Box Score WILLIAMSTOWN, MA – The Williams Ephs (2-4) held the Hamilton Continentals (0-6) to 182 total yards in a 24-0 win on Weston Field this afternoon.
The Ephs allowed the Continentals 182 total yards and only 62 yards rushing in the shutout. Speaking after the game, Eph head coach Aaron Kelton said, "We played better run defense toady. That was the whole deal: not to let them score."
The Ephs jumped ahead in the first quarter with a 10-yard touchdown run by Alex Scyocurka (12:41) and a 21-yard field goal by Joe Mallock (5:29) on their first two drives, putting the Ephs up 10-0. Neither team was able to put together a scoring drive for the rest of the half.
Despite a fumble by Alex Scyocurka on the Ephs' own 20 with 11:49 remaining in the second quarter, the Continentals were unable to score, held on third and goal at the 2. The ensuing Hamilton field goal attempt was blocked by Nathan Saffold and recovered by Josh Helmkamp.
However, an Adam Marske pass was intercepted by Hamilton LB John Phelan on the second play of the Ephs' next drive. After trading punts, the next Continental drive was stopped in its tracks at the Hamilton 45 yard line by a James O'Grady interception off of a deflection by Nathan Saffold. After the Ephs were unable capitalize on the turnover, the Continentals got the ball with 44 seconds to go but were unable to gain a first down before the half expired.
The game continued to be defined by turnovers when Eph freshman DB Taysean Scott forced a fumble on the first play from scrimmage of the second half. Four plays later, Ephs QB Adam Marske ran the ball 9 yards into the end zone to put the Ephs ahead 17-0.
On the following Hamilton drive, Williams DL James Howe sacked Continental QB Chase Rosenberg for a 13-yard loss at the Hamilton 11 and then on the next play forced a Rosenberg fumble at the 9. The Ephs, however, were unable to capitalize on this field position, with Joe Mallock's 33-yard field goal attempt blocked by Hamilton DB Nicholas Ufkes.
A botched snap on a punt by the Ephs and an interception in the end zone by Eph DB Nathan Saffold kept both teams scoreless for the remainder of the quarter
The Continentals opened the fourth quarter with a strong drive into Williams territory, and a pass interference penalty gave them a first down at the Williams 2-yard line. However, the Eph defensive line held strong and forced a turnover-on-downs.
On their next possession, the Ephs covered 87 yards in 3 plays. First RB Marco Hernandez ran 21 yards to the Williams 34, and a penalty on Hamilton brought the ball to the Eph 49. Then, B.J. Griffin caught a 14-yard pass from QB Adam Marske, setting up a 37-yard TD pass from Adam Marske to WR Darrias Sime, extending the Eph lead to 24-0 with 6:55 remaining in the game.
After neither team was able to put together a successful drive, Hamilton once again found themselves at the Williams 5 yard line due to penalties by the Ephs, but the defense held, preserving the 24-0 win for Williams.
The Hamilton passing attack was led by freshman QB Chase Rosenberg, who went 15-28 for 126 yards and 2 interceptions, while Eph QB Adam Marske went 9-16 for 127 yards, throwing for one touchdown and one interception.
Kristian Lapointe and Alex Scyocurka, each with over 50 yards rushing, led the Ephs on the ground, and Scyocurka and QB Adam Marske each had a rushing touchdown.
Standout receivers were Darrias Sime for the Ephs, who had 87 yards receiving and a touchdown on 5 catches, and Joe Jensen for the Continentals, who had 78 yards receiving on 7 catches.
On the defensive side, Michael DePercin had 2 sacks for the Continentals and LB John Phelan contributed an interception. James Giattino led the team in tackles with 6.
Sophomore James Howe was especially strong for the Eph defense, racking up 7 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. In the last two weeks alone, Howe has had 15 tackles and 7.5 sacks. On the defense, he said, "We've come into both games with really good schemes, great coaching… I feel really good about it."
In addition to Howe's performance, Ernest Higginbotham, Mike Flynn, and John McKenna all contributed sacks and freshman Taysean Scott forced a fumble. Nathan Saffold and James O'Grady both had interceptions. As a team, the Ephs have 15 sacks in their last two games.
This was the first shutout by the Ephs since defeating Bates 41-0 on October 9, 2010. Williams has won the last 17 meetings with the Continentals.
After losing the first four games of the season, the Ephs have now won two straight. Head coach Aaron Kelton said about the team, "We're finally coming into our own the way that we felt like we would."
Williams will travel to Middletown to face Wesleyan next week in a Little Three contest, while Hamilton will visit Middlebury to play the Panthers.
