Following a heartbreaking loss to Bates the week before, the Cardinals headed into Saturday’s game eager to spoil Amherst’s homecoming party. While the effort was there and the defense hung tough in the first half, the Cards were not able to mount a consistent offensive attack. In the end it was a deflating 37-0 loss for the Cards (0-5 overall/NESCAC).
There were bright spots to be found on the defensive side of the ball for the Cards though. Despite being on the field for two-thirds of the second quarter, the defense held Amherst (4-1 overall/NESCAC) to just two field goals. In total, the Amherst offense was only able to put up three field goals in the first half, their loan touchdown coming on a 55 yard punt return by Mark Hannon ’07 six minutes into the game.
Linebacker Quincy Francis ’06 had nine total tackles, the highest total for anyone on either team. Defensive tackle and tri-captain Shem Johnston-Bloom ’06 had on and a half tackles for losses and a sack among his seven total tackles. While Defensive end Brian Smithson ’07 added one tackle for a loss and a sack.
Amherst put the game away with two strikes in a third quarter that saw them possess the ball for eleven and a half minutes. Tailback Erik NeSmith ’09 did it himself on Amherst’s second possession of the quarter, running three successive plays, the third a 78 yard touchdown run.
Just two plays later Amherst linebacker Greg Muecke ’07 intercepted a pass from Wes quarterback Zack Canter ’07, who had just replaced an injured Zack Librizzi ’08. Amherst wasted no time converting on the turnover, as Amherst quarterback Nick Kehoe ’07 hooked up with Hannon for a 25-yard touchdown pass.
The injury to Librizzi was just another bad break on a day full of them for the Cards. The Amherst defense prepared well to meet Librizzi, who entered the game the leading passer in the NESCAC, and held him to 80 yards passing and negative seven yards rushing. They also forced three interceptions and sacked Librizzi and Canter a combined seven times. Blake Curry ’07 led all Cardinals receivers with two catches for 44 yards, including a 24-yard pass from Librizzi in the first quarter.
The Cards could not find much success on the ground either, as running back Kevin Leamy ’09 led the way with a meager 11 yards on four carries. By game’s end, the Cards were only able to manage 92 yards total offense, while Amherst cruised to 533 yards total.
Despite giving up a punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter, the special teams provided two highlights for the Cards. Tri-Captain Jeff McLaren ’06 returned seven kicks for 149 yards. Meanwhile, place kicker/punter AJ Taucher ’08 put on his best punting performance of the season, getting off ten punts with an average of 38.2 yards. His longest punt traveled 49 yards and he twice pinned Amherst inside their ten-yard line.
The Cards will next travel to Brunswick, Maine to face Bowdoin.
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