In front of a boisterous Homecoming crowd, the Colby College Football team built a 17-3 fourth quarter lead and held off the visiting Amherst Mammoths for a 17-12 New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) victory Saturday. Colby is now 3-2 on the season, tied for fourth in the conference.
The first half was a battle of ball control and field position for the two opponents. Combining for 10 first-half punts, it appeared the game would go into the break with zeros on the board until Amherst strung together four first downs on their final possession of the second quarter. Driving 58 yards in four minutes, the Mammoths connected on a 34-yard field goal as the clock ran out, giving Amherst a 3-0 halftime lead.
The third quarter belonged to Colby, as the offense took its first two drive the length of the field into the end zone on scores by Keon Smart (11-yard run), and Isaac Anderson (8-yard pass from Matt Hersch). Colby's third and final drive of the third quarter closed out the frame and set up a score early in the fourth, a 28-yard field goal by Lowell Carr. The defense held Amherst to nine total yards in the third quarter.
Colby was able to open their first defensive series of the final quarter forcing the only turnover of the day. Nick Donation hauled in his first interception of the season to thwart yet another Amherst drive. Holding a 17-3 lead with under nine minutes to play, Amherst was able to keep pressure on. After forcing Colby punter Carr to take a safety, the Mammoths drove the length of the field on the arm and legs of Mike Piazza to close the score to 17-12. The defense continued to hold strong, and Carr unleashed one massive punt after another to continually pin Amherst deep in their end. On the day, Carr averaged 45.6 yards per punt, sending three over 50 yards, including a 66-yarder that would have broken the school record if it had not taken an unfriendly bounce in the wrong direction.
Marc Dougherty and Locksley Burke paced the Mules on defense, collecting nine tackles apiece. Joshua East posted six solo tackles on the edge from the cornerback position. Dougherty and Wellington Pereira teamed up for the lone sack of the day, and Will Nipon and Javon Williams each recorded two pass breakups.
Colby went into the game ranked 10th in New England by the New England Division III Coaches Poll. The Mules look to continue their stellar season Saturday when they travel to Clinton, N.Y. to take on Hamilton.
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