CLINTON, N.Y. – Amherst College scored all 21 of its points in the second half and the Mammoths came back for a 21-7 NESCAC win against the Hamilton College Continentals at Hamilton's Steuben Field on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 21.
Season Update
- The Continentals (0-2 NESCAC) were playing their 2024 home opener.
- Amherst (2-0) has allowed one touchdown in each of its first two games.
How It Happened
- Hamilton got off to a great start as it took the opening kickoff and scored a touchdown on its opening possession.
- There was a 15-yard face mask penalty on the Mammoths on the first play from scrimmage, a 13-yard catch on third-and-six by Chester Boynton '27, and a 16-yard completion to Ezra Lombardi '25 down to the Amherst 14.
- Four plays later, quarterback Luke Kurzum '27 won a race to the left pylon for a four-yard touchdown run with 10:03 left in the first quarter. Carmelo Velardo '27 kicked the extra-point for a 7-0 lead.
- Neither team scored the rest of the half – the Mammoths missed a 33-yard field goal attempt late in the second quarter – and the Continentals took their seven-point advantage into the locker room.
- Hamilton didn't have the lead long in the second half as Amherst scored on its first drive. Owen Gaydos caught a 12-yard pass from Mason Morrow for a touchdown on fourth-and-two and the PAT tied it at 7-7 with 11:41 remaining in the third quarter.
- The Continentals went three-and-out on the next possession and the Mammoths promptly took the lead. Amherst's 81-yard drive was capped by a 28-yard touchdown scamper by Demitrius Smith with 5:28 to go in the third.
- Hamilton ran three plays on the Mammoths' side of the field in the second half.
- Amherst's last touchdown was set up by a Jeb Allen fumble recovery and 12-yard return to the Continental 22. Sam Gerber caught a 24-yard scoring strike from Morrow on fourth-and-12 with 2:52 left in the fourth quarter.
Notes
- Kurzum was 19 of 30 for 170 yards and the fourth rushing touchdown of his Hamilton career.
- Boynton set career bests with 10 receptions and 95 yards.
- Kyle Bratcher '26 grabbed his fifth career interception, broke up a pass and made a team-high seven tackles.
- Aidan Held '25 blocked a 28-yard field goal attempt in the fourth quarter.
- Tighe Hoey '25 averaged 49.8 yards on five punts.
- Morrow was 23 of 33 for 206 yards and the two touchdowns.
- Anthony Lenegha forced a fumble, Allen had the fumble return and a sack, and Phil Slaughter recovered a fumble.
- The Mammoths were 2 of 12 on third down conversions but 2 of 3 on fourth down.
Next Game
The Continentals play at Bowdoin College (0-2) on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 1 p.m.