AMHERST — Amherst College dominated in all three facets of the game, but special teams may have been the key that sparked the Mammoths’ 37-14 victory in their home opener.
In rare cases when the Mammoths couldn’t finish drives, Henry Atkeson came in and delivered three of his five punts inside the 20-yard line, the most important of the game being downed at the 1-yard line.
From that punt on, the Mammoths defense was playing energized and didn’t allow any points until late in the fourth quarter.
Atkeson added another punt that bounced dead to the 1-yard line, before the play was negated by a 15-yard penalty that gave Amherst a new set of downs.
Punting wasn’t the only dominant part of Amherst’s special teams game. Andrew Ferrero took advantage of the new NCAA and NESCAC kickoff rules with strategic kicks to prevent long returns.
The NCAA implemented a new rule across all divisions that makes any fair catch inside the 25-yard line the equivalent of a touchback. Additionally, the NESCAC coaches decided in the interest of player safety to move kickoffs from the 35 to the 40-yard line to increase the number of touchbacks.
Ferrero’s kicks were usually low and short of the designated returners, leading to bobbled and muffed catches and often resulting in Hamilton having to fall on the ball for possession inside the 20-yard line.
Offensively, Amherst came out with a methodical opening drive to work its way down the field. The Mammoths converted all four of their third-down conversions on the drive before quarterback Ollie Eberth scampered to the end zone for the 19-yard rushing touchdown.
Eberth and the Mammoths looked to establish the run, but made the right throws in key moments to keep drives alive. The Mammoths converted 7 of 15 third-down conversions, but were 6-for-6 on their first two drives of each half.
On a touchdown drive in the third quarter, Eberth hung in the pocket and delivered a 26-yard touchdown pass to Bo Berluti while being hit.
The third component of the game, the defense, played no small part in Saturday’s victory either.
Up 14-7 late in the second quarter, Amherst was tasked with stopping Hamilton’s attempt to tie the game on its 2-minute drill.
With Hamilton advancing the ball into Amherst territory, a holding penalty on Amherst set the Continentals up with a first-and-10 at the Mammoths’ 28.
Reigning NESCAC defensive player of the year Andrew Yamin then sacked Kenny Gray for a 7-yard loss. An offensive pass interference penalty on Hamilton pushed the Continentals out of field goal range.
After allowing 24 yards rushing on Hamilton’s first drive, Amherst held the Continentals to minus-4 yards rushing for the rest of the first half and minus-2 rushing yards in the second half.
Stopping the run allowed Amherst to apply more pressure in the pass rush and led to Amherst linebacker Andrew Sommer intercepting a Gray pass in the third quarter.
Eberth finished 13 of 24 for 145 yards and one touchdown. He also had 80 yards rushing and two touchdowns on nine carries. Jack Hickey added 115 yards rushing and one score on 18 carries.
Amherst Regional graduate Will Budington had four receptions for 17 yards for Hamilton (0-2).
Amherst (2-0) will visit Bowdoin Sept. 29.