Mass. College Football: Amherst, Trinity Remain Unbeaten In NESCAC Play
By Matt Noonan
The Amherst College Lord Jeffs and Trinity College (Conn.) Bantams remains unbeaten at the halfway point of the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) season.
Amherst (4-0) captured its fourth straight contest on Saturday, defeating Colby College, 31-13.
The win marked the Jeffs’ 15th consecutive victory dating back to their 2013 campaign (the victory marked the longest winning streak in program history).
Amherst overcame a scoreless opening frame by posting 17 second quarter points. Amherst, which led by three-scores (17-0) at the break, would tack on additional 14 points in the second half – one touchdown in each quarter – to secure the win.
Senior Jackson McGonagle broke a 73-year-old program recorded with a 78-yard punt return in the third quarter. The initial record – established by Roland Smith in 1942 – was a 74-yard punt return in a contest against rival Williams College.
Trinity (4-0) picked up its fourth win by edging Tufts University (3-1) in overtime on a 25-yard touchdown reception from sophomore Sonny Puzzo to classmate Bryan Vieira.
The Bantams extended the contest into overtime by capping a 13-play, 71 yard drive with a 27-yard field goal by senior Kyle Pulek with six seconds remaining.
Both teams are scheduled to compete in three weeks on Saturday, November 7 when Amherst hosts Trinity in what could be the de-facto NESCAC championship contest at 1:00 p.m. Amherst captured the NESCAC crown last year, finishing their eight-game slate undefeated.
