After easily handling Bates 34-0 and Bowdoin 21-0 to start the season, Amherst ran into a hungry Middlebury team on Oct. 4.
The then 0-2 Panthers came into Pratt Field as heavy underdogs against an Amherst team riding a 15-game home-winning streak. Amherst took an early lead courtesy of a two-yard touchdown run by tailback Ngai Otieno '06 to start the second quarter. The Jeff offense continued to apply pressure to the Panthers, but two missed field goals by David Bodner '05 from 45 and 27 yards out on consecutive possessions prevented Amherst from padding its lead.
These missed field goals would come back to haunt the Jeffs as Mike Murray blocked an Amherst punt and then returned the ball for a game-tying touchdown. Despite unquestionably outplaying Middlebury in the first half, Amherst was forced to settle with a 7-7 tie at the half.
Middlebury received the ball to start the second half and marched inside the Amherst red zone before settling for a field goal that presented the Jeffs with their first deficit of the year. Amherst threatened to tie the score on the ensuing drive, but Bodner missed his third field goal of the day, this one from just 26 yards away.
Amherst made no mistake on its next possession, however, as quarterback Marsh Moseley '05 and Otieno engineered an 11-play, 65-yard touchdown drive. Powered by a clutch Otieno reception on third down and a nifty Moseley scramble, Amherst was able to move down to the Panther goal line where Otieno rumbled into the end zone for his second touchdown of the afternoon.
With a smothering defense and a 14-10 lead, Amherst looked to be in good shape despite its special teams woes. But with just less than six minutes to play in the game, quarterback Mike Keenan and the Panther offense began what would be the game-winning drive at their own 14-yard line.
Keenan, who struggled a good deal during the first half, was 6-7 for 61 yards on the final drive. The Amherst defense just could not seem to make a play as Middlebury methodically marched down the field. The 13-play drive ended as Keenan found Jeff nemesis Murray in the end zone for a five-yard completion with only 72 seconds left in the game.
Moseley's second interception of the day two plays later assured Middlebury of the upset win and ended all hope of an Amherst comeback.
Coming off of the tough loss to Middlebury, Amherst needed a win in order to generate momentum heading into the last half of the season. Standing in the Jeffs' way were the Colby College White Mules. Colby entered the game with a 2-1 record, having defeated Middlebury and Wesleyan University.
Fortunately for the Jeffs, Head Coach E.J. Mills' recent success against Colby continued as Amherst left Maine with another tick in the win column after a 31-0 thrashing of Colby. Amherst gained 424 yards of total offense while surrendering just 23.
Backup tailback Matt Monteith '05 headlined the offensive effort for Amherst with 132 rushing yards on just 11 carries, including touchdown runs of 15 and 63 yards.
Amherst took the lead late in the first quarter after quad-captain Fletcher Ladd '04 punctuated a 12-play, 87-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run. Bodner's extra point was blocked, however, so Amherst only took six points away from Ladd's touchdown run.
The Jeffs struck again early in the second quarter following a fumbled punt return by Colby. Amherst took possession of the ball at the Colby 46-yard line, but two Monteith runs were all it took for the Jeffs to reach pay dirt. A failed two-point conversion kept the score at 12-0.
Amherst registered one final score before the half on its next possession as Moseley and receiver Jim Devine '04 hooked up for a 20-yard touchdown connection. Once again, however, Bodner's PAT attempt was blocked and Amherst entered the half with just an 18-0 lead despite finding the end zone on three separate occasions.
The Jeffs put the game out of reach after the first possession of the second half as Monteith broke a run 63 yards for a touchdown. Bodner hit the extra point-the one conversion the Jeffs would have on the day in five tries-and Amherst assumed a daunting 25-0 lead early in the second half.
Moseley connected with receiver Jay Wagstaff '05 for an 18-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter that completed the scoring and put the final dagger in Colby's hearts.
Amherst's performance was simply overwhelming. In addition to a potent rushing attack which garnered 257 yards on 46 carries, Moseley had a very efficient day, going 16-22 for 189 yards, two touchdowns and, perhaps most importantly, no interceptions.
The Jeff defense posted its third shutout in four games by completely stifling a Colby team that had put up 31 points against a talented Wesleyan squad just one week earlier. In addition, Amherst won the all-important turnover battle, forcing two White Mule turnovers while giving up none.
However, the Jeffs are still struggling on special teams, a weakness that, if not rectified, will come back to haunt them as they begin to face the cream of the NESCAC crop in the coming weeks. Not only did the team have three extra points blocked but they very nearly missed having a punt blocked for the second consecutive week.
So far this season the Jeffs have gained more than twice as many yards per game (421.2) as their opponents (201.0). This is a testament not only to the Jeff defense, but to the offense as well.
"Our team is much more balanced this year than in years past," said Ladd. "Our defense is strong, and traditionally so, but our offense is just as much of a factor in games this year. We have the ability to win games with our offense this year, whereas in years past we fought to maintain a lead for the defense to protect."
This Saturday, Amherst hosts Little Three rival Wesleyan University at Pratt Field in the Homecoming game. Wesleyan is currently tied with Amherst and Tufts University for second place in the NESCAC with a 3-1 record.
Wesleyan boasts a potent offense led by its four-year starter at quarterback, Brennan Carney. Carney is complemented by a pair of dangerous receivers in Pat Moffett and Mshangwe Crawford. Wesleyan will be sure to give the Jeff secondary a workout as Carney enters Saturday's game averaging nearly 300 passing yards per game, the most in the NESCAC.
On defense, Wesleyan is led by linebacker Tom Moran and defensive back Jeff McLaren.
"[Wesleyan is] going to throw the ball a lot and test us in pass coverage and they have a good defense that can run around and make plays," said quad-captain linebacker Ed Sylvester '04.
Look for Amherst to rely heavily on the rushing tandem of Monteith and Ladd to wear down the Wesleyan defense.
Amherst will be looking to avenge last year's heartbreaking 14-13 loss to Wesleyan, Amherst's first since 1993. Amherst had two golden opportunities late in the game to take home a win, but a failed conversion on fourth-and-inches and a blocked Bodner field goal as time expired kept the Jeffs from victory.
As for the rest of the season to come, Ladd provided an interesting insight. "The last time we lost to Middlebury we went 7-1, beat Williams and shared the NESCAC title," he said. "Hopefully that's a sign of what is to come."