Category: Football

No Surprises Here: Week One Power Rankings

If you put money on “Amherst, Middlebury and Trinity all looking the best after Week One,” then your gambling problem should be considerably more exciting this week. You think Tony Soprano was putting money on sure things like that? Get sexier with your addiction.. Form held true for the NESCAC in Week One, with the usual suspects staying on top and any surprises coming from the bottom tier of the league. If you think that doesn’t make for a thrilling weekend of football, you’d be right. The games this weekend were what my grandpa used to call “beat-the-traffic” games, with the highly notable exception of Wesleyan-Tufts. However, they were still NESCAC football games, which make them beautiful. Here’s where the teams stand after Week One.

1: Amherst

Winning your 20th game in a row 34-0 is a pretty good recipe for topping the power rankings. If the Foy injury and graduation of several senior leaders was going to limit the Artists Formerly Known as the Lord Jeffs, it didn’t show on Saturday against Hamilton. Interim QB Alex Berluti ’17 played his Peyton Manning-esque “Just Don’t Screw Up” role perfectly, throwing for 182 yards and a touchdown with no turnovers. The rest of the offense was taken care of by Jack Hickey, who did the impossible and made Rory Ziomak look smart, despite Rory leaving him out of the POY race a couple weeks ago. The preseason POY candidate had three touchdowns on 67 yards, a number that would have been higher had the game been closer. The defense pitched a shutout, and the trend of the last few years held true: Amherst is the top dog.

2: Middlebury

“Screw you Pete, you’re biased because Middlebury football players babysat you until you were 10!” There, you guys got that out of your system? Good, because the Panthers had the most impressive performance of the week, just destroying Bowdoin at home 40-3. They also had the most impressive individual performance of the week, with quarterback Jared Lebowitz putting up a cool 369 yards and 6 touchdowns (5 passing, one rushing.) The progression from McKillop to Foote to Milano has proven that when the Panthers have a star quarterback, their offense is deadly, and it sure looks like they’ve got another one. It should be mentioned, however, that Middlebury’s kicking position looks to be up for grabs (three blocked kicks!) so if any readers are looking to get their Mark Wahlburg in Invincible on, there’s your shot.

https://i0.wp.com/images.moviepostershop.com/invincible-movie-poster-2006-1020370449.jpg?resize=354%2C524
Open tryouts for the Panthers kicking duties will be held outside the student center at 4:40

3: Trinity

As well as Lebowitz and the Panthers did through the air, Trinity may have done better on the ground. The Bantams put up 294 rushing yards, with the dynamic sophomore duo of Max Chipouras ’19 and Lucas Golon ’19 putting up 270 on their own. Quarterback (and tertiary character in Goodfellas) Sonny Puzzo ’18 was also excellent, picking up three touchdowns and 182 passing yards. Trinity’s domination of Bates solidifies the top three of NESCAC, with the same teams that have been duking it out for so long staying on track. Parity has never been NESCAC football’s strong suit, and as of now, 2016 is no different.

4: Tufts

Tufts and Wesleyan have the unenviable distinction of being the only two teams that are in contention for league honors to open the season by playing a contending team. However, they also had the noble distinction of being the best game of the weekend. The Jumbos looked dead in the water at halftime, trailing 14-3. But Chance Brady put the team on his back a la Greg Jennings in the second half, tallying 151 yards on 22 carries, including the game winning 31 yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Tufts lost the possession battle and the total yardage battle, but the ability to gut out a gritty win against a good team is a crucial skill in NESCAC play.

Image result for chance brady
Brady was able to overcome once having to wear these awful uniforms to carry his team to victory…with a BROKEN LEG THOUGH.

5: Wesleyan

The Cardinals suffered a very disappointing loss to open the season. I’m sure many Wesleyan fans, players, parents and significant others feel like they should have won that game. However, it was a good game in which the Cardinals played very well at times, and had some predictable early season lapses, which Tufts capitalized on. And Chance Brady is a force of nature, so all told there is still hope for the Cardinals this season, once other contenders play more competitive opponents.

6: Colby

The Mules pulled out an ugly road win in Williamstown on Saturday, beating the Ephs 9-7 on a game-winning field goal with :4 seconds left. This game arguably shows more about how far Williams has fallen than how much Colby has risen, but they showcased a tough defense, an excellent running back in Jabari Hurdle-Price, and excellent special teams (despite a missed PAT), something even the top teams in NESCAC often lack.

7: Hamilton

When a lamb gets eaten by a wolf, we don’t put the lamb lower in the lamb power rankings, we raise the wolf higher. That’s what happened to Hamilton this weekend; they stumbled into a den of wolves and couldn’t escape. However, of all the teams that got blown out this weekend, Hamilton has the most positive outlook going forward, due to their strong finish in 2015.

8: Bates

While Trinity obviously finished the game on a dominant run, the score at the end of the first quarter in Hartford was 7-3 Bobcats. Quarterback Sandy Plashkes ’19 flashed some serious wheels with a 57-yard run and a rushing touchdown. This is not to say that Bates played well in this game, but it is to say that they played better than Bowdoin, and sometimes it is those moral victories that count.

9: Williams

We knew it would be a rebuilding year for Williams in head coach Mark Raymond’s first season. However, we didn’t know quite how much rebuilding they’d have to do. Well, we know now. Williams’ offense struggled mightily against Colby (1-7 last season, for perspective), committing four turnovers that undid a fairly dangerous rushing attack led by the combo of Noah Sorrento and Connor Harris. The Ephs had some bright spots on Saturday, but they were few and far between.

10: Bowdoin

2-6 last season, Bowdoin lost several starters to graduation and several others to a plagiarism scandal. That is not exactly a winning combination, and Bowdoin started 2016 by getting demolished by the Panthers, who were something of an unknown themselves coming in. Bowdoin could still turn it around, however. We’ve seen it in Major League, The Longest Yard, and The Bad New Bears. They’ll need a lot more chemistry, and definitely a really cool lead like Charlie Sheen or Burt Reynolds, but stranger things have happened.

Image result for stranger things
If Joyce Byers can stay strong while her son is kidnapped in a shadow realm, Bowdoin can get a win or two this season.

Football’s Back, Baby: Stock Report 9/26

Amherst dominated this weekend, proving why their win streak has run to 20 games (Courtesy of Bates Athletics/Phyllis Graber Jensen)
Amherst dominated this weekend, proving why their win streak has run to 20 games (Courtesy of Bates Athletics/Phyllis Graber Jensen)

Week 1 of 2016 was exactly what we’ve all been waiting for since the NESCAC football season ended last November. We had a couple blowouts in favor of familiar faces (Amherst, Middlebury, Trinity), and a couple of games that went right down to the wire. The Colby-Williams game was crazy, but not in a pretty way. This was a low-scoring, offensive battle…AKA, it was a battle to see who could have a worse day offensively. Luckily, it ended on a high note, as Colby needed their final drive to take the lead with under a minute left (read below for more details on the ending). Over in Somerville, MA, on the other hand, fans witnessed a battle between two great teams. It involved some terrific defensive plays, a 4th quarter comeback, and a whole lot of excitement as the Jumbos stormed back to win in front of their fans at the first home night game in Tufts football history. Below is our first stock report of the year – check it out to see whose stock rose and whose plummeted over the first weekend of the season.

