After losing its first six games of the season, the football team will look to win its first match this weekend when Williams College visits Andrus Field on Homecoming/Family weekend. Turnovers have been the Cardinals’ biggest obstacle to success this season. In most aspects, they have played very solid football, but turnovers at the most inopportune times have crushed their hopes and have left them winless with the season winding down.

Williams and Wesleyan rank first and second, respectively, in passing offense in the NESCAC, and both teams will look to move the ball through the air. Unfortunately for Wesleyan, Williams has a more balanced offense, and are placed fourth in the NESCAC in rushing offense, while the Cardinals rank last with an anemic 76.3 yards a game to the Williams 130.8.

To be successful, the Cardinals will need quarterback Zach Librizzi ’08, NESCAC leader in passing yards per game with an average of 183.7, to play solidly. Unfortunately for Wesleyan, Librizzi also leads the NESCAC with the most interceptions, 12. Turnovers must be limited in order for Wesleyan to come out of the game with their first victory.

Conversely, Williams College comes into Saturday’s game with a record of 4-2. After blowout losses to the top two teams in the NESCAC, Colby and Trinity, Williams is on a four-game winning streak with convincing victories over Bates, Middlebury, Tufts, and Hamilton. Despite strong victories over Tufts and Hamilton, Williams’s defense was exposed as they gave up a total of 542 yards to Tufts and 522 to Hamilton. If Wesleyan can find similar offensive success and play the solid defense it has played all season, it should have its first victory this Saturday in front of Wesleyan students, parents, and alumni.

Last season Williams embarrassed the Cardinals in Williamstown by a score of 30-12. Offensive inability was the problem in their last meeting, as Wesleyan only managed 251 yards of total offense as compared to Williams’s 427. The Cardinals will also look to put forth a stronger defensive showing, as they allowed Williams running back Timothy Crawley ’05 to gain 214 yards rushing including three touchdowns. Offensive success also proved problematic: quarterback Zach Canter ’07 was ineffective in completing only twelve passes for 190 yards and throwing three interceptions.

Despite having the NESCAC leader in passing yards, Wesleyan’s offense is still only averaging 13 points a game, seventh in the NESCAC, as compared to Williams’ 25.8 point per game. The whole season, the Cardinal coaching staff has stressed the importance of not turning the ball over.

If Wesleyan is able to finally execute this point, it will achieve success Saturday, and win its first game of the season.