Williams hosts the Hamilton Continentals at Farley-Lamb Field on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 1:30 p.m.
Hamilton is 2-4. The Continentals dropped their first four games, to Tufts, Amherst, Wesleyan and Trinity, but have since beaten Bowdoin 26-7 and Colby 28-14 for their first winning streak of the season. Hamilton averages 370 yards and 24.5 points per game, both third-best in the NESCAC, but its defense ranks last in the league in yards allowed (402 per game) and ninth in points allowed (30 per game).
This is a passing team. Hamilton leads the conference in passing offense at 288 yards per game. QB Luke Kurzum (#15, Sr.) leads the NESCAC in passing yards (277 per game) and total offense (301 per game) while completing nearly 73 percent of his passes. He has two of the league’s top receivers: WR Mitchell Ivatts (#13, So.) is first in receiving yards (112 per game) and all-purpose yards, and WR Matthew Kearns (#6, Jr.) is second in receiving (93 per game) with six touchdown catches. The run game ranks just seventh, but backup QB Connor Laverty (#19, Jr.) is the short-yardage specialist with seven rushing touchdowns. On defense, LB Mat Bucher (#7, Sr.) leads the conference with nearly 12 tackles per game, and DE Ryan Zouaoui (#8, So.) is tied for second with 4.5 sacks. K Carmelo Velardo (#84, Sr.) leads all kickers in scoring.
Both teams are 2-2 against common opponents. Each beat Bowdoin and Colby and lost to Trinity and Tufts. Williams lost to Tufts 24-21 last week, while Hamilton fell to the Jumbos 42-28 in the opener.
By the numbers, these teams are mirror images. Williams ranks second in the league in total defense (248 yards per game), third in rushing defense and passing defense, and tied for third in scoring defense. The Ephs are second in rushing offense (140 yards per game), and freshman RB Jack Fabiano (#33, Fr.) leads the NESCAC at 101 rushing yards per game. But Williams ranks last in passing offense, has thrown nine interceptions and has allowed a league-high 17 sacks. Individually, LB Luke Mangini (#44, Jr.) is fifth in tackles, DL Will Baker (#32, Sr.) is tied for the lead in tackles for loss, DL Ben Yedid (#93, Jr.) is tied for second in sacks, and captain Holden Gering (#5, Sr.) leads the league in passes defended and kickoff return average. K/P Leonardo Maiuolo (#34, Sr.) is the conference’s top punter at 41.1 yards per kick.
INSIGHTS: Hamilton will throw, and throw often. The Continentals lead the league in first downs through the air, so the Ephs must contain Ivatts and Kearns and get pressure on Kurzum. Hamilton’s defense has made just one interception all season, fewest in the league, and has only eight sacks, so this is the week for the Williams passing game to find its footing. Expect the Ephs to lean on Fabiano against a run defense ranked seventh and to control the clock. Williams is third in time of possession and Hamilton is seventh, and every Eph drive that ends in points keeps Kurzum on the sideline.
Williams leads the series 32-5 since 1988 and has won three straight. Last year the Ephs held off Hamilton 24-17 in Clinton, recovering an onside kick in the final two minutes to seal it.