Colby College's Jack Sawyer caught a touchdown pass and a two-point conversion toss as the Mules rallied for an 18-12 NESCAC win against the Hamilton College Continentals at Hamilton's Steuben Field on Saturday afternoon.
 
Season Update
The Continentals fell to 2-4 while Colby is tied for third place in the conference at 4-2.
 
How It Happened

• Hamilton's defense held the Mules to three points in the first half, and Colby's first three drives ended with an interception, a punt and a missed field goal.
• The Continentals led 12-0 late in the second quarter thanks to three long scoring drives.
• Evan Reed '26 finished a 78-yard drive with a 23-yard field goal with 10:05 left in the first quarter.
• After Hamilton got great field position due to an interception, Leo Gerst '26 snuck inside the right pylon for a six-yard touchdown run with 4:39 remaining in the quarter. The extra-point was no good and the Continentals led 9-0.
• Reed capped a 10-play, 62-yard drive that took more than five minutes off the clock with a season-long, 35-yard field goal with 1:50 to go in the first half.
• The Mules drove 60 yards in 83 seconds and Lowell Carr booted a 32-yard field goal with 20 seconds left as Colby pulled within nine points at 12-3 at the break.
• Hamilton's first three drives of the second half ended with two punts and a lost fumble, and the Mules made their move.
• Colby pulled within two points on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Matt Hersch to Sawyer with 5:55 remaining in the third quarter.
• Keon Smart put the Mules in the lead on a one-yard touchdown plunge with 13:00 to go in the fourth quarter. Sawyer's two-point conversion reception accounted for the final score.
• The Continentals got inside the Colby 40-yard line on their ensuing drive, but lost a fumble at the 33.
• The Mules missed wide left on a 37-yard field goal attempt and Hamilton took over with 4:13 left. The Continentals drove down to the Colby 22 before they turned the ball over on downs with 55 seconds remaining.

 
Notes

• Hamilton's Matt Banbury '23 was 23 of 33 passing for 220 yards.
• Gerst, who scored his first collegiate touchdown, ran for 51 yards and caught four passes for 22 yards in his first start at tailback.
• Tight end Mark Howrigan '23 set career highs with 10 catches and 88 yards receiving.
• Ian Esliker '23 led the Continentals and tied a career high with 11 tackles.
• Matt LoPresti '23 added nine stops and Cole Rivell '24 came up with his second interception this year.
• The Mules' Sawyer finished with eight receptions for 117 yards.
• Hersch was 19 of 30 for 218 yards and added 56 yards on the ground.
• Smart ran for 61 yards and caught five passes for 34 more.
• Julian Young led Colby with 10 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
• Joshua East forced a fumble and broke up two passes.
• Locksley Burke and Rome Banaitis recorded sacks.
• The Mules gained 336 yards of total offense and didn't have any penalties.
• Hamilton had 311 yards of offense and was 7 of 15 on third down conversions.

 
Next Game
The Continentals are at 3-3 Tufts University on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 1 p.m.