FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[muleshoe]

Congratulations to the back-to-back CBB Champions and 6-3 Colby Mules! What a gritty team led by probably the best defense I've seen in Waterville in 15+ years.

We had a great time on the Hill under the lights Saturday watching the Mules take it to the Polar Bears. There really are few better things in the world! The defense was outstanding again, holding Bowdoin scoreless for 59:55 and scoring more points than both offenses. They were physical in the front 7 all night, and the back end locked it down with 3 INTs and numerous PBUs. Sad to lose a handful of impact seniors on defense, but they surely went out with a bang!

More of the same from the offense - one great scoring drive and enough progress to churn clock up by 2 scores in the second half.  I'll save the rest of my kvetching for the offseason. 10/11 players return on that side of the ball, hopefully they can turn a corner with more experience/development.

Things are looking up in Waterville and this program has loads to build off of headed into 2026. I already can't wait for kickoff in the Coop to start the season.

Hats off to NM's Cardinals as well - from my POV, they were clearly the best team all year. Very well deserved champions.

[nescac1]

As a Giants-Williams fan, the most frustrating year I've ever experienced in regards to injuries.

From a Williams perspective, I don't know if there is an issue with training, practice philosophy, medical staff / medical restrictions on injured players, just purely terrible luck, or some combination of the above, but I've never seen anything like what happened this season, half the team seemed to be in sweats against Amherst.  There is no doubt in my mind that Williams had the most high-end talent in the league on paper this year, but the game is just not played on paper.  By the end of the Amherst game, they were playing their FIFTH string quarterback, who was filling in for a first-year in his first college start, and who had moved from playing WR, where he was the top option after the top FIVE receivers and the top TE had all gone down.  Defensive end was also decimated by injury, forcing a former tight end to start and crushing the depth there.  Credit to Amherst's defense, which played well. I thought the Ephs' defense played heroically on Saturday, but it was just not enough to compensate for a completely decimated offensive unit.

In terms of a silver lining, the future for Williams does look bright if guys can return healthy and they have at least reasonable good fortune in terms of health.  The receiving unit should be stacked with Zach Falls, Brady Stahelski (who missed all year), Henry Machnik (who played very well and should be even better as a full-time receiver), plus lots of other guys forced into snaps this year, and Owen McHugh could be a strong addition to either the WR or TB unit if he makes a position switch.  Owen Johanssen is an elite QB and the team was never the same after he went down, and they now have quality depth at the position with Renzella and Mozawalla.  Mozawalla should benefit from this experience and he will be a really strong dual threat QB when it's his turn for the starting nod, running is his best asset and the coaches had to (understandably) use that judiciously with basically no one behind him who wasn't already playing another position.  I think adding a few pounds to his slender frame will help him as well.

OL returns the three interior starters and while the two elite tackles are huge losses, there are two huge rising juniors as well as a rising senior who missed this season who all have experience at the position and should be ready to step in.  Montessano is the best tight end in the league, just a massive loss especially in the red zone when he went down, he's basically unstoppable at the goal line.  TB is a big question mark losing work-horse Oris, but Matt Bott showed promise and I imagine that is a spot where some FYs and position-switch guys could help.

The Ephs return their excellent P/K and on defense, most of the key guys are back led by Moore, Mangini, Gehring, Cotton, Gale and Yedid.  Baker looked like he will be a monster as a full-time DE next year.  The four FY DBs who saw a ton of snaps really took their lumps this year but I think will benefit from all that early experience.  The Ephs have some very high-end defensive recruits who I suspect will help the depth issues right away, as well. 

While I do think the future is bright, those were brutal losses to Wesleyan and Amherst especially being very well-positioned to win both games despite being so far down the depth chart at QB and receiver.  If the Ephs come back motivated next season, I do think they could have a big year.  But they have to figure out what is going on with the injuries and how to close out games including a different approach to playing with a lead.  I do think the Ephs will be much better next year, but NESCAC as a whole looks a lot tougher with Wesleyan, Trinity, Amherst, Colby all bringing back a ton as well.  The top of the league should be VERY good next year.  It will be quite a fight for that first NESCAC playoff appearance I suspect. 

