Football Game Preview: Bates, Amherst clash for first time since ’03
Amherst College (0-0) vs. Bates College (0-0)
Sept. 23, 2006, 1 p.m.
Pratt Field, Amherst, Mass.
THE SERIES
The Jeffs hold an 18-4-2 advantage over the Bobcats in 24 meetings. The two teams haven’t met since 2003, when Amherst notched a 34-0 victory over the Bobcats. Bates last defeated Amherst on Sept. 25, 1999 in Lewiston, by a 19-7 score.
SCOUTING BATES
The 2005 Bates College football team finished 2-6 for the third consecutive season, yet showed flashes of accomplishing much more.
Three of the six losses told the story of a team with promise. At Williams College, the Bobcats led the Ephs (who finished 6-2) for nearly an entire game before succumbing by an 8-7 score. They led Bowdoin (who finished 6-2) 14-0 in the fourth quarter before losing by a touchdown, and succumbed to Colby (who finished 7-1) by seven points as well.
Can 2006 be the year the Bobcats break out of this rut? Several signs say yes.
The Bobcats’ hopes probably begin with their defense, where they return nine starters from 2005.
Bates ranked second in the NESCAC in quarterback sacks with 22, with First Team All-NESCAC end Terence Ryan collecting 10.5 of them, the highest total for any NESCAC player since New York Jets head coach Eric Mangini had the same number in 1993 for Wesleyan. Ryan, who also led the league in tackles for a loss with 12.5, figures to draw special interest from opposing offensive lines, yet the Bobcats can make them pay with high-quality pass rushers at other spots, including DE Anthony Begon, DT Eric Obeng, and ILB Todd Wilcox. The Bobcats hope to show their defensive backfield is much improved from last season, led by FS Adam Kayce, who tied for the NESCAC lead with 4 interceptions in 2005.
In addition to the ever-present issue of staying healthy, Bates’ offensive line may hold the keys to the team’s fortunes. The Bobcats return all but one of their starters from the offensive skill positions, but have only one offensive lineman coming back.
Junior quarterback Brandon Colon, the 2004 NESCAC Offensive Rookie of the Year, returns poised for a big season. Colon’s total passing yards took a slight dip in his sophomore year, from 1,388 to 1,165, but the strong-armed passer set a school record for lowest interception percentage, with only five giveaways in 226 attempts.
Colon’s primary target will be senior All-NESCAC wide receiver Dylan MacNamara, who ranked in the top four in the conference in receptions (5.5 per game) and receiving yards (63.9). RB Jamie Walker, who finished the season with two straight 100-yard games and was fourth in the NESCAC in rushing (77.7 ypg), has been very effective throughout his career when healthy. Sophomore Greg Thornton’s season ended with an injury in the second game, but the Bobcats should benefit from his explosiveness carrying the ball in 2006.
SCOUTING AMHERST
The Amherst offense looks to have tremendous output this fall, returning nine-of-11 starters, including 2005 NESCAC Offensive Player of the Year Mark Hannon, and 2005 First-Team All-NESCAC quarterback Nick Kehoe. Both team captains, Hannon ranked 33rd in the nation and first in the NESCAC in all-purpose yardage (148.1 ypg), while Kehoe was second in the NESCAC in passing (174.2 ypg) and third in total offense (166.0 ypg). Senior Justin Macione and junior Mike Myers are two of Kehoe’s other favorite targets on the field as the pair combined for 42 receptions, 657 yards and seven touchdowns last season. The Lord Jeff defense returns five starters, the majority of which comes in the defensive backfield. Senior quad-captain safety Mike Salerno heads the secondary after finishing tied for 13th in the NESCAC in interceptions (2) and 26th in tackles (6.4/gm.). Juniors Rob Grammer and Chris Mottau will hold down the starting safety and cornerback, while senior quad-captain Brendan McKee leads the defensive front seven after ranking second in the NESCAC in tackles-for-loss (1.38/gm) last season.
Senior kicker Mike Quirk and junior punter Keith Erzinger hope to head up the special teams squad, but will get ample competition from rookie Matt Eberhart.
AMHERST LAST TIME OUT
Amherst finished the season with a 34-23 loss at archrival Williams, ending with a 5-3 record.
BATES LAST TIME OUT
The Bobcats closed out the 2005 season at 2-6 with a win over Hamilton on the road, 34-20. The Bobcats were paced in victory by Jamie Walker and Shawki White who combined to rush for 262 yards and four touchdowns.
2006 Bates Schedule/Results
9/23 @ Amherst 1 p.m.
9/30 @ Tufts 1 p.m.
10/7 WILLIAMS* 1 p.m.
10/14 WESLEYAN 1 p.m.
10/21 @ Middlebury 1 p.m.
10/28 COLBY** 1 p.m.
11/4 @ Bowdoin 12:30 p.m.
