CLINTON, N.Y. – Wesleyan University scored all of its points in the fourth quarter and the Cardinals came back for a 19-7 NESCAC win against the Hamilton College Continentals at Hamilton's Steuben Field on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 5.
Season Update
- The Continentals (0-4 NESCAC) were limited to one touchdown for the third time in four games.
- Wesleyan (3-1) has outscored opponents 62-14 in its two road games.
How It Happened
- Hamilton scored on its second drive of the game with 6:07 left in the first quarter. On third-and-nine from the Continentals' own 49, Henry Rubey '26 found Ezra Lombardi '25 at around the Cardinal 40 and he sprinted down the left sideline to the end zone for a 51-yard touchdown. Hamilton caught a break three plays earlier when a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown by Nick Donatio was wiped out by a defensive holding penalty on the Cardinals.
- The Continentals held Wesleyan scoreless until the second play of the fourth quarter when Niko Candido found Chase Wilson on the right side of the end zone for a five-yard touchdown toss. Gage Hammond tied the score with the extra point with 14:51 remaining.
- Hamilton drove from its own 25 to the Cardinal 38 on the Continentals' next possession. On third-and-two Luke Kurzum '27 threw a backwards pass towards the right sideline to Alastair Orr '28. Orr reached up for the ball but it sailed through his hands for a fumble. Wesleyan's Aiden Nelson scooped up the loose ball at the Hamilton 49 and returned it all the way to the end zone for a 13-7 lead with 10:58 to go. Hammond missed the PAT and the Continentals still had a chance.
- Hamilton moved the ball just five yards on their next drive and was forced to punt. The Cardinals marched 65 yards in nine plays that chewed up more than five valuable minutes off the clock. Wesleyan took a commanding 19-7 advantage on a six-yard pass from Candido to Wilson that looked similar to the first touchdown. The Cardinals tried to pass for the two-point conversion but were unsuccessful.
- The Continentals moved the ball quickly into Wesleyan territory with three pass completions, but Ben Carbeau forced a fumble and Sean Walker clinched the comeback by recovering it at the Cardinal 23 with 1:42 left.
Notes
- Rubey finished 6 of 13 for 73 yards and his fourth career touchdown pass.
- Kurzum relieved Rubey late in the second quarter and ended up 15 of 22 for 144 yards.
- Lombardi, who grabbed his fifth career touchdown reception, led Hamilton with 68 yards receiving.
- Chester Boynton '27 caught 10 passes for 67 yards. Boynton leads the NESCAC with 35 receptions and is fourth with 312 yards.
- Kyle Bratcher '26 was credited with a career-best eight tackles and broke up two passes.
- Gavin Lawlor '25 forced a fumble and Ian Fratarcangeli '25 and Mat Bucher '27 recovered fumbles.
- Nick Hoff '25 and Gunnar Watson '28 posted one sack apiece. It was the first career sack for both players.
- Tighe Hoey '25 averaged 49.6 yards on seven punts. Five of those punts ended up inside the 20-yard line. Hoey is second in NCAA Division III with an average of 46.7 yards per punt.
- Carmelo Velardo '27 is 6-for-6 on extra points this season.
- Candido was 20 of 27 for 291 yards and the two touchdowns.
- Wilson had eight catches for a game-high 109 yards.
- Wesleyan's Dylan Connors led all players with nine stops, broke up two passes and posted a sack.
- Wesley Abraham forced a fumble.
- The teams combined for 17 penalties and 156 penalty yards.
Next Game
Hamilton plays at Trinity College (4-0) on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 1:30 p.m.
