"The team is very happy with how we have played to this point," said Quad-captain Pat McGee '02. "However, we also realize that our schedule will only become more difficult as the season progresses."
Led by fifth-year Head Coach E.J. Mills, Amherst has built on the success of last year's championship season by relying on a strong ground game and a smothering defense. They have yet to surrender a touchdown and have only given up a total of six points over the course of the season.
Perhaps the biggest question mark for Amherst entering the season was at the quarterback position, which had previously been manned by Second Team All-NESCAC and three-year starter Peter Honig '01. Amherst started the season by rotating Jeff Browne '03 and Jim Devine '04 at the quarterback position, but an injury to Devine in the second game of the season has given Browne the starting job for the foreseeable future. While Browne's raw numbers may not impress thus far (38-80 for 477 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions), he has played well given that this is his first season as a starter and has only recently been able to take all the snaps at quarterback. He has shown good presence in the pocket and has made several big completions.
But the heart of the offense is its running attack. Thus far, the Jeffs have averaged 208 rushing yards a game compared to the 77 yards their defense is allowing. The success of the running game is even more impressive given that the Jeffs' two top running backs, pre-season All-American Okey Ugwonali '02 and Kevin Kennard '03 have been in and out of the lineup due to injuries. Indeed, Amherst features three potent runners, Ugwonali (240 rushing yards), Kennard (261 rushing yards), and Fletcher Ladd '04 (183 rushing yards). All three running backs are currently averaging over 4.5 yards per carry.
But, the offense has recently had their fair share of difficulty putting points on the board. The Jeffs have been hampered by inconsistency, penalties and inopportune turnovers. "We just haven't been consistent," said Mills. "We have run the ball well but we have had too many penalties and we haven't converted inside the redzone. We have been shooting ourselves in the foot. But we have had a lot of injuries and people missing practice, making it hard for the offense to gel."
While Amherst's offense has managed just 21 points over its last two games, Amherst's stingy defense has made sure that even that paltry output has been good enough to win.
The Jeff defense has been spectacular in the first four games; they are currently holding their opponents to an average of 1.5 points and 208 yards a game. In addition, the Jeffs are averaging 3.5 sacks and 4.25 turnovers a game. In short, they have been dominating. The Jeff defense is led by Quad-captains McGee and Dan Lalli '02 as well as linebacker Brian Landolfi '02. There were high expectations for Amherst's front seven entering the season, and they have more than lived up to them. McGee, a 2000 First Team All-NESCAC selection, and Second Team All-NESCAC linebacker Gregg Stankewicz '02 lead the team with 7 and 6 sacks respectively while Lalli, another member of the 2000 First Team All-NESCAC squad, leads the team with 29 tackles.
But the biggest surprise on the defensive side of the ball is the emergence of the team's relatively inexperienced secondary. The Jeffs' secondary was depleted with the loss of All-American cornerback Brian Daoust '01 and Second Team All-NESCAC safety Dave Frankel '01 to graduation, but the 2001 unit has played well, limiting opponents to 131 yards per game through the air. The passing defense has also garnered 10 interceptions. While the secondary has been helped by the forceful pass rush of McGee and company, they have played well in their own right, despite occaisional mistakes against Colby last week.
Amherst started its' season on Sept. 22 with a visit to New York to take on the Hamilton Continentals. Hamilton is one of the NESCAC's weakest teams, and despite a little sloppiness that is customary on opening day, the Jeffs took care of the Continentals in workmanlike fashion, shutting Hamilton out for the second consecutive year in a 24-0 win. Hamilton's offense managed just 185 yards of total offense, including a meager 26 yards rushing. On the other side of the ball, the Jeffs pounded the porous Continental defense, accumulating 429 yards including 330 on the ground.
Ugwonali, who had 107 yards rushing in the game, scored the game's first points on a two-yard touchdown run which was set up by a fumble recovery by Lalli. From there, the Jeffs would never look back. Browne collected his first career touchdown toss midway through the second quarter when he hooked up with fullback Jeff Ryan '03 for a 12-yard strike. Late in the second quarter, Ugwonali burst through the Continental line on a 71 yard run, the Jeffs' longest play from scrimmage this season. While this run would set up a field goal by David Bodner '05, Ugwonali landed awkwardly, spraining his ankle. The pre-season All-American would be forced to sit out Amherst's next game against Bowdoin.
Hamilton's only sustained drive came early in the fourth quarter, as they marched down as far as the Amherst 27, but defensive back Joe Rubbone '03 snatched his second interception of the game to stop the threat. Kennard got three of his career high 152 rushing yards on a touchdown run late in the fourth which put the game at its final tally, 24-0.
