AMHERST — After three games, it appears the Amherst College football team has found its answer at quarterback.
After getting all the snaps in the season-opening victory over Bates, sophomore Ollie Eberth saw his snaps split between himself, 2016 starter Nick Morales and 2015 starter Reece Foy in Week 2.
Foy played a key role in the Mammoths’ 2015 undefeated season, a year in which he tossed 10 touchdowns and threw for 1,542 yards.
The signal-caller tore his ACL before the start of last season. Morales stepped forward and took the starting job. He threw for over 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns last year.
With three quarterbacks in the picture this season, Amherst coach E.J. Mills had a decision to make about who was going to be taking the majority of snaps under center. With Foy working his way back from surgery, it appears that Mills is going with Eberth, who took all the snaps at quarterback in Amherst’s 31-14 victory over Bowdoin last week.
Eberth will likely be starting Saturday when Amherst hosts Middlebury at 2 p.m. at Pratt Field.
“We’re trying to see who’s healthy,” Mills said. “That’s going to be the biggest thing. But right now, Ollie’s done a phenomenal job. Really happy where he’s at in his process and the way he’s progressed. Ollie’s been doing a great job.”
Eberth has played well this year, completing 58.8 percent of his passes while throwing for 565 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. The Mammoth average 36 points per game.
“He’s executing the offense,” Mills said. “That’s the thing it’s really about. We always talk about execution, that’s the key. He’s running the team very well right now and making good decisions with the football. So far so good.”
The Amherst offense has stayed balanced, averaging 214 yards on the ground and 199.3 through the air. Mills credited the unit up front for giving the quarterback time to find receivers as well as opening up holes in the running game.
“I think the offensive line’s done a good job,” Mills said. “We’ve been consistently able to run the ball, which is really important. That has opened up the pass game. We want to be balanced and we’ve been pretty balanced overall.”
Two undefeated seasons will be on the line when the Mammoths face Middlebury (3-0), which won 27-26 in 2016.
The Panthers also average 36 points per game.
“They’re a really talented team,” Mills said. “Last year, we were horrific in the special teams. We have to do a great job in the special teams and the kicking game. We have to slow down their quarterback, he’s a really talented player. They have a great bunch of receivers and backs. They’re just a great offense.
“Should be a heck of a ball game, it was last year, we came up on the short end,” Mills added. “We’re going to have to play better on special teams if we want to change the outcome.”
Thomas Johnston can be reached at tjohnston@umass.edu and followed on twitter @TJJohnston.