 

Stock Up

 

Running Back Jack Hickey ‘19 (Amherst): If it wasn’t already certain, Hickey solidified himself as the goal line back for Coach Mills’ offense this weekend, punching in 3 touchdowns in Amherst’s absolute (yet unsurprising) domination of Hamilton this weekend. The 6’1” 218 pound sophomore fits the bill perfectly for short yardage situations, and he will certainly continue to get touches as Amherst nears the goal line. Hickey ended up with 67 yards on 18 rushes, but if it wasn’t a blowout these numbers might have been MUCH higher.

 

Linebacker Greg Holt ‘20 (Tufts): Holt surged onto the scene in the Saturday nightcap with a game-high 14 tackles. The freshman showed us that he is not going to gradually get his feet wet in college ball, he is going to dive headfirst into the action. It seemed like Holt was everywhere on Saturday, and if he keeps up that level of play along with fellow Jumbo linebacker Steve DiCienzo ‘18 (another Tufts linebacker who had 11 tackles of his own), the Powder Blue and Brown defense will be a nightmare for their opponents.

 

Quarterback Jared Lebowitz ‘18 (Middlebury): In the biggest blowout of the weekend, Lebowitz threw 5 touchdown passes and added a rushing touchdown to go along with them, accounting for all 6 of Middlebury’s touchdowns against the Polar Bears. There were some questions about whether the Middlebury aerial attack could be maintained after the departure of Matt Milano ‘16, but Lebowitz has silenced the doubters. Bowdoin is obviously in the lower tier of the conference, but still a strong showing from Coach Ritter’s gunslinger, who tallied 369 yards on the day.

 

Kicker John Baron ’18 (Colby): The Mules needed Baron to come up clutch on Saturday as he lined up for the game-deciding field goal with just seconds left against Williams. After a failed 2-point conversation earlier in the game, Colby was down one during the final possession. If Baron makes the kick they win, if he misses they lose. Last year Baron missed an extra point  against Bates which ended up being the difference in the game (10-9), but this week’s NESCAC Special Teams player of the week has clearly wiped that from his memory. Two words: cash money.

 

Stock Down

 

Hamilton Offense: It goes without saying that the Amherst defense played a heck of a game on Saturday, but seriously, Hamilton, 168 yards of total offense? 6 rushing yards on 18 attempts?? You can’t combine these numbers with a -3 turnover differential and expect to win football games. Film, film, and more film is in store for the Continentals.

 

NESCAC Ball Boys: There were five fumbles in each of the Bates-Trinity, Colby-Williams, and Wesleyan-Trinity games on Saturday. FIVE. Interestingly enough, Trinity had more fumbles than Bates (Trinity-3, Bates-2), but it didn’t hurt them as the Bantams won handily, 38-7. However, both Wesleyan and Williams had more fumbles than their opponents, likely leading to each of their downfalls. Either the teams were a bit too accustomed to no-contact practices or the PSI was far too high in the game balls…you be the judge. All I know is that these coaching staffs are going to be extra hard on their ball carriers in practice this week.

 

Wesleyan’s Killer Instinct: The Jumbos looked pretty horrible for three quarters, but they hung around because Wesleyan just couldn’t put them away. After a touchdown with 6:50 to go in the 2nd quarter, Wesleyan seemed to hold a pretty commanding 14-3 lead. Things just looked and felt like a blowout waiting to happen. But the Tufts defense kept them in the game until the 4th quarter rolled around, and boom, a Cardinals missed field goal was followed up by a 33 yard run by Chance Brady ‘17, which set the stage for a 39 yard pass to Mike Rando ‘17 a couple plays later. From that point on, the Jumbos had the momentum, and it felt like Wesleyan was just trying to hold them off as opposed to continuing their attack.

Turnaround Time in Western Mass?: Williams Season Preview

Williams hopes to start the season off on a high note tomorrow against Colby (Courtesy of Williams Athletics)
Williams hopes to start the season off on a high note tomorrow against Colby (Courtesy of Williams Athletics).

Editors’ Note: Sid Warrenbrand, a junior at Tufts,  comes from Sudbury, MA and is new on the staff for NBN. Some of his hobbies include star gazing and reading non-fiction autobiographies. Sids enthusiasm for sports and writing will surely shine in his writing. Stay tuned.

Projected Record: 2–6

Projected Starters: 11(4 offense, 7 defense)

Offense (*5 Returners)

QB: John Gannon
RB: Noah Sorrento ’19*/Connor Harris ’18
FB: Tom Cifrino ’17*
WR: TBD
WR: TBD
WR: Adam Regensburg ’18*
TE: John Dillon
LT: TBD
LG:  TBD
C: Ben Wertz ’17*
RG: Eric Davis ’17*
RT: TBD

Defense (*Five Returners)

DE: Sam Gowen ’18
DT:  Chris Hattar ’18
DT: Ellis Eaton ’18
DE: TBD
MLB: TBD
OLB: Russell Monyette ’17
OLB: Michael Berry ’18
CB: Taysean Scott ’17*
CB: Mike Davis ’17*
SS: Alex Brandeis ’17
FS:  Kevin Walsh ’17

Special Teams (*Two Returners)

PK/P: Bobby Webster ’18*
KR/PR: Christian Dumont ’19*/Eric Smith ’19

Offensive MVP: Head Coach- Mark Raymond

I know this may be a ridiculous claim considering Coach Raymond is not a player-coach, but bear with me. In his final season at St. Lawrence, Mark Raymond coached an offense that averaged just under 30 points a game. Last season, Williams had an incredibly difficult time putting points on the board, scoring just under 13 points a game. With a new sheriff in town, expect Williams to execute a newly implemented offensive gameplay that will explode for 20-plus points from time to time.

Defensive MVP: DB Alex Brandeis ’17

Brandeis is coming off a successful junior campaign where he led the Ephs in tackles (54) while also forcing a fumble. In Williams’ final game of 2015 against the eventual NESCAC Champs, Amherst, Brandeis had 10 tackles to top off his great season. To have success on defense, Brandeis will need to put up even bigger numbers and work to force turnovers. Williams needs Brandeis to keep playing at this high level in order to grow as a football program.

Biggest Game: Williams vs. Colby 9/24 

Normally I would choose Amherst with their season finale and the Biggest Little Game in America between the Ephs and the L**d J***s, but with a new coach in town, week one will set the tone for the entire season. Fans all over Williamstown are anticipating that Coach Mark Raymond will continue where he left off at St. Lawrence and opening up against Colby is pretty much a layup for Raymond. But things are never easy in the first game with a new coach. If Williams pulls off a large margin victory, expect week 2 at home against Trinity to be a highly anticipated matchup in the NESCAC. If it’s close or if Williams loses, it may just be foreshadowing that Coach Raymond will need a bit more time to turn Williams back into the NESCAC powerhouse it once was.

Best Tweet:

What an electric quote and fire flames picture coming from Williams’ Twitter. While this tweet gets all fans excited for the Ephs upcoming season, it also shows that there is pressure on them to succeed with a new coach in town.

Summary:

The biggest question in Williamstown is who will be the new quarterback for the Ephs in 2016. Having a consistent, mistake-free quarterback will allow the Ephs to grow as a program especially since all of the candidates are young. They have solid experience on the offensive line with Ben Wertz ’17 and Eric Davis ’17. Both provide experience and mentorship to the young lineman that will fill in this season. In 2015, Williams had success with running backs Noah Sorrento ’19 and Connor Harris ’18 splitting time in the back field. Williams graduated their 4 leading receivers and will desperately need an underclassmen or two to fill their void. Adam Regensburg ’18 caught 12 passes in 2015 and will be looked as a crucial wide receiver for Williams.

