Hamilton College quarterback Brandon Holtslag '06 gained 302 yards of total offense and scored three touchdowns on short runs to lead the Continentals to a 24-19 win against Wesleyan University in a New England Small College Athletic Conference game at Steuben Field on Oct. 1.
Hamilton (1-1 overall, 1-1 conference) snapped a five-game losing streak that dated back to last season and defeated Wesleyan for the first time since 1996. The Cardinals, who had won the last eight games against Hamilton, are 0-2 for the first time since 1994.
Holtslag went over the 3,000-yard mark in passing for his career by throwing for 171 yards. He now has 3,162 yards passing in his career. Holtslag completed 16-of-24 passes and threw one interception. He also ran for a game-high 131 yards on 21 carries for an average of 6.2 yards per rush.
Wide receiver Joe Rinaldo '08 caught eight passes for 85 yards. Rinaldo has eight receptions in each of the first two games this year. He has a total of 133 yards receiving.
The Continentals' defense was credited with seven sacks – three by lineman Taylor Soobitsky '09 – and forced six turnovers. Linebacker Jay Rishel '06 led the way with a game-high ten tackles, including six solo stops. Rishel grabbed his second career interception and returned it 14 yards. He had a sack on the quarterback and broke up a pass.
Defensive back Matt Pitarresi '08 forced a fumble, recovered a fumble and broke up four passes. Pitarresi, who led the conference with 100 tackles in 2004, made eight in this game. Defensive back Jesse Koch '07 had seven tackles and intercepted a pass. Lineman Derek Donovan '08 had two sacks and finished with a total of four tackles for losses of 11 yards. Linebacker Tom Monfiletto '09 returned an interception 15 yards. Defensive back Jimmie Williams '07 forced a fumble, recovered a fumble and recorded a sack.
After a scoreless first quarter, Wesleyan took a 6-0 lead just six seconds into the second quarter. The holder mishandled the snap on the point-after attempt. Holtslag tied the score on a 1-yard run that capped a 14-play, 63-yard drive with 4:45 left in the quarter. Holtslag's 16-yard pass to receiver Frasher Kempe '08 on third down was a key play in the drive. The PAT by Peter Kopp '07 gave Hamilton the lead for good.
After Pitarresi recovered a fumble by the Wesleyan quarterback at the Cardinals' 25-yard line, Holtlsag plunged in again from the 1 just three plays later for a 13-6 lead with 41 seconds remaining. A pass interference penalty put Hamilton in position to score the second touchdown.
The Continentals made the score 20-6 on a 3-yard scamper by Holtlsag with 8:51 left in the third quarter. Holtslag's 26-yard run on third-and-long and his 28-yard pass to receiver Sam Peskin '06 on fourth down were the key plays of the drive. Wesleyan pulled within nine points on a touchdown 3:25 later, but a rushing attempt on the two-point conversion was snuffed out by Hamilton.
Kopp kicked a 21-yard field goal – his second in as many games – for a 24-12 lead with 3:26 left in the fourth quarter. The Cardinals scored their third touchdown with just 1:48 remaining to cut the deficit to five points. However, the Continentals recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock. Holtslag ran three times for 12 yards on the final possession to clinch the victory.
Hamilton had the advantage at the line of scrimmage, gaining 153 yards rushing to Wesleyan's 88. The Cardinals picked up 19 of their 30 first downs via the pass. Wesleyan was whistled for 10 penalties for 92 yards while just three flags were thrown against the Continentals. Hamilton was successful on seven third down conversions out of 14 chances, and converted on fourth down two-out-of-three times.
The Continentals play their first game away from home on Saturday, Oct. 8, against Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., at 1 p.m.
Posted October 1, 2005
