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Williams College

Home of the Williams College EPHS
Frank Stola running with the ball

Football

Williams Opens 2021 Football Season Home Saturday vs. Middlebury

With the increase in infection rates with the ongoing Delta variant, the college has had to reluctantly shift our campus rules to ensure the safety of our community. We ask everyone to review these guidelines before visiting.

Outdoor Competition Venues:
·       Spectators, including off-campus guests, are welcome at all outdoor athletic venues and in outdoor spaces throughout campus.
·       Masks are not required while outdoors. However, Williamstown is in an area with a high number of COVID-19 cases. All spectators are therefore asked to follow current CDC guidance by masking outdoors if unvaccinated, or when social distancing cannot be maintained. Please consider masking in crowded outdoor settings, including in the stands or while visiting concessions, since these activities involve close contact with others who may not fully vaccinated.
·       Spectators are not permitted in any campus building, including locker rooms, with the exception of designated restrooms.

Tailgating and Post-Game Team Gatherings:
·       Because the consumption of food and beverages in close proximity to others increases the risk of spread, NESCAC member institutions are not holding team gatherings or receptions with family and friends (e.g., postgame tailgates) until further notice, either at home or away.

Concessions:
·       Spectators are asked to maintain social distance while ordering and eating concessions. This is out of consideration to staff, as well as fellow guests and athletes.
WILLIAMSTOWN, MASS. – For the first time in nearly two years, Williams College Football will take the field in a regular season game. In a rematch of a thrilling 2019 season opener, the Ephs will face the Middlebury Panthers at home to open the season Saturday at 2:00 PM on Farley-Lamb Field.
 
"It really feels back to normal again," remarked Eph head coach Mark Raymond on the state of the team following the lost 2020 season. "Our guys did a lot of preparation coming in. They really came into training camp with a great mindset, and ready to go."
 
This will be Raymond's sixth year as head coach (including 2020), and his fifth full season coaching the Ephs. In his previous four years at the helm, the Ephs have steadily improved, going 0-8 in his first year in 2016 but 18-9 since, including a 7-2 mark in 2019.
 
Though the 2019 Ephs suffered a heartbreaking 17-13 loss in the season opener against Middlebury, they then rallied to win seven of their last eight, including a dominant 31-9 victory over Amherst in the season finale. The Ephs' stout defense allowed more than 10 points just three times, and on offense, the team eclipsed 35 points on four different occasions.
 
"I'm very proud of our group," said Raymond on the team's performance in 2019. "They had a fantastic season, and we're certainly looking forward to getting out there again."
 
This year, the Ephs will look to build on their promising 2019 season by opening against the Panthers again, this time at home. After that, the Ephs will play four of five on the road, with matchups against Tufts (away), Bowdoin (away), Colby (home), Hamilton (away), and Bates (away). The Ephs will then dig into a difficult final three weeks, facing Trinity and Wesleyan at home before going on the road for the finale, "The Biggest Little Game in America" versus Amherst College in Amherst, Mass.
 
Though many of the Ephs' most prominent players were due to graduate last spring, several of them will be coming back for one final season this fall after taking time off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting quarterback Bobby Maimaron '22, who posted a sparkling 20:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio in 2019, will be back, as will wide receiver Frank Stola '22, who paced the Ephs with 38 receptions for 768 yards and a whopping twelve touchdowns through the air.
 
Four of the Eph's top tacklers in 2019 return in senior linebackers TJ Rothmann, Jarrett Wesner and Coleston Smith, along with sophomore defensive back Drew Michalek.
 
When asked about players who were particularly important to the Ephs' success this season, Raymond emphasized the entire senior class. "They've made some huge sacrifices over the last four, four-and-a-half years to come back and play, and they really provide leadership. Our seniors have led the way here, through the pandemic and the first parts of training camp."
 
The 2021 Ephs have four senior captains in quarterback Bobby Maimaron, guard John Rooney, and linebackers TJ Rothmann and Jarrett Wesner.
 
The 93rd meeting between Williams and Middlebury will kick off at 2:00pm at Farley-Lamb Field. Williams leads the all-time series 67-24-1.
 
"Everything we've done these past two months has been geared towards playing our best against Middlebury," said Raymond on the importance of the Ephs' first game.
 

 
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