Defensively for the Ephs there is more stability although there remain some question marks in the linebacker and secondary positions. Brandeis led the Ephs in tackles in 2015 and will be back in his senior campaign looking to solidify the defense. Amyhr Barber ’19 and Desmond Butler ’19 saw plenty of opportunities in 2015 as freshmen. They will also have a major role in the Ephs secondary. Linebacker Michael Berry ’18 returns after a great sophomore season and he is joined by senior Russell Monyette who also had a great season playing in all 8 games. Sam Gowen ’18 and Christopher Hattar ’18 played every game last season up front and look to lead a young defensive line who graduated two good seniors in 2015.  Junior Bobby Webster will continue his role as the kicker/punter in 2016. He attempted only 5 field goals in 2015 and was 9/12 on point after tries.

As you can tell by the disjointed nature of this preview, the Ephs have a tremendous amount of uncertainty heading into this season. But one man’s uncertainty is another man’s intrigue, and a fresh start might be just what Williams needs to climb back into contention.  Saturday’s opener against Colby will be a (purple and) golden opportunity to start the new era of Williams Football off right.

Weekend Preview: Opening Day 9/24

 

The Bowdoin Polar Bears and the rest of the NESCAC are pumped for opening day (CI Photography)
The Bowdoin Polar Bears and the rest of the NESCAC are pumped for opening day (CI Photography)

It’s finally here: opening day in the NESCAC. We’ve been waiting all fall for this, bored silly by the yawn-inducing NFL and Division 1 games. Below is what you should be looking forward to in Week 1. Three different writers contributed to these previews: Rory Ziomek took the Bates-Trinity and Colby-Williams games; Pete Lindholm took the Hamilton-Amherst and Middlebury-Bowdoin games; finally, Robert Treiber wrote the preview for the game of the week, Wesleyan-Tufts. Enjoy!

 

Bates vs. Trinity – Hartford, CT, 1:00PM

Well, the Alabamas and Ohio States of the world start their seasons with cupcake games, so why can’t Trinity do the same? Strictly based on matchups, this game shouldn’t even be close, especially if you consider that Trinity has the homefield advantage. Sonny Puzzo ‘18 returns to the Bantams boasting the highest passing yards total in 2015 out of returning players. Additionally, returning ROY Max Chipouras ‘19 is back from Trinity after leading the NESCAC in rushing touchdowns. These guys are weapons, but it’s not Coach Devanney’s offense that will make this a rout, it’s the combination of a subpar Bates offense and a stingy Trinity defense. Bates had the second lowest YPG total last year with 289.5 YPG. The Trinity defense, on the other hand, led the league by allowing only 253.3 YPG last season. Count the fact that Trinity has five returning defensive backs and eight total returning starters on D, and this game has the makings of a blowout. Bates runs the triple option, so their only chance is to get ahead early. If they can get out to an early lead, Bates can keep pounding the ball on the ground instead of being forced to pass. Frankly, I just don’t see this happening. This should be a good warm up game for Trinity.

Score Prediction: Bates – 7, Trinity – 24

 

Side note: Trinity is playing in honor of those struggling with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. If you are able, please consider making a donation!

 

Colby vs. Williams – Williamstown, MA, 1:00PM

On one hand, Colby has the advantage of consistency that Williams lacks given their coaching change this offseason. On the other hand, that consistency hasn’t been much of an advantage for the Mules in years past, going 10-22 since Coach Michaeles took over as head coach in 2012. Mark Raymond took over for the Ephs after a very successful stint at St. Lawrence where he helped turn the Saints into one of the top programs in the Northeast, receiving both regional and national rankings throughout last season. Williams really struggled to score last year, primarily due to their mediocre running game, but the Ephs thrived passing the ball, ranking third in passing YPG. Williams’ main problem, however, was finishing off drives. Luckily for Coach Raymond, Colby is the only team that scored less than Williams last year, probably because of their heavy reliance on Jabari Hurdle-Price ‘17. Hurdle-Price ranked second in rushing YPG last year, and had the most carries in the league, clearly showing Colby’s dedication to the running game. If Williams can shut down Hurdle-Price, or at least contain him and force Colby to throw the ball, I think the Ephs will pull this one out. However, if Hurdle-Price can find room to work, the Mules may sneak away with a huge W to start the year.

Score Prediction: Colby – 14, Williams 17

 

Amherst vs. Hamilton- Amherst, MA, 1:00 PM

You know why David versus Goliath is such a famous story?  Because ninety-nine times out of a hundred, Goliath uses David as a toothpick.  This won’t be that one upset.  Amherst comes into this one with a nineteen game winning streak and (as anyone there will you loudly, aggressively and several times within a five minute conversation) three straight league championships.  Hamilton, on the other hand, finished 2-6 last year and it was their best record in five years.  That’s not to say the Continentals didn’t make progress last season.  They had a solid defense led by dangerous defensive linemen Brent Lobien ‘17 and Nick Sobcyzk ‘17, who both lived in opponents’ backfields in 2015.  They had this success despite spending a lot of time on the field due to Hamilton’s massive struggles on offensive.  They averaged only 15 points per game, with quarterback play being the biggest culprit.  Hamilton quarterbacks combined for a completion percentage under 50%.

Amherst’s quarterback situation is somewhat in flux as well.  Reece Foy ‘18 was poised to be a POY candidate this season before injuring his knee in pre-season.  Alex Berluti ‘17 is ready to step in, but Foy’s injury certainly takes the wind out of the Purple and White’s sails.  This is the year that Amherst is vulnerable.  However, Hamilton won’t be the US Hockey Team to Amherst’s Soviet Union.  At least for this weekend, the Evil Empire marches on.

Score Prediction: Amherst – 31, Hamilton – 10

 

Middlebury vs. Bowdoin – Middlebury, VT, 1:00 PM

The Panthers will benefit this week from playing at home, where the fearless managing editor of NBN will be cheering them on.  They will also benefit from playing Bowdoin, who finished last season at 1-7 and lost several key pieces for unusual reasons, including running back Tyler Grant due to a chronic injury and several other players due to a plagiarism scandal.  Bowdoin’s major struggles last season were on the offensive end, particularly in establishing a running game.  The Polar Bears averaged a paltry 2.2 yards per carry, making it impossible for the passing game to get any momentum.  Freshman back Nate Richem will look to change that, but the constantly contending Panthers are a tough place to start.  

The Panthers will be looking to see if UNLV transfer QB Jared Lebowitz can continue in the long line of stellar Panther signal-callers.  But it’s the defense, led by standout seniors linebacker Addison Pierce and defensive back Nate Leedy, that should ice the Polar Bears on Saturday.  Bowdoin will need an MLA Citation Dictionary and a lot of luck to pull off the upset, and clearly they don’t have access to either.

