Sports
Men’s football moves to 2-0, looks ahead to its matchup vs. 2-0 Trinity College
By Dave Meisel '13, Sports Staff Writer
October 6, 2011
Sometimes you’re good, sometimes you’re lucky and sometimes you’re 2-0.
Hamilton’s football team should’ve bought a lottery ticket after their Oct. 1 contest against Wesleyan, in which they fought through slick conditions at Steuben Field and won 7-6. The Continentals weren’t spectacular in any area but got three special teams gifts from the Cardinals. Sophomore placekicker Sebastian Aguirre missed an extra point, had a field goal blocked in the third quarter and pulled a potentially game-winning 34-yard attempt with just 44 seconds to go in the game.
After a strong all-around showing against Tufts on Sept. 24, Hamilton didn’t execute particularly well on offense or defense, according to Coach Steve Stetson.
“The Wesleyan game was one of many mental mistakes for our guys,” said Stetson. “We are not happy with any one skill position after viewing that game on film.” Indeed, quarterback Jordan Eck ’13 followed his fantastic week one performance with a pedestrian 11-for-18, 91-yard effort. Running back James Stanell ’14 didn’t match his week one effort either. He was 17 for 75 on the ground, but outside of one 32-yard run, he averaged just 2.7 yards per carry.
The Continentals’ offensive showing was poor outside of their lone touchdown drive: a nine play, 67-yard march down the field aided by a pass interference penalty that pushed them into the Cardinals’ red zone. Eck capped off the drive by delivering a beautiful fade pass to fellow junior Kevin Petrick in the near corner of the end zone. The score put the Continentals ahead 7-0 midway through the second quarter.
The Cards responded late in the quarter. They took the ball after blocking a 41-yard field goal attempt by Garrett Hoy ’13. Wesleyan recovered the block at its 49. Eight plays later, sophomore running back Gabe Manzares punched it in from a yard out to put Wesleyan on the board. But Aguirre missed the extra point wide right, so the Buff and Blue maintained its lead.
Junior Garrett Hoy’s magnificent punting made up for some of the Continentals’ poor play. He averaged 39.4 yards per punt and helped the Continentals get the ball out of their own end several times. “Hoy is a major part of what we do,” said Stetson. “He has been very good on [special teams].”
The Continentals also toughened up when the ball was deep in their own territory. They didn’t wear down on defense even though Wesleyan ran a whopping 59 running plays. Wesleyan first-year tailback LaDarius Drew gained 146 yards on 36 carries, but Hamilton held him to 4.1 yards per attempt, and his longest run was 11 yards.
Despite being undersized in the trenches, “our intensity was very good,” said Stetson. Mike McDonald ’13 had a 21 tackles, and first-year Ian Milne came up big again. Milne had six tackles, half a sack, and blocked Aguirre’s third-quarter field-goal attempt.
According to Stetson, the Continentals must focus more on execution and attention to detail this week heading into an Oct. 8 contest at Trinity.