – Nmesoma Nwafor ‘19*

DL – Jared Ahsler ‘19

DL – Kevin Quisumbing ‘20

DL — Tom Baker ‘20

Projected specialists (*2 returning)

PK – Matthew Alswanger ’21*

P — Alex LaPiana ’19*

KR/PR – Jack Dolan ‘19

Offensive MVP:

Ryan McDonald ’19

QB Ryan McDonald ‘19

McDonald became one of the most efficient signal-callers in the league but also tallied 10 interceptions in 2017. That number is definitely not what you’d like from a quarterback seeking to win a championship, but McDonald is constantly improving and he’ll lead an offense that returns nearly all of its starters. McDonald finished the season with eleven passing touchdowns and was definitely a point of emphasis in training camp thus far. Along with his elite running ability, we see him as breaking out with all of his receivers returning and building on already developed relationships. The Jumbos finished seventh out of ten last season in passing touchdowns a season ago, but we think that they will rank up there in the top five in this statistic, competing with Trinity and Amherst, but behind Midd and Wesleyan.

Defensive MVP:

Greg Holt ’20

LB Greg Holt ‘20

Although Tufts only returns four defensive starters, Holt should lead his side of the ball and at least make them competitive against. Holt is an All-NESCAC honoree and racked up an impressive 98 tackles his freshman season and 84 last year. He led the team in that stat and also led the team with 5 pass break ups, and should be ready to go this Saturday against Hamilton.

Biggest Game: October 20th vs. Williams

This might not stick out as the game to watch, but currently we have Williams, Midd, and Trinity all duking it out for the 4th-6th spots in the league standings this year. This game is following their matchup against Trinity that’ll be tough to handle, and if they can knock off the Ephs, they could go on a run the finish their season and finish in the top four.

Best Tweet:

https://twitter.com/CoachCivs/status/1027006817581318144

This tweet was a reply to Bryant University’s twitter that posted a video of a rock, paper, scissors competition that received national media attention. Well, the D3 version was better, and if the Jumbos can compete this well in a RPS competition, they should do pretty well on the gridiron.

Coach Civetti’s talent will be on display this year with few returning defensive starters.

Everything Else: (Andrew Martin’s insight from his Wesleyan centric point of view)

Medford, Massachusetts, has been the site of a budding NESCAC football program for the past few seasons. The Tufts Jumbos have transitioned themselves from the worst team in the league to one that is competitive. The 2016 season marked a historic turnaround for the program. The Jumbos finished second in the league with an impressive 7-1. The constant improvement from a 0-8 2013 campaign is a testament to head coach Jay Civetti and his coaching staff. The head coach since 2011, Civetti has coached NESCAC stars such as NESCAC player of the year Chance Brady and star quarterback Alex Snyder. The 2017 on paper, however, illustrated a fall from the remarkable growth the Jumbos showed over the previous seasons. A 5-4 2017 season didn’t live up to the high expectations after such a successful 2016 year. All four losses were within ten points.

McDonald was good enough to be the NESCAC’s best QB for a week last season, but to get his team a ring, he will likely have to do that every week.

The youthful Jumbos proved they can compete in close ball games, but couldn’t make the key plays to beat the league’s elite: Middlebury, Trinity, Wesleyan, and Amherst. The Wesleyan game in particular represented a turning point in the Jumbos’ season last year. Coming off a victory over Hamilton in their season opener, the 1-0 Jumbos traveled to Middletown to face the Wesleyan Cardinals under the lights at Andrus Field. The hype around a Wesleyan night game was palpable around campus in Middletown. The heart of Wesleyan’s campus was filled that night with proud students and alums ready to see the fast paced Cardinals face the second best team from a year ago. Tufts dominated the first half, building a seemingly insurmountable lead. As the Jumbos came storming onto the field for the second half, I heard the coaches emphasize to the team to treat the second half like a 0-0 ball game. Like that 28-3 lead the Falcons had over the Patriots in Super Bowl LI, a few Wesleyan touchdowns gave life to the Cardinals and the crowds. Mark Piccirillo and Mike Breuler slowly and steadily cut down the Jumbos’ lead. The Cardinals ending up winning the football game in one of the best comebacks I’ve witnessed in sports. Tufts could’ve easily been 2-0, then win the next two weeks against inferior Bates and Bowdoin. Week five represented their Super Bowl if they were 4-0 facing off against eventual league champion Trinity. Hindsight is 20/20, so this is all speculation. Like Bill Belichick said, ‘We’re onto Cincinnati.’ Coach Civetti probably echoes the same sentiment.

With an elite signal caller who sparks a solid ground game, plenty of returning offensive weapons, the Jumbos should be able to make all of their games close. With that said, on paper they aren’t as sharp as those top teams in the NESCAC since their defense returns so few starters. However, as everybody knows, the lines that Vegas makes for week 1 of the NFL season are always narrow, and we would make them narrow for the Jumbos against those top teams right now, too, as that defense could always show up to be elite. Let’s see what they can bring, Tufts should be a dynamic team to watch—they could go 3-6 or 6-3, although we have them at 4-5 right now.