Score Prediction: Middlebury – 24, Bowdoin – 13

 

GAME OF THE WEEK: Wesleyan vs. Tufts – Somerville, MA, 6:00 PM

Saturday, September 24th marks the first time the Tufts football team will host a night game. It will be a rematch of the first ever NESCAC night football game between the Jumbos and the Wesleyan Cardinals that happened just two years ago when the two met at Andrus Field (Wesleyan). In that matchup, the Cardinals showed no mercy defeating the Jumbos 52-9. As sophomores in that game, Chance Brady ‘17 averaged 11 yards per carry and Mike Rando ‘17 averaged 21+ yards on 8 returns. On defense, Mike Stearns ‘17 was second on the team with 8 tackles. The Jumbos ended the season 0-8 that year, but are certainly turning things around as a program and have had this date circled on the calendar since last season ended with a win against Middlebury.

Saturday’s game is reminiscent of the first Monday night football game between the New York Jets and the Cleveland Browns in 1970. Over 80,000 fans were in attendance to witness the Browns defeat Joe Namath and the Jets 31-21. Monday Night Football has become an integral part of the culture surrounding football. It has had a key role in developing the viewer experience.

It is also interesting to note that the Ivy League seems to be pushing for night games as well. Yale will be hosting its first ever night game against Penn on October 23rd. Maybe the NESCAC is following suit?

This Saturday’s game is expected to be an experience within itself. There will be a Pop Warner game on the field in the earlier afternoon. Students, parents and alumni from both sides are expected to come from all over to watch the game. The Jumbos are hoping to continue to build on last year’s impressive season, while Wesleyan hopes for the same results as the last time the two met under the lights.

The game should feature a heavy focus on each side’s ground attack. Wesleyan will pound the ball on the ground to Jaylen Berry ‘18, while Brady will get the majority of the touches for the Jumbos on offense. Wesleyan was right in the middle of the pack last year in terms of their rush defense, but if they can shut down Brady and force Tufts away from their comfort zone, they will have a great shot to win this game. What makes Tufts so difficult to stop, however, is the way they mix their rushing attack with their plethora of screen passes, primarily to Rando. I expect Coach DiCenzo to have planned for this, and I am anticipating that Wesleyan’s star safety Justin Sanchez ‘17 will be ready to step up to stop these plays before they even have a chance to get going. If Tufts is going to win, they are going to need to mix in a couple deep throws. Even if they fall incomplete, just negating Wesleyan’s ability to pack in six or seven guys in the box will pay huge dividends for the Coach Civetti’s squad. I think they can do this, allowing Tufts to escape with a 3-point win via the foot of All-NESCAC kicker Willie Holmquist ‘17.

Score Prediction: Wesleyan – 14, Tufts – 17

O’Neil’s Top 10: Top 10 Places to Play

Saturday is game day in the NESCAC so we decided to rank the league’s best places to play. The list takes into account each school’s stadium, fan attendance, and the overall ambiance of their game day experience.

 

#10: Bowdoin

Stadium: Whittier Field

Avg. 2015 Attendance: 1,928

(Courtesy of Bowdoin Athletics)
(Courtesy of Bowdoin Athletics)

Hate to do it to the Polar Bears but there aren’t too many perks for playing at Bowdoin. For starters, Whittier Field, with its natural grass playing surface, is just brutal. Any precipitation turns the field to a mud pit. In terms of attendance, Bowdoin is about the league average. That being said, Whittier Field crowds are pretty hushed and there always seems to be this bleak feel to games. Bowdoin’s best attribute is a path through the woods that leads onto the field. The walk through the forest is very cool and “Maine-like”, but it’s not enough to rescue Bowdoin from the cellar.

#9: Colby

Stadium: Seaverns Field at Harold Alfond Stadium

Avg. 2015 Attendance: 1,450

(Courtesy of Colby Athletics)
(Courtesy of Colby Athletics)

Colby renovated their complex in 2009, installing a turf field, lights, and an up-to-date press box. Harold Alfond Stadium is beautiful, but the stadium is not the issue. Game days in Waterville, Maine are pretty lifeless as Colby is last in attendance. If the Mules start winning games and generating buzz, there’s no reason they can’t move up on this list.

#8: Tufts

Stadium: Zimman Field at Ellis Oval

Avg. 2015 Attendance: 3,650

(Courtesy of Tufts Athletics)
(Courtesy of Tufts Athletics)

Game days at Tufts are a total enigma. On one hand, I’m gonna come out and say that the Jumbos home field is the worst complex in the league. Ellis Oval looks like a run of the mill high school field. The bleachers are rusted, the press box is outdated, and the natural grass surface would make a Pop Warner team blush with shame. But once you get past the inefficiencies, you realize that what Tufts lacks in facilities, they make up for in atmosphere. Since breaking a 31-game losing streak in 2014, the Jumbos have led the NESCAC in attendance. And when you have a crowd that blends a bunch of smart kids with local Massholes, things can get pretty loud. Tufts hosts Wesleyan this Saturday in the school’s first ever night game. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them break 7,000 in attendance.

#7: Wesleyan

Stadium: Corwin Stadium at Andrus Field

Avg. 2015 Attendance: 2,574

(Courtesy of D3Football)
(Courtesy of D3Football)

Andrus Field is a little hippie and free spirited, but then again, so is Wesleyan. Home to Wesleyan football since the early 1880s,  Andrus Field is the “oldest continuously used collegiate football field in the United States.” No, the playing surface isn’t great and temporary bleachers have to be installed each Fall, but the Cardinals rank 3rd in home attendance and their crowds are sneaky rowdy. The best thing about Andrus Field is that it’s literally right in the center of campus. So even if you hate football, there’s no escaping game day at Wes.

 

(Side note: Andrus Field is also home to the Cardinals baseball team, which makes Wesleyan the most economically savvy school in the NESCAC.)

#5: Bates

Stadium: Garcelon Field

Avg. 2015 Attendance: 1,739

(Courtesy of Bates Athletics)
(Courtesy of Bates Athletics)

Bates College feels more like an elite New England prep school than a college. The campus is absolutely beautiful in the fall and Garcelon Field fits right into that landscape. In 2010, the school installed field turf, lights, and a new press box giving the stadium a much needed facelift. When you couple Bates’ charming stadium and with fall perfect fall weather of Lewiston, you’ve got the NESCAC’s fifth best place to play.

#5: Hamilton

Stadium: Steuben Field

Avg. 2015 Attendance: 1,479

(Courtesy of Hamilton College)
(Courtesy of Hamilton College)

Just like Bates, Hamilton College (Clinton, NY), has a bit of a prep school flair to it. Also just like Bates, Hamilton has a cozy stadium that fits its campus perfectly. Steuben Field is outfitted with a field turf and a nifty little grandstand. Now, while the Continentals drew only 1,479  fans per game in 2015, consider this: there can’t be more than like 4,000* people in the entire town of Clinton if you include Hamilton students. That means nearly half the town’s population is showing up for game days. With that in mind, we can safely say that there is no fan base more devoted to their team than Hamilton’s.

 

*population sizes are up for discussion

#4: Middlebury

Stadium: Youngman Field at Alumni Stadium

Avg. 2015 Attendance: 2,413

(Courtesy of Middlebury Football).
(Courtesy of Middlebury Football).

If you’re the outdoorsy granola type, Middlebury is your prime game day destination. For starters, there is no greater landscape in the NESCAC than the one adjacent to Alumni Stadium. Middlebury’s home turf is nestled in the Vermont countryside and gives everyone in attendance a gorgeous view of the Green Mountains. The complex is bowl shaped, giving fans the choice to watch the game either from the grandstand, or the surrounding hills. The Panthers draw a solid crowd, but as nice as Mid’s stadium is, school officials are still leaving so much on the table. Ben & Jerry’s is in your backyard guys, let’s wake up and strike a deal here.

