FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, Oct. 24, 1998
DARIN BYRNE LEADS AMHERST TO 34-28
OVERTIME VICTORY AGAINST WESLEYAN
MIDDLETOWN, Conn. --- Tailback Darin Byrne burst for a 22-yard TD run on the second play from scrimmage by Amherst (4-1) during overtime to give the visiting Lord Jeffs a hard-fought 34-28 football win over Wesleyan (4-1) here this afternoon.
Byrne led Amherst's ground game with 134 yards on 21 carries and scored three TDs, including a 20-yard scamper on a fake reverse with 4:11 to play, bringing Amherst back from a 28-20 deficit. When QB Peter Hoenig found Harold Henderson in the back of the endzone with the two-point conversion pass, the game was deadlocked. For the game, Hoenig completed 15 of 20 passes for 169 yards and ran 14 times for 29 yards.
Wesleyan, which got 100 rushing yards on 20 attempts by Tom Themistocles, his third 100-yard rushing game of the year, got two TD runs each from Themostocles and John Pascucci (19-74).
In overtime, Wesleyan had the ball first but failed to score as Amherst held on downs following a Wesleyan first down at the Amherst 13. Wesleyan went for it on 4th-and-12 from the 15, but QB Jake Fay slipped under pressure as he attempted to pass and the ball fell incomplete.
The loss was Wesleyan's first since losing at the same point in the season against Amherst a year ago, going 7-0 in the interim.
AMHERST 34, WESLEYAN 28
|
Wesleyan (4-1) |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
0 |
28 |
|
Amherst (4-1) |
7 |
7 |
0 |
14 |
6 |
34 |
1st Quarter
Wesleyan - Tim Themistocles 1 run (Curt Younkin kick) 4:54
Amherst - Bob DiSabato 3 run (Liam Fleming kick) 1:02
2nd Quarter
Amherst - Brian Daoust 32 fumble recovery return (Liam Fleming kick) 13:30
Wesleyan - John Pascucci 1 run (Curt Younkin kick) :08
3rd Quarter
Wesleyan - Tom Themistocles 1 run (Curt Younkin kick) 2:50
4th Quarter
Amherst - Darin Byrne 1 run (kick blocked) 12:32
Wesleyan - John Pascucci 3 run (Curt Younkin kick) 8:00
Amherst - Darin Byrne 20 run (Peter Hoenig pass to Harold Henderson) 4:11
Overtime
Amherst - Darin Byrne 22 run (no kick)
TEAM STATISTICS
|
Amherst |
Wesleyan |
|
|
First Downs |
21 |
20 |
|
Rushes - Yards |
47 - 178 |
44 - 166 |
|
Passess Attempted - Completed - Intercepted |
20 - 15 - 1 |
30 - 12 -2 |
|
Passing Yards |
169 |
144 |
|
Total Yards |
347 |
310 |
|
Fumbles - Lost |
1 - 1 |
1 - 1 |
|
Penalties - Yards |
4 - 37 |
4 - 29 |
|
Punts - Yards - Average |
2 - 58 - 29.0 |
4 - 151 - 38.8 |
|
Return Yards (punts, fumbles, interceptions) |
54 |
0 |
|
Kickoff Returns - Yards |
5 - 110 |
3 - 44 |
|
Time of Possession |
31:37 |
28:23 |
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
|
RUSHING: |
Amherst - Darin Byrne, 21-134, 3 TDs ; Peter Hoenig, 14-29 ;
Bob DiSabato, 7-24, 1 TD ; Jeff Coviello, 3-5 ; Harold Henderson, 1-0
; Team, 1-(-14). |
|
PASSING: |
Amherst - Peter Hoenig, 20-15-1, 169 yards. |
|
RECEIVING: |
Amherst - Matt Hall, 7-110 ; Derrell Wright, 3-22 ; Chris
Ricciardi, 3-14 ; Darin Byrne, 1-15 ; Matt Hunt, 1-8. |
|
PUNTING: |
Amherst - Liam Fleming, 2-58, 29.0 average. |
ATTENDANCE: 6,250