[lumbercat]

Haven't seen the Battle of the Birds tape yet but very impressed with the Wes ground game and the performance of Angelo LaRose. Wes seemed to be a ground attack "by committee" during the year but LaRose really stepped it up in huge game. Can't remember many times over the years when anyone ran the ball like that against Trinity. Very surprising.
Another thing that jumped out to me was the fact that Wes was able to contain O'Brien who I consider the most explosive, dangerous player in the league. If he was at full strength the Cards did a great job containing him.
Looks like the Dante Kelly was the best receiver on the field on Saturday. He is destined to be in O'Briens class in terms of explosiveness if he is not at that level now. He's going to be a huge headache for opponents for the next 3 years.

[JEFFFAN]

As an Amherst fan, I am reasonably pleased with this past season.  Winning record, beating the Ephs in a close game, and the losses were not - unlike prior years - blowouts.   Four losses of inside ten points is progress considering the performance over the past 5-6 years. Quarterback should mature, offensive line played its best in a long time, always good EJ defenses.  Optimism reigns.

Does anyone know if there is a link to the Ephs game?  I would just like to see the returned two-point conversion play.   Thanks to anyone who has a link.

[Pat Coleman]

I show it at the 0:55 mark of my postgame video from the game on Saturday:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqVni71-vrY

A fun angle where the interception happens right in front and me and he then runs 100 yards away from me as fast as he can! You might enjoy the other highlights and interviews.

Here's another angle, field level, sideline, that was on ESPN's Top plays:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FOygLWk6zo

[Trin9-0]

Haven't seen the Battle of the Birds tape yet but very impressed with the Wes ground game and the performance of Angelo LaRose. Wes seemed to be a ground attack "by committee" during the year but LaRose really stepped it up in huge game. Can't remember many times over the years when anyone ran the ball like that against Trinity. Very surprising.
Another thing that jumped out to me was the fact that Wes was able to contain O'Brien who I consider the most explosive, dangerous player in the league. If he was at full strength the Cards did a great job containing him.
Looks like the Dante Kelly was the best receiver on the field on Saturday. He is destined to be in O'Briens class in terms of explosiveness if he is not at that level now. He's going to be a huge headache for opponents for the next 3 years.

Nolan O'Brien indeed had been nursing a foot injury for the past several weeks. However, you're spot on about LaRose and he was a much bigger difference in the game. His 78 yard TD was a gut punch just after Trinity had cut the lead to 3 with a little over 2:00 in the first half. Then he ripped of a 68 yarder to the Trin 11 when the Bants had again pulled within 3 points in the third quarter. Wes scored two plays later. The last time anyone ran for over 200 yards against Trinity was Tufts' Kevin Kelly who had 214 in 2001!!

To me, Wesleyan's ability to run the ball on Trinity was the story of the game. Fitzsimons was very good and his receivers were excellent but the inability of the Bants to stop the run really killed them. At one point a guy sitting next to me (who played for Trinity in 1969) asked aloud dumbfounded, "How did this team lose to Bowdoin?"

Finally, I found this interesting; Trinity leads the all time series against Wesleyan 67-56-1 However, the Cardinals have beaten the Bantams in each of the following milestone games:

1st game - 60-0 in 1885
25th game - 3-0 in 1914
50th game - 7-0 in 1932
75th game - 14-11 in 1975
100th game - 37-13 in 2000

The 125th Trinity-Wesleyan game will be played next year and if Trin doesn't find a way to beat Wes in the quasquicentennial meeting it'll be three in a row for the Cards over the Bants for the first time since 1975-1977!

[Bantamsdad69]

As expected things got chippy towards the end of the Amherst vs Williams game, Coach Raymond was seen yelling and instigating Amherst players who were storming the field after the win. I know there is deep history between the Mammoths and the Ephs but this is just unacceptable from a coach.

[lumbercat]

Since he came to Williams I"ve watched coach Raymond on the Williams Football TV show, on some other interviews and always observed his sideline demeanor during his early years at Williams. I had him cast as a soft-spoken, more composed guy until the last couple of years when I started to see a pretty intense "edge" including this year at Bates.

I was wrong, this guy has an explosive temper who can fly into a rage. We all know coaches actually should do that at certain times. Everybody loves a fiery, compassionate coach but this guy seems easily driven over the edge. All coaches have their own personality and coaching style but it took me a while to recognize that with Raymond. He's right up their with the Hammer at Bowdoin as the 2 guys most likely to explode on the sidelines when things aren't going well.