#3: Amherst

Stadium: Pratt Field

Avg. 2015 Attendance: 1,467

(Courtesy of Bowie Gridley Architects)
(Courtesy of Bowie Gridley Architects)

Game days at Amherst College look like a J.Crew convention with a little football sprinkled in. In all seriousness, credit Amherst with igniting the facilities arms race that is upon us. In 2013, a revamped Pratt Field was unveiled to the public and immediately set the standard for modern day NESCAC football stadiums. Everything from the raised stadium seating to the field house perched on top of the hill is perfect. While Amherst fans had the second worst showing last season, it’s important to note that attendance was under 1,000 for the first two games (Bowdoin and Middlebury) and over 2,000 the last two (Wesleyan and Trinity). Their message is clear: we’ll show up for the games that matter.

#2: Williams

Stadium: Weston Field

Avg. 2015: Attendance: 1,665

(Courtesy of Williams Athletics)
(Courtesy of Williams Athletics)

“If we’re not gonna beat Amherst anytime soon, we might as well build a better stadium than theirs.” Folks, that is the exact* mantra behind the creation of Weston Field. This place is to the NESCAC what the Rose Bowl is to the PAC-12. There’s not much else to say other than Weston Field is stunning. I know the team is not great. I know their attendance is down. It doesn’t matter. This place is just too nice.

 

*read: highly debatable

#1: Trinity

Stadium: Jesse/ Miller Field (AKA “The Coop”)

Avg. 2015: Attendance: 2,941

(Courtesy of D3Football)
(Courtesy of D3Football)

Throughout this list, some schools have relied heavily on their atmosphere, while others have been lauded for their superior facilities. We haven’t really seen a school with a great stadium and an electric fan base…until now. For starters, “The Coop” just underwent renovations and recently installed new field turf and a  jumbotron.

A jumbotron…in the NESCAC…let’s let that one sink in a little.

In terms of atmosphere, the bleachers are extremely close to the playing field. This is actually great for the thousands of riled up Trinity student screaming insults from the stands. The Bantams have the most ruthless fan base in the league and when you pair that electric atmosphere with some pretty outstanding stadium upgrades, it’s no wonder that Jesse/Miller Field is the #1 place to play in the NESCAC.

 

Don’t Sleep, Young Bloods: The Polar Bears Might Surprise

Will the Polar Bears find themselves this season? Or will they remain “Lost.”
Bowdoin College Polar Bears

 

Projected Record: 1-7

Projected Offensive Starters: *Seven Returning

QB: Timmy Drakely (‘17)*

RB: Nate Richam (‘20)*

WR: Nick Vailas (‘18)*

WR: Garrett Thomas (’18)

WR: Liam Blair-Ford (’17)

TE: Bryan Porter (‘18)*

OL: Kyle Losardo (‘17)*

OL: Brian Mullin (‘17)*

C: AJ Mansolillo (‘19)*

OL: Ben Jurkic (‘17)

OL: TBA

Projected Defensive Starters:  *Seven returning

OLB: Andre Joyce (‘20)

MLB: Latif Armiyaw (*18)*

OLB: Andre Jett (‘20)

DL: Steve Anderson (‘17)*

DL: Danny Wanger (‘17)*

DL: Nadeem Elhage (‘16)*

DL: Jay Mobley (‘20)

DB: Reeder Wells (‘17)*

DB: Jibrail Coy (‘16)*

DB: Cameron Rondeau (‘19)*

DB: Henry Little (‘18)

Projected Specialists: *One returning

K: Andrew Sisti (‘18)*

P: Chen (‘20)

Offensive MVP: Nate Richam ‘20

Yeah, he’s a freshman, but might as well go bold. Bowdoin was last in the league in rushing, rushing attempts, rushing touchdowns, and yards per carry, averaging 2.2 yards per carry, totaling under 500 yards, and racking up just 3 TDs in 2015.  That was partly due to Tyler Grant getting hurt (Grant has hung up the spikes, and won’t be playing this year). In 2014, Tyler Grant ran for 893 yards, and 8 TDs, as a sophomore. He got more touches than anyone in the NESCAC that year. Needless to say, his injury caused some problems.

Richam, a West Hartford, Connecticut native, has drawn rave reviews this preseason. Yes, he’s a freshman, but the Polar Bears desperately need to establish a running game this year. Richam’s quick, he’s strong, and he has that ability to make people miss that you can’t coach. Bowdoin threw the ball 177 times last year, third most in the league, but historically, Bowdoin likes to run the ball, so look for last season’s historic lows in rushing production to at least return to normal levels this year.

Defensive MVP: Reeder Wells ‘17

This is the least exciting defensive MVP pick possible. Reeder Wells hasn’t put up huge numbers in his career, but he’s as steady as they come. He’s never missed a game. He’s the captain on defense, he’s a Texan, and he makes tackles. He’s had at least 36 tackles every year. He only has 1 career interception, and he’s never had a sack, but his value and consistency will make him the most valuable defensive player for the Polar Bears this season.

Welcome Back: Liam Blair-Ford ‘17

By the numbers, Blair-Ford hasn’t done much as a Polar Bear yet. His career receiving numbers aren’t very big, and he’s only played 10 career games, missing extended time due to injury. Despite all that, the word on the street is that he’s in great shape, and he’s gonna play a big role this year.

Biggest Game: September 24th, at Middlebury

Yeah, it might be strange to pick the opener. Think about it this way. Bowdoin hasn’t finished a season above .500 since over a decade ago (2005). The Bears need to win one of the first two games, and while Amherst at home would be a huge, huge win, objectively they have a better chance taking down the Panthers, considering Amherst’s won 19 in a row, and three straight NESCAC championships. If they win one of the first two, they’ll be in a good spot.

Best Tweet:

It’s gotta be this video of a barely comprehensible Latif Armiyaw looking really, really hot. You’re looking at the owner of the Bowdoin Track & Field 60m dash record there folks. As quick a linebacker as you’re gonna find in the NESCAC.

http://https://twitter.com/jacklucy73/status/763146721664888832

Summary:

It’s hard to have an offseason more brutal than Bowdoin’s. They lost the usual seniors (but actually retain a handful 2016s, playing an extra year due to injury, like Nadim Elhage, and Jibrail Coy). After that though, things get bleak. They lost Philippe Archambault ‘19, arguably their best defensive player, a French-Canadian beast, who has returned to Canada. They’ve lost a handful to retirement, be it due to injury, or simply quitting, including former impact running back Tyler Grant ‘17. Perhaps worst of all, the team lost a handful of valuable players in a plagiarism scandal: 5 or 6 guys, most of whom figured to receive significant playing time, will miss the season.

So yeah, a rough offseason, but the freshman class shows great promise,and they return a lot of veterans with starting experience, which shouldn’t be overlooked. There’s a lot of buzz about the energy level and hunger that this team has. A duo of sophomore baseball guys, Brandon Lopez ‘19, and Ejazz Jiu ‘19 have joined the team this year, and Jiu ‘19 looks like he’s going to have an impact at wide receiver. He’s a big target. Richman ‘20 has looked great at running back, and Chandler Gee ‘20 is a really fast slot receiver who has impressed so far. On defense, a trio of freshman linebackers, Joe Gowetzski (ILB), Christian Pridgen (OLB), Sydney Guerrier (OLB), look like they could do some damage.

