FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[nescac1]

I'm not usually one to rush to Trinity's defense, but while Kirby may be a great back who would start at many NESCAC schools, he was, I believe, Trinity's third-string tailback on Saturday.  If you are going to argue that they piled it on, "eight straight running plays featuring the third-string tailback" is not going to support that argument.  What is Trinity supposed to do, kneel the ball for an entire quarter? 

[The Mole]

Were the other 2s and 3s in the game while 4 was getting his 8 carries in a row? He arguably would be a #1 on almost every other team

[The Mole]

How medicore...

NESCAC Football Offensive Player of the Week
Niko Candido – Wesleyan – Jr. - QB – Studio City, Calif.
After splitting duties under center last season, Candido took every snap at quarterback in a season-opening 28-17 win at Bates. The junior signal caller threw for 341 yards on 28-for-37 passing (75.7%) with three touchdowns. He became the first Wesleyan quarterback to throw for 300+ yards since Ashton Scott hit the mark against Trinity in 2019 and the 341 yards is the most for a Cardinal since Mark Piccirillo threw for 388 against Bates in 2017.

[GroundandPound]

My memory may be wrong but I recall Mole commenting that full time Candido may be addition by subtraction. 
That was prescient.

[The Mole]

Most players just need the chance to shine. Niko took full advantage of his opportunity. The Panthers are coming to Middletown Saturday with a stout front 7. Gotta love that every game in NESCAC is like a playoff game!

My memory may be wrong but I recall Mole commenting that full time Candido may be addition by subtraction. 
That was prescient.

[nescac1]

Somehow I missed in all the talk of the Amherst-Midd game that Midd had NINE sacks and Kenary had 4.5 of them (along with an interception).  Wow, what a week for him.  I guess we'll see this week just how much of that was a fearsome Midd defensive front and how much was a weaker-than-typical Amherst OL (I would guess a bit of both).  Kenary, certainly, is the biggest force to be reckoned with among NESCAC defenders and like Helbig someone who really elevates the guys around him, and I suspect could end up playing D1 next fall with his last year of eligibility if interested.  He's the overwhelming favorite for NESCAC DPOY this year. 

[The Mole]

NESCAC Football Defensive Player of the Week
Tomas Kenary - Middlebury – Sr. – DL – Chevy Chase, Md.
Kenary helped Middlebury hold Amherst scoreless for three quarters en route to a 21-7 season-opening victory. Kenary led all players with 4.5 sacks for a loss of 44 yards. The senior had a pair of sacks just outside of the red zone in the third and fourth quarters, each turning the Mammoths over on downs. The defensive lineman had seven tackles, including four solo, and an interception. Kenary’s 4.5 sacks are the second most in school history, moving him into third on the career list (17.5), while also contributing to Middlebury setting a school record for most sacks in a game (9).

Somehow I missed in all the talk of the Amherst-Midd game that Midd had NINE sacks and Kenary had 4.5 of them (along with an interception).  Wow, what a week for him.  I guess we'll see this week just how much of that was a fearsome Midd defensive front and how much was a weaker-than-typical Amherst OL (I would guess a bit of both).  Kenary, certainly, is the biggest force to be reckoned with among NESCAC defenders and like Helbig someone who really elevates the guys around him, and I suspect could end up playing D1 next fall with his last year of eligibility if interested.  He's the overwhelming favorite for NESCAC DPOY this year.

[GroundandPound]

https://athletics.middlebury.edu/news/2023/9/18/football-kenary-earns-nefw-golf-helmet-award-named-nescac-defensive-player-of-the-week.aspx
 
Kenary interception was unreal... see end of video.

[SpringSt7]

Mole, let's not forget that Wes ran out the clock with the ball at the UBates 2 yard line (kudos to Dice for being a class act...maybe some of the other HCOFs in this league can learn something from that),

I'll give him a pass because it's different with the alma mater and the circumstances regarding the Kelton hire, but Dice would be pretty low on my list of coaches when it comes to not running the score up.

