Clinton, N.Y. - The rushing attack was relentless and the defensive unit made four interceptions as the visiting Trinity College Bantams cruised to a 44-7 win over the Hamilton College Continentals in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) football action this afternoon at Steuben Field. Trinity improves to 2-1 with the win, while Hamilton drops to 0-3 on the year.
Very little went wrong for the Bantams, who took control of the game on the opening drive, converting a fake punt on fourth and short in their own territory before driving the field for a score, capped by a passing touchdown from senior QB Craig Drusbosky (Orange, Conn.) to sophomore WR Drew Grombala (Cincinnatti, Ohio).
On Hamilton's second offensive play of the game, senior CB Harry Melendez (Holyoke, Mass.) made his first of two interceptions on the day, and returned it to Hamilton's red zone, setting up a rushing touchdown by freshman RB Evan Bunker (Topsfield, Mass.), giving the Bantams a 14-0 lead with 6:25 left in the first quarter.
On the ensuing Hamilton possession, Trinity's defense came up with another stop, setting up the offense for their third score of the quarter, this time a rushing touchdown by freshman RB Dante Astheimer (Pottstown, Penn.), putting the Bantams up 21-0.
After being held to no first downs in the first quarter, Hamilton was able to get a small drive going early in the period when senior WR Scott Kleinklaus (Fayetville, N.Y.) appeared to be open deep in Trinity territory, but an outstretched senior captain Ben Sherry (Wayland, Mass.) dove to deflect the ball, emblematic of the dominating defensive performance by the Bantams all afternoon.
After a scoreless second period, Asthemier scampered 53-yards to the Hamilton 1-yard line, setting up Drusbosky, who found senior captain Michael Galligan (Shoreham, N.Y.) open in the end zone, increasing the Trinity lead to 27-0. On the ensuing Hamilton possession, Sherry crossed the passing lane for an interception, and junior RB Nana Appah-Sampong (Lake Mary, Fla.) took over offensively with a long run and an eventual score - Trinity's third rushing touchdown of the afternoon - which gave the Bantams a 34-0 lead late in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, after a Trinity field goal attempt clanked off the left upright, Trinity sophomore S Rae Haynes (Hartford, Conn.) made the fourth interception of the afternoon for the Bantams, setting up Jennings for a rushing touchdown - Trinity's fourth rushing score of the game - which gave the Bantams a 44-0 lead. The Continentals would dash Trinity's hopes of a shutout with a strong defensive stand deep in Trinity territory, and an aerial touchdown to close out the scoring for the day.