The group of returners is solid. In particular, the success of  WR Nick Vailas ‘18 and TE Bryan Porter ‘18 will play a big role in the team’s chances. Vailas had almost 600 receiving yards and added 6 TDs, while Porter had over 400 receiving yards with 5 TDs. Porter made 2nd team all-NESCAC last year as a sophomore, he was one of only two Bowdoin representatives, and he’s also an excellent blocker.

Two of Bowdoin’s top offensive linemen, Kyle Losardo ‘17 and Brian Mullin ‘17, return as well. When you ask Bowdoin guys about top offensive players, they often point to those two as being weapons on the line.

The keys for this team are going to be health, running the ball, and stopping the run. Healthwise, they’re already extremely thin, and if they start to lose talented veterans, they’re going to be in a tough spot. Richam and sophomore RB Andrew Tichy will need to have big seasons in order for the Polar Bears offense to work, and the defense is going to have to at least be average, as opposed to league-worst, against the run. Bowdoin won’t have much room for error, but if they can limit injuries and mistakes, they should have the pieces to put together a decent season, with a little luck.

Purple (And White) Reign: Will Amherst’s Dominance Continue?

Will the reigning champs feel the losses of some of their stars? Or will they be posing for another picture like this come November? (Courtesy of Clarus Studios, Inc; Amherst Athletics).
Will the reigning champs feel the losses of some of their stars? Or will they be posing yyr another picture like this come November? (Courtesy of Clarus Studios, Inc; Amherst Athletics).

Projected Record: 3- 5 (kidding Amherst parents, please don’t burn down my house) 6-2

Projected Offensive Starters: (*Five Returning)

 QB: Alex Berluti ’17

RB: Jack Hickey ’19

WR: Devin Boehm ’17*

WR: Nick Widen ’17*

WR: Bo Berluti ‘20

TE: Rob Thoma ’17*

OL: Elijah Zabludoff ’18*

OL: Mitch Arthur ’18*

OL: Austin Park ’17

OL: Kevin Sheehan ’18

OL: Jack Carroll ‘19

 Projected Defensive Starters: (*Six Returning)

 DL: Paul Johnson ’17*

DL: Niyi Odewade ’17*

DL: Isaiah Holloway ’17*

OLB: Andrew Yamin ’19

ILB: John Callahan ’18

ILB: Evan Boynton ’17*

OLB: Parker Chapman ’17*

CB: Nate Tyrell ’19*

FS: Jon Rak ’19

SS: Derek Ward ’17

CB: Stephan Soucy ’17

 Projected Specialists: (*Two Returning)

 K/P: Charlie Wall ’18*, Andrew Ferrero ’19

KR/PR: Devin Boehm ’17*/Myles Gaines ’17

 Offensive MVP: Jack Hickey ’19

Amherst certainly has a claim to the worst break of preseason, with starting quarterback and Player of the Year candidate Reece Foy ’18 suffering a torn ACL. Amherst is certainly loaded enough to remain in contention for the NESCAC crown, but those chances rest heavily on the shoulders of sophomore running back Jack Hickey. The Melrose, Massachusetts native shone as the change-of-pace option to senior Kenny Adrinka, averaging 6.8 yards per carry. With Adrinka gone and Foy sidelined, the Purple and White will likely have to rely on Hickey, with assistance from Nick Kelly (’17), for far more carries, positioning him for a breakout season.

Defensive MVP: Evan Boynton ’17

Like Hickey on offense, Boynton has been elevated to the top of Amherst’s defense by nature of graduated seniors. Amherst boasted a stellar corps of linebackers in 2015, with Tom Kleyn ’16 making First Team, and Boynton himself making Second Team. However, Kleyn and Jack Drew ’16, are off to wherever Amherst Football graduates go (Goldman Sachs, I assume), leaving Boynton as the senior leader of the unit. Additionally, Defensive Player of the Year Jimmy Fairfield-Sonn ’16 graduated from the defensive backs, leaving a gaping hole for Boynton to fill, both for Amherst and possibly for DPOY accolades.

 Biggest Surprise of Camp: LB Andrew Yamin ’19

Defense has long been one of the calling cards of Amherst’s success. Offense as well, and special teams, but defense is certainly one of their three best units. Unfortunately, many of their toughest losses personnel-wise came on the defensive end, making new talent crucial to maintaining their dominance. Enter Andrew Yamin. The sophomore linebacker from Cheshire, Connecticut didn’t play much his freshman year, only garnering six tackles. But in a testament to how crucial an offseason can be in college football, Amherst lost two linebackers in Tom Kleyn and Jack Drew, allowing Yamin to work his way into a starting role. It’s these kind of stories that keep Amherst dominant year after year, they don’t rebuild after stars graduate, they reload.

 Biggest Game: November 5 @ Trinity

 Entering 2016 with a 19 game winning streak, the Artists Formerly known as the Lord Jeffs have to be considered the preseason favorite. However, the injury to Foy and the graduation of stand-outs like Fairfield-Sonn, Kleyn and Adrinka has Amherst looking considerably more fallible than they have in the last few years. And if you had to pick a co-favorite, the Bantams (and their FRESH new helmets) would have to occupy that spot. These two teams have dominated the league for much of the 2000’s, and this game offers Trinity the chance to fire a laser into the Death Star, so to speak.

Best Tweet:

 I know this guy power cleans a lot of weight, but he’s actually best known on campus for his poetry.

 

 Summary:

 I want to preface this, and every other article I write for the rest of the year, by saying that none of this matters. Brangelina is over and love is dead, and pretending that anything else is the case is ultimately a futile endeavor.

All right, back to football. Amherst has been the class of the league for much of the century thus far, but they’ve been particularly unbeatable in the last two seasons. In 2015, they led the league in scoring at 27.6 points per game AND in scoring defense at 9.9 points per game. They have won 19 games in a row, and back-to-back outright league titles.

But the Purple and White have more than a few obstacles to overcome if they want to continue their reign of terror. Even if Foy hadn’t gotten hurt, they lose six First or Second Team All-NESCAC performers. In addition to Adrinka, Fairfield-Sonn and Kleyn, they lose receiver Jackson “Professor” McGonagle ’16 (my nickname, not his), offensive lineman Sam Hart ’16 and defensive back Jaymie Spears ’16. These losses, in conjunction with Foy’s injury, make for a distinctly less intimidating Amherst lineup than last season.

Of course, the other side of that coin is that Amherst also returns six First or Second Teamers. Boynton returns to lead the defense as a DPOY candidate, as do senior defensive linemen Niyi Odewade ’17 and Paul Johnson ’17. On the offensive end, receiver Devin Boehm ’17 averaged over 100 all-purpose yards per game last season and seems poised for an incredible all-around season. Furthermore, running back Jack Hickey was stellar in small doses last season and might well be the best back in the league come November.

Amherst has a long way to go to continue their winning streak, but anyone counting them out hasn’t been watching NESCAC football over the last two years. At this point, the rest of the league feels about Amherst the way that Wes Mantooth feels about Ron Burgundy: they cold, dead hate them, but gosh darn it do they respect them.

 

Doubters Beware: Middlebury Football 2016 Season Preview

The Middlebury faithful are eager to pack the stadium on Saturday as the Panthers host Bowdoin (Courtesy of Middlebury Football).
The Middlebury faithful are eager to pack the stadium on Saturday as the Panthers host Bowdoin (Courtesy of Middlebury Football).

