FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Nescacman]

Well, per the Berkshire Eagle the Ephs have finally narrowed it down to ... four potential QBs.  Tomorrow should be interesting! Although it may just end up being Johanssen and a lot of running the ball.

The preview also mentioned that the Ephs' most talented receiver Brady Stahelski is injured, not great for an already-thin position.  I expect we will see if Holden Gehring can actually be closer to a full time two-way player this year.  The OL is dealing with some injuries as well.

Defense seems deeper and healthier, and with fewer question marks, led by a loaded sophomore class.

That's consistent with what Coach Raymond discussed with us this week on the 9 Weeks NESCAC podcast. 2025 Ephs...."Three yards and a cloud of dust"!

[Nescacman]

As NESCAC fans, we highly encourage you to watch the "In the Huddle D3 Football" podcast featuring Wesleyan  Coach Dan DiCenzo. Great job by him representing the conference and Wesleyan.

https://x.com/FrankRossi/status/1966544946996854889

[Nescacman]

2025 Week 1 NESCACMAN Picks

Welcome back NESCAC...it's Week #1 "in the league where they pay to play"...hard to believe this is our 12th season predicting NESCAC games...this week features a game that could once again have league championship ramifications as the Wesleyan Cardinals host the Middlebury Panthers at historic Andrus Field. Here we go!

Hartford State College at Colby College:  Mules played Hartford State tough last year in the Coop. New QB for the Bants while Mules feature returning starter Miles Drake who will have Rookie of the Year Jack Nye to throw to. We expect to see more of "ground and pound" offensive scheme from the Bants featuring All-NESCAC RB Tyler Dinapoli. Colby will be challenged to generate enough points to keep up with the Bants offense. We expect Hartford State to come out strong to send a message to the league. This game will not be as close as last year's game in Hartford. Colby is well-coached and will be ready to go, but they are undermanned and will have a tough time keeping up with the Bants. Colby hasn't beaten Hartford State since 1995. Hartford State going away.

Hartford State 31 Colby 7
Point Spread: Hartford State -21
Weather (courtesy of The Weather Channel): Overcast. High around 70F.

Amherst College at University of Bates (Lewiston Campus): This game is a match-up between 2 teams headed in opposite directions. UBates is a team on the rise while the Lord Mammoths are a shadow of their former glorious selves. UBates will be celebrating 150 years of football in Lewiston so we expect a big crowd at Garcelon Field. If UBates expects to turn the corner on the rebuild in 2025, this game is a must-win for the Kitties. Word out of Amherst is they will be running the triple option at least some of the time led by QB Marek Hill. NESCAC rushing champ RB Ryan Lynskey and WR Sergio Beltran are players to watch for the Kitties. For Amherst to have a chance, they will need to improve on offense. Amherst DB/LB Luke Harmon is a must-see for the Lord Mammoths. We think the Kitties' run game is too much for the LMs and HCOF Coyne turns some heads with a resounding opening win at home against the Lord Mammoths.

UBates 24 Amherst 7
Point Spread: UBates -3
Weather: Overcast. High 72F.

Williams College at Hamilton College: Both teams come into this game with question marks. Who's the Williams QB playing for injured starter Owen McHugh? How will the rebuilt Hamilton offensive line perform? Will Hamilton be able to run the ball? Hamilton returns experience at QB with 2023 NESCAC Rookie of the Year Luke Kurzum. HAM trying to rebound after a 1-8 2024 campaign. Meanwhile, Williams will feature a power running game behind Jon Oris. They will need to throw the ball  to keep the HAM defense honest. HAM will also try to run the ball behind RB Nate Wildman. For Hamilton to have a shot, they will have to stop the Williams ground game. WR/DB Holden Gering is a player to watch for Williams. The Ephs have too much talent to lose an opener against Hamilton. Should be a defensive battle between two similar teams, but we think the Ephs pull it out.

Williams 20 Hamilton 10
Point Spread: Williams -7
Weather: Mainly cloudy. High near 75F.

Tufts University at Bowdoin College (3:00 PM kick): Tufts is coming off Coach Civetti's 3rd 7th win season. He faces the high-pressure Bowdoin defense with a new QB for the first time in 4 years. The Polars will also feature a new starter at QB. Bowdoin will miss Koy Price. Tufts will welcome back RB Chartellis Reece, who is back after not playing last year. Bowdoin needs to keep the game low scoring to have a shot to win at home. We expect Tufts to rely on their 3-prong running attack. Last two teams to open the season with the late start.  We think the Jumbo's have enough talent on offense to figure out a way to win behind their running game.

Tufts 28 Bowdoin 14
Point Spread: Tufts -14
Weather: Mainly cloudy. High near 70F.

