September 27, 2012
Following in their hometown Bills footsteps, Hamilton started off the football season in similar stride, a goose egg in the win column. Amherst College piled up 376 rushing yards to defeat Hamilton in both teams’ football season openers with a final score of 38-14.
New quarterback Jeff Hopsicker ’15 completed 12-of-25 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown in his first collegiate start. James Stanell ’14 proved himself as a remarkable addition to the team play with a 94-yard kick-off touchdown return. He also contributed 31 rushing yards on 16 carries.
Joe Jensen ’15, who had four receptions for 51 yards, including a touchdown, led Hamilton’s receivers.
On the defensive side, Jared Kochenash ’13 led the field with 12 tackles, while captain Mike MacDonald ’13 and Andrew Austin ‘14 trailed closely behind with 11 tackles each.
Heading into Saturday’s game, Hamilton had the daunting task of facing Amherst, a leading NESCAC team this season. Following an opening drive punt by the Continentals, Amherst wasted no time establishing an offensive rhythm, converting a good field position into a 5-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Max Lippe.
Although the team knew that playing Amherst would be a fight to the end, Captain McDonald said that “going into the game on Saturday, ...we were excited by the challenge of playing them.”
Hamilton answered Amherst’s initial touchdown on the ensuing kickoff when Stanell ran the ball back 94 yards along the right sideline for an electrifying touchdown, handing momentum back to the Continentals.
Stanell’s return was part of a solid first half, which ended with the Continentals in a closely contested 21-14 game.
Unfortunately in the second half, Hamilton never found a solution to Amherst’s proficient rushing attack and the Lord Jeffs broke away in the 3rd quarter. The 3rd quarter’s large discrepancy in time of possession (10:48-4:12) wore down the Conts’ defense, resulting in long touchdown runs of 29 yards by Amherst’s Steven Jellison and 56 yards by Tyler Jacobs.
This was a definite change from the first half, in which the Continentals held the ball for a longer duration of time (15:22-14:38). Most frustrating was Hamilton’s inability to convert on plays that may have affected the outcome of the game.
The third down conversion rate typified the game’s flow, as Amherst was exceptional (10 for 16, 63%) while Hamilton was mediocre (4 for 15, 27%).
Whenever Hamilton gained slight momentum, Amherst re-asserted itself and successfully executed the majority of crucial plays. Although it was a tough game, quarterback Hopsicker noted that, “we did make some mistakes, but we did a lot things well and we’re excited to get out there and win this week.”
The Continentals will attempt to even their record when they hit the road once again on Saturday, Sept. 29 to face Wesleyan University. Wesleyan’s fottball team defeated Tufts 35-14 in their season opener.