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Liam Leonard '26
Photo: Josh McKee (https://www.mckeephotoarts.com/)
Liam Leonard '26
24
Winner Hamilton HAMILTON 2-7 , 2-7
21
Bates BATES 2-7 , 2-7
Winner
Hamilton HAMILTON
2-7 , 2-7
24
Final
21
Bates BATES
2-7 , 2-7
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
HAMILTON Hamilton 3 7 7 7 24
BATES Bates 7 7 0 7 21

Game Recap: Football | | James McGlynn

Football concludes season with win at Bates on career day for Leonard '26

Senior accumulated a career-high 125 receiving yards and had a TD catch for the Continentals

LEWISTON, Maine – Hamilton College's Liam Leonard '26 totaled 125 yards receiving with a touchdown and the Continentals earned a 24-21 NESCAC win in their season finale against the Bates College Bobcats at Bates' Garcelon Field on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 8.


Season Update

  • Hamilton (2-7 NESCAC) collected its first road victory of the season.
  • Bates (2-7) lost its last four games.
 

How It Happened

  • Hamilton's John Young '26 dove and intercepted a pass at the Hamilton 47 with 10:22 remaining in the fourth quarter and the Continentals leading 14-10. On the very next play, Connor Laverty '28 took the snap for Hamilton and handed off to Luke Kurzum '27, who threw the ball on the run to Leonard. Leonard made the catch at the Bates 40 and ran untouched to the end zone. Carmelo Velardo '27 converted the extra point and made it 24-14.
  • Hamilton's Mat Bucher '27 forced a fumble during the ensuing Bates possession and the Bobcats recovered the ball, but the play was wiped out thanks to an offensive holding penalty on Bates. The Bobcats cut their deficit to 24-21 with 5:56 remaining following a 54-yard touchdown pass from Connor Hennessey to Maverick Selementi.
  • Hamilton prevented the Bobcats from regaining possession, as Kurzum led the Continentals on a 12-play drive to the Bates 9 before the fourth quarter clock expired. The Continentals went 2-for-3 on third-down conversions during the final drive, including a 23-yard completion from Kurzum to Leonard on third and 10 from the Hamilton 25 with just over 5:30 remaining.
  • Bates drove to the Hamilton 12-yard line on the first possession of the game. Back-to-back penalties moved the Bobcats back to the Hamilton 27, and they missed a 37-yard field goal on fourth down.
  • The Continentals went three-and-out on their first offensive possession. The Bobcats took a 7-0 lead with 9:07 left in the first following a four-play drive that included a 57-yard run by Hennessey.
  • Kurzum was 4-of-5 for 63 yards on the next drive as Hamilton moved the ball to the Bates 9. The Bobcats stopped three consecutive rushing attempts by the Continentals before Velardo made a 22-yard field goal that pulled Hamilton within 7-3.
  • Hamilton took its first lead with 11:55 remaining in the second quarter following a 12-play drive that spanned 5:46. On third down from the Bates 14, Kurzum completed a 13-yard pass to Jack Francesa '27. Laverty took the next snap and rushed into the end zone for a 9-7 edge.
  • Bates jumped right back in front at 13-10 on the next possession as Hennessey delivered a strike to Quinn Carver over the middle for a 60-yard touchdown.
  • Frank Ruiz '26 disrupted Bates' first possession of the second half with a tackle for loss on second down. Following a Bates punt, Hamilton received the ball on their own 32-yard line. Kurzum completed a 23-yard pass to Leonard to the Bobcats 41 on third down and six that kept the drive alive. Facing third down and 11 at the Bates 21 with just under 6:30 left in the third, Kurzum scrambled to his right and got the first down just before stepping out of bounds. Nate Wildman '27 received a four-yard pass from Kurzum on the next play, then rushed the final six yards into the end zone for his second touchdown of the season. Velardo's extra point made it 17-14 in favor of the Continentals with 5:07 left in the third.
 

Notes

  • Kurzum was 23-of-38 for 295 yards and rushed for a career-high 76 yards. He's first in the NESCAC in total offense with 2,566 yards, second in passing yards with a school-record 2,242 and third in touchdown passes with 14.
  • Leonard totaled four catches and a career-high 125 yards receiving. The touchdown catch was his second this fall.
  • Mitchell Ivatts '29 hauled in nine receptions for a season-high 84 receiving yards.
  • Wildman rushed for a season-high 48 yards on 13 attempts.
  • Young led the Continentals in tackles with five and grabbed his first career interception.
  • Ruiz recorded four tackles, including a season-high two tackles for loss.
  • Henry Rubey '26 drove a 55-yard punt in the second quarter, his longest of the season. Rubey averaged 43.8 yards on four punts.
  • Hamilton rushed for 130 yards as a team, its second-highest total in a game this season.
  • Laverty scored his second career touchdown with the Continentals.
  • Hamilton's Jake Iacobaccio '29 intercepted a pass for the second consecutive game.
  • The Continentals were 9-of-18 on third down conversions, compared to 3-of-11 for the Bobcats.
  • Bates' Ryan Rozich led all players with 13 total tackles.
  • Hennessey was 11-of-21 for 224 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions to go along with 72 rushing yards.
  • Hamilton posted its third straight win against the Bobcats.
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