AMHERST — A second-half surge helped the Amherst College football team defeat rival Williams, 28-3, Saturday at Pratt Field.
After a sluggish first half, Amherst had three straight touchdown drives that sealed the win.
Williams scored first with a 22-yard field goal from Adam Regensburg, but Amherst answered on its next drive. Quarterback Nick Morales threw a 25-yard pass to wide receiver Devin Boehm for a touchdown and 7-3 lead.
Williams appeared on the verge of taking the lead at the half. Williams had a fourth-and-goal from the 3 with 30 seconds left, but Amherst stopped the Ephs in the backfield and kept the lead heading into halftime.
“That defensive stop at the end of the half was huge,” Amherst coach E.J. Mills said. “We were able to maintain the lead and gain some momentum heading into the second half.”
Amherst was a different team in the second half as three consecutive touchdown drives led Amherst to the victory.
“Coach came in (at halftime) and challenged all of us,” said senior defensive lineman Niyi Odewade. “Asking us who wants it more. At that moment we realized we had 30 minutes and we had to decide how we wanted to be remembered.”
Morales found Boehm for a 55-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 14-3. After a three-and-out by Williams, Amherst capped off a 93-yard drive with a 14-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Alex Berluti to his brother Bo Berluti for a 21-3 lead with 8:07 left in the third quarter.
Amherst linebacker Evan Boynton intercepted Williams quarterback Peter Cahill on the very next drive. Amherst capitalized on that turnover when Morales found Bo Berluti for a 31-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 28-3.
After only putting up 47 yards of total offense in the first half, Amherst gained 246 yards in the second half. Morales went 10 of 12 for 169 yards and three touchdowns. Alex Berluti went 9 of 13 for 87 yards and a touchdown.
Boehm had nine catches for 97 yards and two touchdowns. Bo Berluti finished with five catches for 68 yards and two touchdowns. Odewade finished with 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss.
Amherst (4-4) snapped a three-game losing streak. Williams finished 0-8 for its first winless season since 1947.
“This is our rivalry game. Records get thrown out and we go out there and play,” said Mills. “This was our senior’s last game and they are going to remember this forever.”
Added Odewade: “You here about this game since freshman year. This is the game that seniors remember the most. It feels so great to have family and friends here to support you in your final game. There is nothing else like it.”