With a 13-0 lead going into the fourth quarter last Saturday against Colby, the Wesleyan football team looked like a sure winner. Unfortunately, the Mules came back in the final quarter, forcing the Cardinals into only the fifth overtime game in their history, and won the game on a 22-yard field goal, 16-13.
In the first half, the game was an offensive struggle, with Wesleyan’s special teams providing the difference. After the Wesleyan defense slowed the Mules’ first drive, Rob Cook ’10 blocked the ensuing Colby punt to set up great field position at the Colby 39-yard line. Although the teams traded turnovers throughout the first half, the Cardinals did a better job of capitalizing on the opponent’s mistakes. Wesleyan’s two scoring drives were only 18 and 23 yards long, and both occurred after the Cardinals’ special teams units confounded Colby’s punt squad. Tim Lee ’13 even blocked a field goal and recovered it himself. The Cardinals scored on runs by quarterback Joe Giaimo ’11 and running back Greg McDonough ’12 from two yards and one yard out, respectively. With one of Matt Alexander’s ’12 extra points failing to split the uprights, Wesleyan went into the locker room at halftime up 13-0.
But once again the second half proved to be Wes’ undoing, as the Cardinals scored no points after halftime for the third straight game. Wesleyan came closest with a drive inside the Colby 15-yard line on its opening possession of the third quarter, but a penalty and a sack by the Mules drove the Cardinals away with no points. Although the Cardinals managed to hold the Mules scoreless in the third quarter, Colby would not be denied in the fourth. Colby scored two touchdowns in the final quarter, including one that capped a businesslike 17-play, 89-yard march that ate up more than eight minutes of the fourth quarter. The score tied the game at 13, as the Mules’ kicker also missed an extra point, even when he was awarded a second opportunity due to a Cardinal penalty.
In the extra session, Wesleyan had the first possession, moving to the Colby 15 yard line before fumbling the ball away to the Mules. Colby quickly advanced 20 yards to the Wesleyan five, and put away the game-winner, a 22-yard field goal.
Despite the loss, the Cardinals had a few standouts. On defense, Justin Freres ’11 accumulated 19 tackles, more than any two other Cardinals combined. Four different players recorded at least one sack, with Pete Sugarbaker ’10 and Mandela Kazi ’12 each notching two. Pete Modera ’11 also contributed the longest punt return by a Cardinal in 21 years, scampering 33 yards at the start of the second quarter.
The Cardinals will look to get back to .500 when they host Bates this Saturday on Andrus Field.