The start of a new era: Colby College Season Preview

Colby College Football Preview

The Mules may have a tough road ahead of them, but their program will be on the rise in the coming seasons.

2017 Record: 1-8

Projected Record: 2-7

Starting Offensive Players: (*5  Returning Players):

QB: Jack O’Brien ‘20*

RB: Jake Schwern ‘19*

WR: Bernie Sander ‘21

WR: Andrew DeFranco ‘20*

TE: Ethan Smith ‘21

OT: Shane Normandeau ‘19*

OT: Trevon Bradford ‘20

G: Brandon Leibman ‘21

G: Brandon Troisi ‘19*

C: Rashawn Grant ‘21

Starting Defensive Players: (*5  Returning Players):

DB: Pat Yale ‘19*

DB: Asher Inman ‘20

S: Will Caffey ‘19*

S: Don Vivian ‘19*

LB: Marcus Bullard ‘21

LB: Sean Godin ‘20

LB: Will Turzi ‘22

DE: AJ Carrigan ‘19*

DT: Harrison Verdani ‘21

DT: Patrick Sopko ‘20*

DE: Hans Gabriel ‘20

Projected Special Teams Starters (0 Returning):

K: Walter Thilly ‘21

P: Moises Celaya ‘22

Offensive MVP:

Jack Schwern ’19

RB Jake Schwern ‘19

Jack Schwern was the heart and soul of a lackluster offense for the Mules last season. The running back will return for his senior year after leading the Mules in rushing, receptions, all-purpose yards, and touchdowns. He also returned nine kicks for 183 yards. Schwern does a little bit of everything for the Mules who needed help on almost everything last season. In Colby’s final game of the season last year, their sole win versus Bowdoin, Schwern rushed for 262 yards as well as tied school records for most touchdowns scored in a game and most points scored in a game. In order for the Mules to turn their luck around this year and have a shot at a CBB championship, they will need Schwern to perform well against mid and top tier team as well as bottom tier teams such as Bowdoin.

Defensive MVP:

Will Caffey ’19

S Will Caffey ‘19

Will Caffey will lead a fairly experienced defense for the mules, who return 5 starters. Caffey played in all 9 games for the Mules last season and lead the team in pass breakups with 9 and recorded 2 interceptions. The Mules (along with Bowdoin and Bates) allowed over 30 points per game last season while scoring less than 14. Colby allowed the 2nd most rushing yards per game as well as the 3rd most passing yards. The stats don’t lie, Colby’s defense was really, really bad last year and they’re going to need some new leadership to turn it around. Someone like Caffey who has the experience and the talent to right the ship may be just what they need.

Best Tweet: https://twitter.com/CoachJBrooks/status/1034069989786042373

This tweet comes to us from the Mules’ defensive line coach Jason Brooks. Gotta love that enthusiasm.

Everything Else:

 

Schwern will need to lead an underperforming offensive group, but, hey, everybody loves an underdog.

The biggest X-factor for the Mules this season is their new head coach, Jack Cosgrove. Cosgrove is the winningest coach in the history of the University of Maine, where he had coached for 23 years. This hiring shows that Colby is starting to get more and more serious about their athletics. In the past, especially in football, the Mules have not fared as well as the likes of Tufts or Amherst in NESCAC athletics. with many new coaches, fields and athletic centers coming to Waterville, the Mules are looking to up their game. The Mules have a healthy mix of returning starters and fresh faces on their roster. Jack O’Brien will return as quarterback, last season he put up 130 yards per game and threw for 8 touchdowns as well as 8 interceptions. When it comes to catching O’Brien’s passes, there’s plenty of competition. The Mules list 4 tight ends as well as 10 wide receivers on the roster. Andrew DeFranco should be the WR1 for the blue and gray this year. Last season DeFranco ended with the third most receptions on the team as well as being the go-to punt and kick returner. WR2 looks to be Bernie Sander, who saw limited action as a Freshman last year but the Mules are very excited about him. Jake Schwern will be trying to show the league that he is an elite running back after breaking several school records last season. Defensively the Mules are deep at linebacker, including Sebastien Phileman, Marcus Bullard, Sean Godin and freshman Will Turzi. The offensive line has now had another year to mature and with that hopefully they will be able to help O’Brien have a little more time in the pocket. Colby has an up-and-coming program which they have entrusted to Coach Cosgrove. Don’t be surprised if the former Black Bear is able to pull off a few upsets and possibly steal a CBB ‘ship.

I don’t play football, but I already want to run through a brick wall for this guy.

Is This the Year?: Hamilton Football Preview 2018

QB Kenny Gray ’20 looks to breakout after a solid 2017 campaign.