[Nescacman]

Mole, let's not forget that Wes ran out the clock with the ball at the UBates 2 yard line (kudos to Dice for being a class act...maybe some of the other HCOFs in this league can learn something from that),

I'll give him a pass because it's different with the alma mater and the circumstances regarding the Kelton hire, but Dice would be pretty low on my list of coaches when it comes to not running the score up.

You know the Wes (Whales/Dice) situation with Williams is entirely different on many levels, as we have discussed many times over an adult beverage...

[Nescacman]

Trinity/ Tufts game

Did anyone hear about a verbal jousting match after the game between DC of Trinity and Tufts HC. I heard it was along the theme that Tufts was trying to pad stats for Berluti against Trinity 3 and 4 depth chart defensive players of Trinity.

The game was out of reach with no chance of Tufts coming back. Trinity pulled their starters and Tufts should have been back up players to finish game. I heard the exchange was true and there were pushing and shoving between players and possibly Coaches but can't confirm this.

Our observation was that the dispute was between the two HCOFs and it nearly got very, very ugly at the end of the game...our understanding is that there is no love lost between the two so not really surprised...

[Nescacman]

Role Model of the Week: Coach DiCenzo having team take a knee on 2 yard line.  I hope NESCAC coaches remember this if any of his offensive skill players have one less touchdown than someone else being pushed for all conference recognition.

As we said 6 posts earlier. We're sure that some of that had to do with HCOF Coyne being on the other sideline, but we have seen Dice call off the wolves before so not at all surprised. No reason to embarrass your peers, especially at this level of football (unless you're playing the Purple Cows or the Lord Mammoths  )...

[Nescacman]

Trinity / Wesleyn JV Game

Heard from many reps from both schools and both were extremely happy with the JV game played at Trinity yesterday. The battle between the two schools was great and kids not going to get playing and or limited were able to play some football and get needed game time reps. Hopefully some type of future scheduling can come from this and maybe a potential spring JV Game between schools for students who are around and not taking semester abroad. But kudos to both Colleges for pulling this off.

Definitely see Maine Teams trying to coordinate this.

For the record, it was a very good game in which the Hartford State JV prevailed over the JV Cards 19-12 in Hartford...Wes was up at the half and does not use a kicker for JV games...Wes has a few more JV games scheduled which should be great experience for their younger players...they have been doing this for years now and it definitely helps keep the younger student-athletes engaged...

[The Mole]

MORE PLEASE! We will discuss Saturday....

Trinity/ Tufts game

Did anyone hear about a verbal jousting match after the game between DC of Trinity and Tufts HC. I heard it was along the theme that Tufts was trying to pad stats for Berluti against Trinity 3 and 4 depth chart defensive players of Trinity.

The game was out of reach with no chance of Tufts coming back. Trinity pulled their starters and Tufts should have been back up players to finish game. I heard the exchange was true and there were pushing and shoving between players and possibly Coaches but can't confirm this.

Our observation was that the dispute was between the two HCOFs and it nearly got very, very ugly at the end of the game...our understanding is that there is no love lost between the two so not really surprised...

[lumbercat]

MORE PLEASE! We will discuss Saturday....

Trinity/ Tufts game

Did anyone hear about a verbal jousting match after the game between DC of Trinity and Tufts HC. I heard it was along the theme that Tufts was trying to pad stats for Berluti against Trinity 3 and 4 depth chart defensive players of Trinity.

The game was out of reach with no chance of Tufts coming back. Trinity pulled their starters and Tufts should have been back up players to finish game. I heard the exchange was true and there were pushing and shoving between players and possibly Coaches but can't confirm this.

Our observation was that the dispute was between the two HCOFs and it nearly got very, very ugly at the end of the game...our understanding is that there is no love lost between the two so not really surprised...

Two Trinity guys. Good to see Civetti confront the situation or stand his ground.

The stuff rivalries are made of. It'll be a good one next year in Medford.
 
All time great Trinity coach Don Miller was honored on his 90th birthday at the game on Saturday so I'm sure emotions were running high. Both HCOFs played for Miller at Trinity.