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Date: October 8, 2005
Contact: Bill Sodoma

 

Colby football at 3-0 after win over Wesleyan

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. ---The Colby College football team improved to 3-0 for the first time since the 2000 season with a 28-14 victory over Wesleyan University in New England Small College Athletic Conference play Saturday.

The Mules also started the 2000 season out with wins against Williams College, Middlebury College and Wesleyan. Colby then lost 28-14 at Amherst College before finishing the season with four straight wins in going 7-1 to win a share of the NESCAC title.

Colby is in the same situation this year, but Amherst will come to Waterville next Saturday for a 1 p.m. game at Seaverns Field. The Mules have a seven-game win streak dating back to last year.

The Mules took advantage of eight turnovers, four interceptions and four fumble recoveries in pulling out the win against the Cardinals. Colby only led 21-14 at halftime and after three quarters.

Wesleyan (0-3) was at the Colby 31-yard line when Greg Enos picked off a pass for Colby and returned it 76 yards for a touchdown to make it 28-14 with 13:24 left in the game.

Wesleyan quarterback Zach Librizzi had an up-and-down day. He had 293 yards of total offense with 224 yards passing and 69 yards rushing, but he also threw four interceptions and lost three fumbles.

The game started like it would be a blowout win for Colby. The Mules went 11 plays and 56 yards to go up 7-0 on a 1-yard scoring run by Aaron Stepka with 5:45 left in the opening quarter.

Mike Bracco recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff for Colby at the Wesleyan 19-yard line. Three players later, John Bateman hit Roddy Ames on a 15-yard scoring pass for Ames' fourth touchdown of the season.

Wesleyan fought back with a 17-play, 94-yard drive to get within 14-6 on a 19-yard pass play from Librizzi to Andrew Booker with 12:54 left to halftime.

Chris Bashaw scored on a 44-yard run with 3:55 left to intermission on a drive that went four plays and 57 yards for a 21-6 lead.

The Cardinals made it a game at halftime, though, with a 12-yard scoring pass from Librizzi to Blake Curry with just 43 seconds left in the half. Wesleyan went 57 yards in eight plays for the score.

Bashaw finished with 87 yards on 11 carries (7.9 per rush) and teammate Aaron Stepka carried the ball 17 times for 71 yards. Justin Smith (5-for-13, 62 yards) and John Bateman (5-for-8, 44 yards) each saw time at quarterback for the Mules.

Andrew Heaney had nine tackles and an interception to lead Colby's defense. Alan Chang added eight tackles and one sack; Josh Donabedian had seven tackles, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery; Bracco had seven stops, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one interception; Paul Howanitz made seven tackles and one fumble recovery; and Travis Agustin made seven tackles and one interception.