Welcome NESCAC fans to the season preview for Middlebury football. After a well-earned 10-7 win in a scrimmage over Dartmouth College, the Panthers are heading full tilt into Homecoming Weekend for their first NESCAC game against the Bowdoin Polar Bears on September 24th.

Lets get to it.

Projected Record: 5-3

Projected Offensive Starters: ( *Nine returning)

QB:  Jared Lebowitz ‘18*

RB: Diego Meritus ’19*

WR: Ryan Rizzo ‘17*

WR: James Burk ‘17

WR: Tanner Contois ‘18*

TE: Dan Fulham ‘18

LT: Win Homer ’17*

LG: Will Fleming ’17*

C: Chris McGuire ’17*

RG: Alec Auwaeter ’17*

RT: Andy Klarman ‘17*

Projected Defensive Starters: ( *Seven returning)

CB: Matt Daniel ‘19

SS: Kevin Hopsicker ‘18*

FS: Justin Fahey ‘19

CB: Nate Leedy ‘17*

LB: Addison Pierce ‘17*

LB: Aaron Slodowitz ‘18*

LB: Wes Becton IV ‘18*

DL: Henry Castillo ‘17*

DL: Rob Wood ‘18*

DL: Henry Muter ‘18

DL: Roman Trevino ‘19

Projected Specialists:  (*Two returning)

PK: Max Rye ’20

P: Charlie Gordon ’19*

KR/PR: Tanner Contois ‘18*/Jimmy Martinez ‘19

Offensive MVP: Quarterback Jared Lebowitz ’18.

The Las Vegas native transferred from UNLV (a Division 1 program), but with stud Matt Milano ‘16 leading the pack, Lebowitz mostly watched from the sidelines. Now, the D1 transfer has a chance to lead this high-powered Middlebury Offense to a NESCAC title. If the Milano and Matt Minno ’16 combo sheds any light on the situation, we can expect Lebowitz to air it out pretty consistently. Can he get the job done?

Offensive Pressure is on: Running Back Diego Meritus ’19.

As a freshman, Meritus had a great campaign, averaging 57 yards and 2 TD’s per game. With Milano and Minno gone, Meritus has to pick up the offensive reigns until Lebowitz proves his pass ability. Fellow players mentioned that Meritus had an outstanding preseason- hopefully that same energy is displayed against the Polar Bears for the season opener.

Defensive MVP: Cornerback Nate Leedy ’17.

Apparently, Leedy has been an absolute force in camp so far,  and he is hitting harder and faster than ever before. After averaging a total of 3.4 tackles per game in his junior year, he is clearly hungry for more in 2016. He is a seasoned veteran in the secondary and will make sure to punish those who come into his airspace. It will be exciting to see if opponents are willing to test his defensive abilities. Watch out for that hit stick.

Biggest game: October 8th vs Amherst @ 1:30pm

Last year the Lord Jeffs handed the Panthers a 24-7 loss, but Middlebury will enjoy home field advantage and have a huge appetite for revenge this season. Lebowitz and Meritus are expected to wreak havoc in the air and on the ground, while the defensive units look to level anyone holding that pig skin. Can’t wait for this NESCAC classic.

Summary:

Who cares the Minno and Milano graduated? Yes, everybody in the NESCAC knows that they were absolute beasts, but a new era is emerging for Middlebury Football. A talented freshman class is pushing the upperclassmen to compete every single day and everyone is pumped.

“Everyone is really excited to be back out here on the field,” said Wes Becton ’18. “There is definitely a sense that we playing with a chip on our shoulder after falling short of last years expectations. Everyone’s mind is in the right place and we are all focused on achieving potential and hopefully bringing home a NESCAC championship.”

Middlebury’s core strength lies within their offensive line, as they only lost Michael Brady from last year. Win Homer ‘17, Will Fleming ‘17, Chris McGuire ‘17, Alec Auwaeter ‘17 and Andy Klarman ‘17 are total animals looking forward to execute their only job: protect the QB. This unit of experienced seniors is hungry to leave it all on the field in their final season.

Behind this line of massive humans, Meritus will take charge of the running game while Drew Jacobs ‘18, who is back from last year’s knee injury, will compete with Matt Cardew ’18 for time behind the sophomore back. And…obviously, all eyes will be on Lebowitz. The Division 1 transfer will finally have a chance to show why the NESCAC should fear his play. Look for Conrado Banky ‘19 to break out as a reliable target for Lebowitz this season alongside the rest of the veteran receiving corps.

Not only is Middlebury’s offense seemingly stronger than last year as Lebowitz looks to fill Milano’s shoes, but the defense is also making more noise than prior years. Henry Castillo ‘17, Rob Wood ‘18, Henry Muter ‘18 and Roman Trevino ‘19 will man the defensive line this year, but if anybody happens to make it through, Addison Pierce ‘17, Aaron Slodowitz ‘18 and Wes Becton ‘18 will be there to flatten them.  Nate Leedy ‘17 and Matt Daniel ‘19 will protect the secondary level alongside Kevin Hopsicker ‘18 and Justin Fahey ‘19.

Naturally, after a 5-3 season, the Panthers might be overlooked. But Lebowitz is ready to take over an offense that is pass heavy. Meritus is ready to build off an outstanding freshman season. Captain Nate Leedy is ready to lead this team, and hopes to prove doubters wrong in 2016.

NESCAC football is back, and we will be anxiously waiting to see if the Panthers play to their potential.

Breakout Players of 2016

Plenty of last year’s stars are back and ready to repeat their performances last season, but there will without a doubt be a number of a breakout players in 2016, just like there are every year. For some guys, it takes a little extra time to adjust to the college game. For others, it is a matter of waiting for an older player to graduate. Whatever the reason, it is always a certainty that a handful of players will splash onto the scene each year, just one of the many facets of college athletics that makes them so fun to watch. Below is a list of some guys to look out for as breakout players in 2016, compiled through talking to coaches, word of mouth and far too much time looking at the NESCAC.com website.

 

Running Back Jack Hickey ‘19, Amherst

Confidence: High

Hickey was part of a three-back r

ushing committee in 2015, and he still managed to run 319 yards. However, that’s not the most impressive part: Hickey averaged a savage 6.8 yards per carry as a freshman last year. That’s absolute craziness. The 6’1”, 218 lb. tailback is a force,and with leading rusher Kenny Adinkra ‘16 gone this year, Hickey should blow up. Expect Coach Mills to pound the ball on the ground with Hickey early one while quarterback Alex Berluti ‘17 gets his feet wet.

Outside Linebacker Dago Picon-Roura ‘19, Trinity

Confidence: Medium-High

Pulling down interceptions from the linebacker position is not the most common thing in the world, but in just 7 games last year Dago Picon-Roura grabbed two of them. Now a sophomore, Picon-Roura is a big, physical, hard-hitting player. Expect a big boost in tackle numbers now that he has gotten his feet wet in the collegiate style of play. Trinity lost a key piece in linebacker Frank Leyva ‘16, opening the door for Picon-Roura to become an integral part of what is shaping up to be one of the toughest defenses in the NESCAC.