[Charlie]

Haven't seen the Battle of the Birds tape yet but very impressed with the Wes ground game and the performance of Angelo LaRose. Wes seemed to be a ground attack "by committee" during the year but LaRose really stepped it up in huge game. Can't remember many times over the years when anyone ran the ball like that against Trinity. Very surprising.
Another thing that jumped out to me was the fact that Wes was able to contain O'Brien who I consider the most explosive, dangerous player in the league. If he was at full strength the Cards did a great job containing him.
Looks like the Dante Kelly was the best receiver on the field on Saturday. He is destined to be in O'Briens class in terms of explosiveness if he is not at that level now. He's going to be a huge headache for opponents for the next 3 years.

Obrien was hurt most of the year and throughout his career in the NESCAC. Dante is the best WR I have seen in the NESCAC despite his size. I even think he would be faster on a real turf field instead of that Mud pit Wesleyan plays on.

I am surprised why the NESCAC has not come down on Wesleyan if they continue on playing football there they have to fix that field more like a used polo grounds then a football field. A great venue to watch a game but the field needs a great deal of work.

Wesleyan did a great job against Trinity nice game plan they had and Trinity despite making the adjustments at halftime seemed to be in a fog all game. The game resembled a lot of the Trinity Colby game bizarre play calling on offense. On defense Trinity tried stunting a great deal which was not working out due to the field conditions and Trinity had a great deal of Blown assignments missed tackles very uncharacteristic of them. I am taking nothing away from Wesleyan I tip my hat to them great performance and coaching and they deserved to win.

[The Mole]

Where is my favorite troll, Scoops? Miss you too, Charlie. Great season by the Cards, first ever back to back and last time beat the Bants back to back was 97 and 98. The Whalen and Dice project is continuing to make progress.
OPOY has to be FitzSIMONS (not Simmons)
DPOY should be Dylan Connors
ROY has to be D Kelly
Apologies for my absence this season

[muleshoe]

Where is my favorite troll, Scoops? Miss you too, Charlie. Great season by the Cards, first ever back to back and last time beat the Bants back to back was 97 and 98. The Whalen and Dice project is continuing to make progress.
OPOY has to be FitzSIMONS (not Simmons)
DPOY should be Dylan Connors
ROY has to be D Kelly
Apologies for my absence this season

Totally agree with you on Fitzsimons and Kelly.... DPOY will be very interesting, as I feel like there a number of strong candidates throughout the league including 3 from the CBB: McNamara on Colby, Rozich on Bates, and Leary on Bowdoin
 

[Charlie]

While we await the awards debate in the NESCAC. What are the early predictions for next year. I do not know what players are potentially returning , who are coming back for Grad years any intial thoughts ?

I would have to say at first glance and I know not much of a reach Trinity , Wesleyan & Williams with Amherst making a strong push. I think Middlebury may be taking a step back for a year or two.

[The Mole]

Wesleyan will lose both safeties on D--one a first time starter and the other a DPOY candidate 2 yrs in a row. 2 LBs who were first year starters will depart (the returning LB should be all league). Four DL that were starters or significant rotational players will graduate. They return about a half dozen guys that have gotten snaps. They will not lose 7 first team All NESCAC performers this year (but a handful could be first or second team). They have plenty of depth and talent on hand from that side of the ball. Huge drop off this year, as predicted, right? 4th in scoring and #1 in yards allowed.
Offensively, they return over 70% of the rushing yards and 11 of the 14 rushing TDs. Probable OPOY returns at QB along with the #2 and #3 WRs in the NESCAC and 6 of the other top pass catchers. One OL is graduating. This is from the #1 passing offense in the league and #2 in scoring at 29.7 PPG.

[The Mole]

OVERALL RECORDS SINCE 1992

TRINITY 219-53 .805
WILLIAMS 185-85-2 .680
AMHERST 178-93-1 .654
MIDDLEBURY 173-99 .636
WESLEYAN 157-115 .577
TUFTS & COLBY 121-150-1 .445
BOWDOIN 74-197-1 .272
HAMILTON 69-203 .252
BATES 60-207 .221

[The Mole]

Let's crank up the "Dice is a bum" chant.

63-25 .716 career record
Bates 9-1
Colby 9-1
Hamilton 9-1
Williams 9-1
Bowdoin 8-2
Amherst 6-4
Middlebury 5-4
Tufts 5-4
Trinity 3-7 (3 of last 6)

First outright title in school history in 2024. First back to back titles in 2024 and 2025 in school history. First back to back Little 3 titles since 1969 and 1970 (2022-2023). First back to back to back Little 3 titles in school history since 1946-48 (2022-2024). First 4 in a row Little 3 titles in school history (2022-2025).