HARTFORD, Conn. – Everything was clicking for the Wesleyan football team in the early going as the Cardinals led 14-3 in the second quarter, trying to deny Trinity their first undefeated season in program history. However, that strong start was answered in a big way as the Bantams rattled off 28 unanswered points to take a 31-14 victory, clinching the NESCAC Championship and the program's first 9-0 season.
 
The Cardinals had a very encouraging start, driving 75 yards down the field on their opening drive to take a 7-0 lead. QB Niko Candido '25 connected with WR Matt Simco '22 on a 20-yard completion on a 3^rd-and-8 play to move the chains. On a 4^th-and-1 play on the Trinity 23-yard line, TE Ezra Jenifer '23 took a handoff and found his way for a 2-yard gain. On the very next play, Candido found TE Matt Luttenberger '24 open down the middle for six, giving the Cardinals a 7-0 lead.
 
Battling a dynamic Trinity offense, the Wesleyan defense held strong in their own territory, denying what was a Bantam 1^st-and-10 on the Cardinals' 27-yard line, as DT Nick Helbig '23 blocked the 42-yard field goal attempt.
 
The Bantams hit a field goal on their next possession to cut the Wesleyan lead to 7-3 but the Cardinals made it a two-score game with another touchdown on the next series. A big play got the drive started as WR Logan Tomlinson '23 hauled in a 26-yard catch to set the Cardinals up near midfield. Candido converted two more third downs on the drive, both through the air as he found RB Charlie McPhee '22 for an 8-yard gain on 3^rd-and-7. He then later found Tomlinson open in the end zone for a touchdown pass on 3^rd-and-2 from inside the red zone.
 
Leading 14-3, Wesleyan looked to have handed Trinity points as Candido was intercepted by Joseph Lepore who returned the pick 54 yards down to the Wesleyan 11-yard line. However, on the first play of the Trinty drive, Mike Thompson '23 came up with a one-handed interception in the end zone on a Spencer Fetter throw to keep the Cardinal lead at 14-3.
 
After knocking on the door their last drive, Trinity came up with several chunk passing plays, marching down the field and ultimately finishing with a touchdown as Fetter found Devante Reid for a 19-yard score to make it 14-10.
 
Wesleyan had an extended drive before the half, driving down to the Trinity 20-yard line in the closing minute. But two straight Bantam sacks brought Wesleyan out of field goal range and kept the score at 14-10 at the halftime break.
 
Continuing their momentum from the end of the first half, Trinity took their first lead of the game on their first drive of the second half. A big 28-yard rush from William Kirby set the Bantams up inside the Cardinal red zone. Then Fetter found Sean Clapp open for six as the Bantams took a 17-14 lead.
 
The Cardinal defense held serve for most of the third quarter but as the Wesleyan offense sputtered, the Bantams took advantage late in the third as Tyler Dinapoli rushed left for a 22-yard gain before Fetter found Reid for the second time in the game, this time from 33 yards out as suddenly it was 24-14 Trinity with 2:22 left in the third.
 
Candido was intercepted right before the end of the third quarter and just as the Cardinal defense made a big stand on a 4^th-and-1 play from Trinity on the Cardinal 22-yard line, the Cardinals were stuffed on a 4^th-and-1 play of their own on the next possession.
 
With Trinity running the ball, attempting to drain the clock, the Bantams added an insurance score with a William Kirby rush from 1 yard out, handing Trinity the 31-14 victory.
 
In terms of total yards, Trinity outgained Wesleyan slightly 387-344 but the biggest difference came in the ground game as the Bantams put up 175 rushing yards compared to 49 for the Cardinals. Wesleyan had 295 passing yards compared to 212 for Trinity.
 
Candido played the entire game as the Cardinal QB, going 25-for-38 for 295 yards with 2 TD and 2 INT. The sophomore signal caller was sacked six times as the Bantams made life difficult on Candido in the pocket throughout this contest.
 
Tomlinson put up 10 catches for 112 yards and 1 TD as the senior finished his career with a sensational season, posting 72 catches for 979 yards and 10 TD. In two years playing for the Cardinals, Tomlinson racked up 131 receptions for 1,821 yards and 15 TD.
 
Simco added seven catches for 80 yards in the final game of his career. RB Owen Brickley '23 led the Cardinal ground game with 32 yards on 10 carries.
 
The Wesleyan defense was led by Alex Beauchesne '25 and Ben Carbeau '25 who each tallied seven tackles. Thompson recorded his first career interception in his final game while he also recorded a forced fumble and tackle for loss in defeat.
 
Wesleyan finished the 2022 campaign with a mark of 6-3 for the second straight season. This prolongs the Cardinals' streak of 10 straight seasons with a winning record dating back to 2012.