The following week, Amherst took on Bowdoin in the Jeffs' home opener. Bowdoin finished the 2000 season 0-8 and entered this game with a mark of 0-1. The Jeffs manhandled their opponents from Maine, amassing 411 yards of total offense despite playing without Ugwonali in addition to an early injury to Kennard, en route to a 35-0 victory. The defense actually improved upon its performance against Hamilton, holding the Polar Bears to just 127 yards of total offense and only 27 yards passing. Bowdoin was unable to complete any pass greater than eight yards in length. McGee, who had 10 tackles and two sacks, was named NESCAC Co-Defensive Player of the Week in recognition of his stellar performance.
Amherst scored touchdowns on four consecutive drives, including three in a six-minute span at the end of the first quarter. The touchdown spree was actually set up by an unlikely source, punter Geoff Bough '03. A fantastic punt by Bough pinned Bowdoin inside their own five. The Jeff defense held firm and prevented Bowdoin from moving the ball, thus forcing the Polar Bears to punt the ball with their backs at the goal line. Quad-captain and star playmaker Derrell Wright '02 returned a short punt 18 yards down to the Bowdoin nine yard line. On the very next play, Devine ran a quarterback sweep for a touchdown. Three possessions later, the Jeffs would possess a commanding 28-0 lead.
"The biggest play of the game was Bough's punt," said Coach Mills. "When we pinned Bowdoin down there, we were able to get great field position, and field position is everything."
Browne connected with wide receiver Jerimy Hiltner '02 on a crossing route for a touchdown to cap off the scoring in the game. This game allowed Amherst's freshmen to get some invaluable playing experience. Tailbacks Matt Monteith '05 and Christopher Scarpelli '05 accounted for more than 40 percent of Amherst's 185 rushing yards. Monteith also scored his first touchdown as a Jeff.
On Oct. 6, Amherst welcomed the Panthers of Middlebury to Pratt Field. While Middlebury was a NESCAC Tri-champion in 2000 and handed Amherst its only loss of the season last year, the Panthers suffered from the graduation of last year's NESCAC Offensive Player of the Year, tailback Bryan Sanchez, and NESCAC Defensive Player of the Year linebacker Andy Steele. Nonetheless, Amherst barely managed to come away with a hard-fought 7-3 win.
This game was the first in which Browne would be the sole starting quarterback for the Jeffs, as Devine was out with a broken hand. Amherst was also without leading rusher Kennard, and lost star receiver Wright early in the game. Ugwonali picked up the slack for the offense in his return from injury, rushing for 104 yards before reinjuring his ankle late in the third quarter. Defensive back Jay Hutchins '02, who recorded 12 tackles and forced a fumble, was named NESCAC Defensive Player of the week for his efforts.
Middlebury struck first early in the second quarter as a short Bough punt gave the Panthers the ball at the Amherst 26. The Jeffs held them to just one yard on three plays, but Middlebury kicker Mike Frissora converted the 42 yard field goal attempt.
The Jeffs had trouble moving the ball all day, but they were able to put together a scoring drive when they needed it most. Early in the fourth, the Jeffs started an impressive 12 play, 89 yard drive that would end with Ladd's game winning two-yard touchdown scamper. Browne was four-for-six on the drive for 74 yards including a clutch 20-yard completion to Hiltner on third and nine early in the drive. While the game wasn't pretty, Amherst did what it had to do to stay atop the NESCAC.
Amherst's most recent game came last Saturday against Colby in Waterville, Maine. Colby, like Middlebury, is not as strong as they were last year, entering their game against Amherst at 1-2, with losses to Wesleyan University and Williams College. Amherst forced six turnovers on their way to a sloppy 14-3 win, extending their winning streak against Colby to six.
Kennard rushed for a game-high 99 yards and the game-winning touchdown as the Jeffs managed to hold the White Mules to just three points despite giving up 318 yards in total offense. The Jeff defense forced two turnovers inside their own 10-yard line to preserve their streak of not allowing a touchdown this season.
This Saturday Amherst (4-0) will look to extend its winning streak to 10 as they take on Little III rival Wesleyan at Pratt Field for Homecoming. The Jeffs defeated the Cardinals last year, 9-7, in a defensive struggle in which Amherst won despite not scoring any points on offense. A 68-yard punt return for a touchdown by Wright and a safety was all the scoring that the Jeffs needed last year.
This year, Wesleyan is riding a three-game winning streak entering Saturday's game after losing their opening game to Tufts. Wesleyan's offense is led by sophomore quarterback Brennan Carney, who last week threw for 300 yards in Wesleyan's 42-16 victory over winless Bates College. Carney, who was last year's NESCAC Offensive Rookie of the Year, is joined on offense by senior wide receiver George Thompson who had 180 receiving yards last week and sophomore tailback Young Douglas who had three touchdowns last week. This game will be a good barometer of how good Amherst's defense and team really is.
Ugwonali is expected to be at close to full strength this Saturday after seeing only limited duty last week at Colby. He will be counted on to help the Jeff offense control the ball and keep Brennan Carney and company off the field.