11/11 HAMILTON 12 p.m.
* Parents & Family Weekend
** Homecoming Weekend
AMHERST PROBABLE STARTERS
LORD JEFF OFFENSE
QB Nick Kehoe 11
FB Chris Gillyard 34
TB Will Beeson 3
WR Justin Macione 5
WR Mark Hannon 1
TE Blake Murphey 86
C Justin Wiley 72
LT Dan Guariglia 66
RT Nate Riccardi 59
LG Matt Mascioli 76
RG Ryan Smith 75
LORD JEFF DEFENSE
OLB Jack Ewen 37
OLB Dakota Jones 90
DT Jon Attridge 98
DT Brendan McKee 55
NG Greg Smith 50
ILB Greg Muecke 31
ILB Mike Flanagan 44
CB Chris Mottau 7
CB A.J. Scola 13
SS Rob Grammar 8
FS Mike Salerno 2
BATES PROBABLE STARTERS
BOBCATS OFFENSE
QB Brandon Colon 14
RB Jamie Walker 39
FB Adam Poplaski 37
TE Ross Van Horn 82
LT Ryan Wimberly 54
LG Matt Lopez 72
C John MacKenzie 58
RG Brian Machunski 67
RT Raoul Scott 50
WR Dylan MacNamara 11
WR Dave Philbrook 12
BOBCATS DEFENSE
DE Terence Ryan 90
DT Eric Obeng 94
DT Chris Robinson 95
DE Anthony Begon 43
ILB Todd Wilcox 57
ILB Graham Raymond 51
OLB Ron DiGravio 32
ROV Coleman Peeke 40
CB Shawki White 1
FS Adam Kayce 2
CB Kevin Reyes 9
AMHERST RETURNING STATISTICAL LEADERS
PASSING
Nick Kehoe (102-for-192/1,394 yds./10 TD/6 int.)
RUSHING
Eric NeSmith (51 att/338 yds./3 TD)
Mark Hannon (22 att/260 yds./5 TD)
RECEIVING
Mark Hannon (32 rec/516 yds./4 TD)
Mike Myers (23 rec/348 yds/3 TD)
SPECIAL TEAMS
Mark Hannon (38 punts/33.9-yd. avg)
Mark Quirk (1-for-1 fg/25-yd long)
BATES RETURNING STATISTICAL LEADERS
PASSING
Brandon Colon (111-for-226/1,165 yds./6 TD/5 int)
RUSHING
Jamie Walker (147 att/580 yds./5 TD)
RECEIVING
Dylan MacNamara (44 rec/511 yds./5 TD)
SPECIAL TEAMS
Jason Starrett (15 KR/307 yds./0 TD)
2005 TEAM STATISTICAL COMPARISONS
Amherst (2005) Bates (2005)
Rushing Yards 1,672 yds./209 avg. 908 yds./113.5 avg.
Passing Yards 1,460 yds./182.5 avg. 1,193 yds./149.1 avg.
Total Offense 3,132 yds./391.5 avg. 2,101 yds./262.6 avg.
Total Points 201 pts./25.1 avg. 116 pts./14.5 avg.
Rushing Allowed 884 yds./110.5 avg. 1,138 yds./142.2 avg.
Passing Allowed 1,037 yds./129.6 avg. 1,661 yds./207.6 avg.
Total Offense Allowed 1,921 yds./240.1 avg. 2,799 yds./349.9 avg.
Total Points Allowed 98 pts./12.2 avg. 224 pts./28 avg.
THIS WEEK IN THE NESCAC
Hamilton @ Tufts 1 p.m.
Bowdoin @ Williams 1 p.m.
Wesleyan @ Middlebury 1 p.m.
Colby @ Trinity 1 p.m.
Bates @ Amherst 1 p.m.
ALL-TIME RESULTS
Amherst vs. Bates All-Time:
Amherst leads 18-4-2 (24 meetings)
1901 Amherst 5 Bates 0
1941 Amherst 31 Bates 7
1976 Amherst 7 Bates 3
1977 Amherst 45 Bates 7
1978 Bates 10 Amherst 8
1979 Amherst 23 Bates 13
1980 Amherst 24 Bates 7
1981 Bates 14 Amherst 0
1982 Amherst 35 Bates 14
1983 tie 30-30
1984 Amherst 21 Bates 5
1985 Amherst 21 Bates 10
1986 Amherst 34 Bates 33
1987 Amherst 17 Bates 0
1988 Amherst 14 Bates 12
1989 Amherst 21 Bates 7
1990 Bates 13 Amherst 6
1991 tie 26-26
1994 Amherst 53 Bates 0
1995 Amherst 34 Bates 12
1998 Amherst 21 Bates 0
1999 Bates 19 Amherst 7
2002 Amherst 19 Bates 0
2003 Amherst 34 Bates 0
– Compiled with information and text from Amherst College