Up 14-6 late in the third quarter, the football team seemed poised to defeat Trinity College, a team that had not been beaten in over a year, but one quirky play on special teams turned the game around and dashed the Jeffs' hopes of an upset. John Polignone '07 punted the ball to the Amherst 47-yard line where the Jeffs thought they downed it. However, the official ruled that Amherst never demonstrated possession. As the Amherst special teams unit walked off the field and the Trinity offense was walking on, Bantam cornerback Matt Glasz realized the ball was still live and, making the most of the opportunity, raced 47 yards to the end zone. The entire Jeff sideline was visibly devastated by what had transpired.

Trinity was successful on the ensuing two-point conversion and got the ball back at the Jeff 18-yard line two plays later following a Marsh Moseley '05 interception. Two plays into the fourth quarter, Trinity's bruising tailback Tom Pierandri rumbled into the end zone from two yards out. Trinity's extra point attempt failed, but six points was still a sizable cushion for the Bantams' defense.

Amherst was able to make it at least as far as midfield on all three of its fourth quarter possessions, but two interceptions and a sack prevented the Jeffs from getting back on the scoreboard.

Polignone, the Jeffs' backup quarterback, led Amherst on its final drive of the game after Moseley was forced out with a leg injury. The first-year was able to move his team 46 yards downfield into Bantam territory before throwing an interception which all but ended the game.

The win assured the undefeated Bantams of sole possession of the NESCAC Championship this year. Amherst, meanwhile, fell to 4-3 on the year and is in danger of completing its first non-winning season since 1993.

The loss marred what was a phenomenal first half of play for Amherst. After a fumble recovery by junior linebacker Mike Salvatore stopped the Bantams on the game's opening possession, Moseley and the Jeff offense went to work. Offensive coordinator Don Faulstick called four consecutive pass plays, and Moseley connected on all four, moving Amherst 60 yards downfield to the Bantam five-yard line. Moseley's fifth pass of the game came three plays later as he found wide receiver Jim Devine '04 in the back of the end zone for a three-yard strike.

Trinity responded in the second quarter when Pierandri capped an 80-yard drive with his first rushing touchdown of the day, but the Bantams missed the extra point, leaving Amherst with a 7-6 lead.

Amherst padded its advantage at the end of the second quarter. Moseley connected with Devine for a second touchdown, this one coming off a deftly thrown two-yard fade. The touchdown followed a pass interference call against Trinity on third-and-goal, which gave the Jeffs a fresh set of downs. Amherst carried this momentum into the second half, all the way until Glasz's punt return for a touchdown.

Amherst rushed for a season-low 106 yards against Trinity. However, the Amherst offense fared well considering that in its previous six games, Trinity surrendered just 16 points. Trinity had not trailed for one minute all season until falling behind Amherst early in the first quarter.

But this success did little to satisfy Amherst. "We're not about just going out and playing hard," said Head Coach E.J. Mills. "We want to win."

Amherst will conclude its 2003 season this Saturday with its much anticipated showdown with archrival Williams College. At 5-2, Williams, like Amherst, has struggled at times this season. The Ephs were blanked by Trinity and endured an unprecedented loss to Bates earlier in the year.

But despite these hiccups, Williams is a talented, senior-laden team. The Ephs are led by quarterback Joe Reardon, the NESCAC Offensive Player of the Year the last two years, and linebacker Graham Goldwasser, the NESCAC's leading tackler this year. The Ephs are undoubtedly looking to avenge Amherst's stunning 45-35 victory last year which sabotaged their plans of a perfect season.

Although Amherst has won two out of its last three meetings with Williams, the Jeffs have not defeated the Ephs at Weston Field since 1985.

The pressure will certainly be on Polignone, who makes his first collegiate start under center this week, due to Moseley's season-ending injury.

"It will be another tough game, but after two tough losses, our guys will definitely be ready to play and take home the Little Three crown," said quad-captain linebacker Ed Sylvester '04.