NESCAC Game of the Week

Middlebury College at Wesleyan University: Our first GOTW in 2024 features our #2 and #3 ranked teams and the winners of the last 2 NESCAC Championships. Wesleyan has won 4 of the last 5 games played in Middletown including the last 3 in a row. Wesleyan will have a new starting QB losing incumbent Nico Candido to graduation. Middlebury has the benefit of perhaps the best returning QB in the league in Brian Moran. The Pants will feature a bevy of RBs including Conner McClellan. For Wesleyan to win, they will need to run the ball effectively. Will be interesting to see how Middlebury's new offensive and defensive lines perform. DB Dylan Connors is a player to watch for Wes. If Wesleyan's O-line opens the holes, we expect them to run the ball effectively. This should be a very competitive, close game but we like Wes to pull out another win in Middletown.

Wesleyan 24 Middlebury 21
Point Spread: Middlebury -3
Weather: Partly cloudy skies. High 76F.

Good luck to all the student-athletes and coaches this Saturday!

NESCACMAN's Picks:
2024 Season: 38-7 (.844 winning percentage)
2023 Season: 31-14
2022 Season: 31-14
2021 Season: 33-12
2020 Season: 0-0 (COVID)
2019 Season: 33-12
2018 Season: 36-9
2017 Season: 35-10
2016 Season: 32-8
2015 Season: 30-10
2014 Season: 30-10
2013 Season: 32-8
Career: 361-114 (.760 winning percentage)

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[CWM_42]

It appears Trinity's message to the league is they need some D1 transfers on the offensive line.  Credit Colby's injury-depleted defense with the win. 

[nescac1]

Wow, rough day for the Trinity QBs it seems.  When was the last time Colby beat Trinity??

Williams will be happy to come away with a hard-fought road win against Hamilton, though the Ephs surely know that level of play won't cut it against the better teams in the league, which Hamilton most certainly will not be.  The Hamilton defensive line was simply outmatched by the Williams o-line, it got worse and worse for them as the game went along, and everyone who ran the ball today for the Ephs looked very effective.  The play of the game for Williams was Johansen making an impossible 30 plus yard run, spinning and whirling and avoiding defenders, when he looked dead in the backfield on a second and 20. But mostly it was guys running through massive holes - as expected it was three yards (more like six yards) and a cloud of dust for the Ephs.  But, the same issues that have plagued Williams in recent years seem apparent as well -- trouble defending the pass especially when the offense plays a hurry-up style, and major trouble throwing the ball.

A few other notes for the Ephs - Holden Gehring did indeed play iron-man football very effectively.  Hamilton didn't ever seem to want to test him in the passing game, and he was the Ephs' only dangerous-looking wide receiver.  Hopefully he can hold up the entire season as he's not a big dude.  DPOTG for Williams was Ryan Carney, a fifth-year senior who hopefully can finally stay healthy after an injury-riddled career, he's always been effective when he can get onto the field.  The Ephs were lead in tackles by FY strong safety Connor Acheson, who other than one play when he got beat by a RB out of the backfield, had a great game (and even on that play should have been deep safety help).  Jon Oris and Matt Bott both looked great carrying the ball for the Ephs, Bott gives them a different look with a little more explosion. Williams had some shaky moments on special teams - totally fooled by a fake punt and the off-sides kick late in the game was very dicey, but the biggest issue was giving up pass after pass to TBs coming out of the backfield. 

The Ephs are gonna have to open it up a BIT more after getting this one under their belt as I have to think Hamilton has the worst front seven in the league.  The good news is that Johansen looked good, he's not going to make as many big plays as McHugh but he will rarely hurt you and I think he has the ability to open it up JUST a bit more with his arm.  I'd like to see the Ephs get more throws to TBs and TEs at least, vary the offense to keep the defense off balance some. The Ephs played it extremely conservative all game long and will certainly integrate more gimmicks over time. Montessano was wide open in the end zone and that was the only throw Johansen really missed, and he and Jaffe (who had a big play called back by penalty) are guys I'd like to see the Ephs target more next week, those guys are huge and should be able to make some gains over the middle. 

For Hamilton, tremendous game for Alastair Orr, who burned the Ephs again and again as a receiver out of the backfield.  Hamilton seems to have some nice weapons on offense, and Boynton was totally shut down but will be heard from as well.  Kurzum figures to be one of the better QBs in this QB-depleted league.  But nevertheless, Williams needs to generate a bit more pressure on the QB and do a much better job finding TBs and slot-type receivers in space.  Which feels like a familiar story for the Ephs. 

[CWM_42]

I believe the last Mule win over the Bants was 1995.