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Date: October 12, 2002
Contact: Bill Sodoma

 

Stepka has big day in Colby loss

AMHERST, Mass. -

The rushing battle between Amherst College's Fletcher Ladd and Colby College's Aaron Stepka (Farmington/Farmington, Conn.) lived up to expectations in Saturday's New England Small College Athletic Conference game.

Ladd finished with 35 carries for 208 yards and one touchdown in leading the Jeffs to a 14-0 victory over Colby.

Stepka had another big game for the Mules (1-3) with 42 rushes for 172 yards. He has had 42 carries in back-to-back games after running for 217 yards against Wesleyan last Saturday. Stepka, a sophomore, has 594 yards in Colby's four games and has 1,075 career yards.

While Stepka had a big day, Colby's offense could not put any points on the scoreboard despite having nearly the same total yards to Amherst (4-0). The Jeffs had 306 yards and the Mules finished with 302.

Amherst used a big play in the second quarter to go up 7-0 at halftime. Jeff quarterback Marsh Moseley connected with J.P. Zito on a 67-yard pass play with 10:55 left to the break.

The Jeffs' final score was set up after Jeremy Carroll intercepted a pass at his own 27-yard line and raced 25 yards to the Colby 48-yard line. Ladd then had eight straight carries the final rush of 5 yards for the touchdown on the drive.

Colby's defense has not allowed an opponent to score 20 points or more in the first four games. Senior middle linebacker Mike Moran (Manchester West/Bedford, N.H.) and sophomore defensive back Wayne Harrington (Rockland/Rockland, Mass.) each had 15 tackles for the Mules.

Colby quarterback Pat Conley (Morse HS, Deerfield Academy/Bath, Maine) had 90 yards of passing and 40 yards rushing. Sophomore wide receiver Stephen Markesich (Weymouth/Weymouth, Mass.) caught five passes for 65 yards.

The Mules will host Hamilton College next Saturday at noon.