Is This the Year?: Hamilton Football Preview 2018

2017 Record: 3-6

Projected Record: 4-5

Projected Offensive Starters (*7 returning)

QB – Kenny Gray ’20*

RB – Mitch Bierman ’21

WR – Christian Donahoe ’20

WR – Joe Schmidt ’20*

TE – Trevor Pinkham ’19*

LT – Sam Palomaki ’20*

LG – Stephen Kelley ’19*

C – Micah Balogh ’19*

RG – AJ Rattee ’21

RT – AJ Cantarella ’20*

Projected Defensive Starters (*8 returning)

DB – Colby Jones ’19*

DB – Bryce Phillips ’20

DB – Justin Leigh ’20*

LB – Tyler Hudson ’19*

LB – Cole Burchill ’19*

LB – Tim Russell ’21

LB – Sean Tolton ’19*

DL – Alex Ganter ’20*

DL – Michael Friedman ’19*

DL – Jeff Martinez ’20

DL – Will Rothschild ’19*

Projected Specialists (*3 returning)

K – Joe Suski ’21

P – Billy Wagner ’20*

KR/PR – Joe Schmidt ‘20*/Sam Robinson ’20*

Offensive MVP: Wide Receiver Joe Schmidt ’20

(Courtesy of Hamilton Athletics)

The 2017 First Team All-NESCAC selection is back for more. This kid is an absolute stud receiver, finishing his second season 3rdin the NESCAC in receptions (55), 2ndin receiving yards (811), and tied for the league lead in touchdowns with 10. He also is capable of having a huge game, as he showed in Week 1 last year against Tufts, when he caught 8 passes for 214 yards and 4 touchdowns. 4 touchdowns! Now that Wesleyan’s Mike Breuler ’18 is out of the picture, Schmidt officially becomes the conference’s top receiver. With budding star Kenny Gray throwing to him, he’s in a fantastic position to duplicate (or even top) his outstanding 2017 performance. Schmidt is an absolute nightmare for opposing secondaries.

Defensive MVP: Linebacker Tyler Hudson ’19

(Courtesy of Hamilton Athletics)

Hamilton boasts one of the best linebacker groups in the NESCAC, and Hudson is right at the front of that group. He has earned First Team All-NESCAC accolades in each of the past two seasons, leading the league in solo tackles (2ndin total tackles) last year. The converted defensive end is one of the best true athletes you’ll find at this level and at times it feels like you can’t run a play without him getting involved. I’d like to see his sack numbers improve a bit, but there really isn’t much this guy can’t do. The Continental defensive unit is a force to be reckoned with and Tyler Hudson is the face of that unit.

Biggest Game: September 15thvs. Tufts 

While it might be just the first game of the season, it’s a big one. The last two meetings between these two teams have ended in overtime victories for the Jumbos. Hamilton has been just one possession away from victory each time but has come up empty as Tufts has proven that they can win these close games. With the amount of returning stars in Hamilton’s lineup, I think this could be the year that the Continentals make a leap into the upper echelon of the conference. It all starts Week 1 when the Jumbos roll into town and this Continental team comes to play with a chip on their shoulder.

Best Tweet:

https://twitter.com/HamCollFootball/status/1033556077172994053

As a non-football player I have to say that catching a punt doesn’t look particularly difficult. However, it clearly is, evidenced by how many muffed punts there are by people whose job it is to catch punts. I know how good it feels to get out of conditioning at the end of practice, so this definitely hits home a bit. This right here is what a team looks like, so let’s see if they bring this type of intensity every Saturday this year.

Everything Else:

Hamilton always seems to find themself in a weird place. They’ve been pretty consistently better than the CBB schools but worse than everyone else in recent years. There wasn’t a whole lot of turnover in their starting lineup on both sides of the ball, and they’ve got some true stars in their lineup who are ready to lead. Kenny Gray ’20 continues to get better and I think he has a chance to be in the same conversation as elite NESCAC quarterbacks such as Mark Picirillo from Wesleyan and Ryan MacDonald from Tufts. A difference maker in this lineup is going to be running back Mitch Bierman ’21 who split carries in the backfield during his rookie season. He proved to be a monstrous red zone threat, as he still finished 6thin the conference with 6 touchdowns. If he can adjust to a larger workload, this will provide a much-needed rushing attack to complement the powerful arm of Kenny Gray.

Mitch Bierman ’21 is going to be the x-factor for this offense.

Their defense has players who have proven that they belong among the NESCAC’s best, but they haven’t quite been able to put it together as an entire unit. Guys like Cole Burchill ’19, Colby Jones ’19, and Alex Ganter ’20 are going to have to step up more than they have in the past, as they now have several years of experience under their belts. There isn’t really a whole lot to say about the Continentals other than they need to be better against the leagues tougher opponents. Wins over Bates, Bowdoin, and Colby have become commonplace for them at this point, so their season will be defined by how they fare against teams like Middlebury and Tufts, against whom they have come up just short over the past few years. Kenny Gray and co. have a chance to make some noise, so we’ll see if they’re ready to finally change the way things have gone recently.