Box Score In Wesleyan's homecoming game, the Cardinals beat the Ephs by two touchdowns on a beautiful fall day in Middletown, CT.
The scoring started off with a 2nd & goal touchdown pass to the goaline from Wesleyan Quarterback David Estevez to Senior Captain Receiver Matt Simco. 7-0 Wesleyan.
After a quick Williams possession, Wesleyan tallied another score on a 78 yard quarterback rush by Estevez to extend the lead to 14. The extra point was good from a kick by Evan O'Brien.
Two plays into the second quarter Ephs Quarterback Dan Vaughn drove in a 1 yard touchdown run to cut the lead in half following an extra point from Ivan Shuran.
The Cardinals continued to rotate quarterbacks in and out, between Estevez and Niko Candido. Candido connected with Logan Tomlinson of Wesleyan on an 18 yard touchdown pass to cap off a 10 play, 76 yard drive. Lead extended to 21-7.
Estevez finished the game with 176 passing yards with two touchdowns on 15-19 passing. He also tallied 152 rushing yards with 1 touchdown.
The Ephs would not to lay down, putting together a drive of equal plays and length, finished off by a Vaughn to Joel Nicholas connection into the flats from 4 yards out. With 6 minutes left in the first half, Williams trailed 21-14. Nicholas finished with a team high 116 all-purpose yards, including 34 through the air.
Wesleyan was quick to respond. On the last play a :52 second and 79 yard drive, Candido and Tomlinson connected again, this time from 35 yards out on a deep fade route to the back of the endzone. The score came on a trick play, in which Candido caught a screen to the left, squared up, and threw to Tomlinson.
Tomlinson finished with 12 total receptions for 210 yards and two touchdowns, a game high tally.
This was the last score of the half, 28-14 Cardinals.
The third quarter didn't feature any scores, but rather a few turnovers and eventful plays. The Ephs field goal defense blocked a 4th and 9 attempt from the redzone to shift to give them some momentum.
Senior Captain and Defensive Lineman Ian Devine sacked the Wesleyan quarterback to give the Ephs possession within Cardinals territory. He finished the day with 6 tackles, 4 tackles for loss (TFL) for 20 yards, 2 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles - an impressive effort.
Devine said after the game, "The defense came out slow but I'm proud of the fact that this group was able to come together in the second half and make some big stops. Unfortunately it was too little too late but I'm proud of the fact that we fought 'til the end. Now we're just focused on ending this season on a high note."
The following play was intercepted and Wesleyan got the ball back in the same field position.
Down 14 in the 4th quarter on 3rd and 8, Ephs safety Chaz Cotton came screaming off the edge on a blitz, strip sacking the quarterback. The ball squibbed around and sneaked into the endzone, covered up by Senior Captain Coleston Smith for an Ephs touchdown. 28-21 Cardinals.
Two Ephs linebackers recorded double digit tackles, Junior
Tim Landolfi leading the way with 12, followed by Captain
Coleston Smith with 11.
After a questionable pass interference call deep on a pass attempt into the Ephs endzone, Cardinals' Candido ran the ball in from two yards out to extend their lead 35-21 following a PAT. This was the last score of the game. Candido finished the game with 161 passing yards completing 11-17 attempts, with one passing and one rushing score.
The Ephs will take on rival Amherst in Williamstown on November 12th at 12pm for their Homecoming game.