Quarterback Jared Lebowitz ’18, Middlebury

Confidence: Medium

Last year Lebowitz sat behind 2014 Co-Offensive Player of the Year and 2015 First Teamer Matt Milano after transferring from D-1 UNLV. Lebowitz was named the No. 40 pro style QB in the 2012 high school class, and redshirted in his first year for the Rebels before playing in a limited capacity in 2014. Middlebury is likely to stick to their style of play and rely

Lebowitz will be looking to continue the tradition of stellar Panther quarterbacks.
Lebowitz will be looking to continue the tradition of stellar Panther quarterbacks.

heavily on the pass, although Lebowitz is an athletic signal caller who even lined up at receiver last year for the Panthers. He is a good runner—representing Middlebury’s first dual threat QB since Donnie McKillop ’11.

Quarterback Alex Berluti ‘17, Amherst

Confidence: Medium

With last year’s starter Reece Foy ‘18 succumbing to a season-ending knee injury in August, Berluti steps in with the pressure of extending a 19-game win streak. While his predecessor certainly set the bar high for Berluti, the senior has the advantage of an extra few inches over Foy, which will certainly help him read the defense. Amherst plays best when they can mix between run and pass plays pretty evenly, so Coach Mills will certainly be relying on Berluti to help this offense maintain the fluidity that has won it three straight NESCAC titles.

Wide Receiver Ben Berey ‘17, Tufts:

Confidence: Medium-Low

My confidence isn’t medium low in Berey because of anything he does, but rather because of Tufts’ system. Relying heavily on the combination of Chance Brady ‘17’s rushing attack and screen passes to wideout Mike Rando ‘17, Berey hasn’t been the primary option throughout his college career. However, with the loss of Jack Cooleen ‘16, it may just be time for Berey to step into a huge role for the Jumbos. On a team where the leading receiver (Cooleen) had three touchdowns, Berey had two, and I think that quarterback Alex Snyder ‘17 and Berey will hit their stride this season as opposing defenses focus most of their efforts on shutting down the Tufts ground game.

Running Back Peter Boyer ‘19, Bates

Confidence: Low

In a very run-heavy offense, Peter Boyer looks like he is going to get the nod as the starting tailback on opening day. While Boyer has limited in-game experience during his collegiate career, he did average 4.3 yards per carry last season. However, the lack of confidence stems from Boyer’s small sample size: he had just 10 rushing attempts in 2015. The nature of an offense that utilizes the option is that lots of different guys get touches, but if Boyer can keep up the efficiency he showed a spark of last season, he could emerge as Bates’ number one option.

 

The Experienced Bobcats Are Back: Bates Football 2016 Season Preview

Bobcat Nation is ready to get going up in Lewiston! (Courtesy of Josh Kuckens and Bates Athletics).
The squad is ready to get going up in Lewiston! (Courtesy of Josh Kuckens and Bates Athletics).

Projected Record: 2-6

Projected Offensive Starters (*Six Returning)

QB: Sandy Plashkes ‘19

RB: Peter Boyer ‘19

SE: Marcus Ross ‘19*

SE: Noah Stebbins ‘18

Slot: Mickoy Nichol ‘18*

Slot: Frank Williams: ‘18*

LT: Sean Lovett ‘18*

LG: Dylan Rasch ‘18

C: Jimmy Fagan ‘17*

RG: Martin Guinee ‘19

RT: Mitch Hildreth ‘17*

Projected Defensive Starters (*Ten Returning)

DE: Jack Maritz ‘18

DT: Collin Richardson ‘18*

DE: Sean Antonuccio ‘17*

OLB: Joe Frake ‘19*

ILB: Sam Francis ‘17*

ILB: Mark Upton ‘17*

ILB: Max Breschi ‘18*

OLB: Andrew Jenkelunas ‘18*

CB: Brandon Williams ‘17*

FS: Trevor Lyons ‘17*

CB: Arthur Churchwell ‘19*

Projected Specialists (*Three Returning)

PK: Grant Dewald ‘18*

P: Justin Foley ‘19*

KR/PR: Frank Williams ‘18*/Ben Coulibaly ‘17

Offensive MVP: Tailback Peter Boyer ’19

Boyer took last year to get his feet wet, and now he is primed and ready to lead the Bobcat rushing attack. Averaging 4.3 yards per carry last year, Boyer showed his potential, so expect this to be a big year for him. With quarterback Patrick Dugan ‘16 gone, expect to see Boyer take on more of the workload until Sandy Plashkes ‘19 settles in under center.

Defensive MVP: Linebacker Mark Upton ’17

A team captain this year, Upton started all eight games last year at middle linebacker. He was the engineer of this defense and finished second in the NESCAC in total tackles (71) and tackles per game (9). He has led the conference in forced fumbles (3) for two years straight and also led the Bobcats in sacks (4) and tackles for loss (8) last year, illustrating his natural instincts for pursuing the pigskin. He was also named to New England Football Writers DIII  All-New England team and won the Stephen B. Ritter Academic Award (top-10 cumulative grade point average). Very active on the ball, expect Upton to raise his level of play again this year as he steps onto the gridiron for one more season.

Biggest Game: October 29th vs. Colby

The first game in Bates’ CBB title defense kicks off when Colby comes to Lewiston. I think this is going to be their biggest game because of the gritty battle these two had last year that ended in a margin of victory of just a single point. Expect Coach Harriman to come out trying to implement the same kind of defensive strategy he did against them last year, but know that Colby will come out swinging as they look for revenge. Expect a run-first defensive game that will come down to the final possession. I believe Sandy Plashkes will be the X-factor in the game, as Bates will depend on his efficiency in order to spread the field and open up the rushing attack for the Bobcats.

Best Tweet: It’s hard to go wrong quoting Belichick.

Summary:

Even though Bates did not finish last season with a great record, the Bobcats feel that there is a lot of promise for this season. A lot of key guys who were once the young guns are now the seasoned veterans, which bodes well for Bates. Depth is not an issue, which means Coach Harriman can get experimental with players at different positions if need be.

One of the things the team wants to emphasize this season coming off of last season is turning margin of error into margin of victory. Last year, four of the Bates’ eight games were decided by 12 points or less. Throughout preseason, the leaders on the team have been harping on perfecting the “little things,” such as understand the situation in a game or where to be positioned on the field. In an eight-game season, the little things often decide how well you do in the NESCAC. For the Bobcats to see success they have to do a better job in the red zone, both offensively and defensively, something that hurt them in critical moments of games last year.

One of the biggest questions is the quarterback spot. Patrick Dugan ‘16 is a big loss, so it will be interesting to see how the season unfolds with sophomore Plashkes taking over. He should be pretty comfortable behind center with a veteran line that has captain James Fagan ‘17, three-year starter Mitch Hildreth ‘17, and Sean Lovett ‘18 anchoring the front. In regards to the skill positions on offense, Bates is deep and boasts good slot receivers in Noah Stebbins ‘18 and Marcus Ross ‘19, who came onto the scene late last season as a freshman.

As for the defensive unit, almost every starter is returning from 2015, so the Bobcats should show improvement through experience in this respect. The hard-hitting Upton will lead the unit with classmate Brandon Williams ’17 who led the team with six total takeaways. Sam Francis ’17, who ranked third on the team with 49 total tackles, is another leader on this team who will make a big impact on this side of the ball.

The Bobcats will rely on the front seven to take pressure off of the defensive backs, who allowed almost 250 passing yards per game last season. The secondary will be thrown right into the fire when they face Trinity on opening day, so we will see where Coach Harriman’s team stands on Saturday.