MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – On a picturesque fall day, it was a near picture-perfect performance turned in by the Wesleyan football team who scored 27 unanswered points to defeat Little Three rival Amherst, 34-7, on Saturday afternoon from Corwin Stadium at Andrus Field. Wesleyan (5-2) are winners of two straight and move to 4-0 at home this season, while the Mammoths (2-5) have lost three straight games.
 
In a divulge from recent history in the all-time series against Amherst, Wesleyan's 27-point drubbing of Amherst marks the largest win for the Cardinals over the Mammoths since a 46-14 triumph at home back in 1992 (29 games ago). Prior to today, the last three times Wesleyan and Amherst played, the game needed at least one overtime to decide a winner.
 
Wesleyan hit a stingy Amherst defense with big play touchdowns throughout as QB Niko Candido '25 connected with TE Matt Luttenberger '24 for a 22-yard score early in the second quarter before finding WR Chase Wilson '25 for 21 and 50-yard touchdowns in the 27-0 Cardinal scoring run.
 
Even the Cardinal defense joined in for a pair of interception touchdowns, with DB Dylan Connors '26 flipping the game on its head, taking his first career interception 82 yards to the house with 24 seconds left in the first half with Amherst was driving deep into Cardinal territory. The exclamation point on the win came when DB Wesley Abraham '25 returned his fourth interception of the season 30 yards for a touchdown that made it 34-7 early in the third quarter.
 
The Cardinals closed out a resounding win in front of 5000 strong at Corwin Stadium, improving to 8-0 in Middletown since the start of the 2022 season. The win also sets up a big clash next week when Wesleyan heads to Williams, a victory over the Ephs would clinch back-to-back outright Little Three titles for the Cardinals, something that hasn't happened since 1969-70.
 
Amherst had the first real chance at scoring in the contest, with the Mammoths intercepting Candido and starting a possession in Cardinal territory early in the first quarter. Six plays into the drive, with a 1^st-and-10 from the Wesleyan 22-yard line, the Cardinal defense forced a fourth down and on the ensuing field goal, Matthew Kelley pushed his attempt wide left.
 
Wesleyan took a 7-0 lead just under two minutes into the second quarter as Candido connected with Wilson on consecutive plays to cross midfield. RB Tyler Flynn '26 then gained seven yards on back-to-back carries before Candido lofted a pass to the deep right part of the end zone where Luttenberger hauled in his first touchdown of the season, shielding off a Mammoth defender in the process.
 
Another Candido interception proved costly as the Mammoths drew level, driving 52 yards down the field in nine plays, capped by a Mike Piazza quarterback keeper down the right sideline as he dove into the end zone to tie the score at 7-7.
 
That burst of Mammoth momentum was short-lived, however, as the Cardinals took marched 75 yards down the field in eight plays to retake the lead. Candido found Wilson again on a crucial 3^rd-and-9 play, hitting the wideout for 14 yards to prevent a three-and-out. Flynn then picked up 17 yards on the ground on the next play as the Cardinals entered Mammoth territory. Three plays later, Candido looked to his left and found a wide-open Wilson in the back left corner of the end zone as Wesleyan established a 13-7 lead.
 
On the ensuing extra point, Amherst's Kevin Agnew came up with a diving block to keep the deficit at six and calm the home crowd down a bit. The Mammoths then drove down the field, getting to the Wesleyan 29-yard line before perhaps the play of the game, Connors' interception. It was a 3^rd-and-10 play and quarterback Jack Cox tried to force the ball into double coverage over the middle needing a first down, Connors stepped in front and sprinted 82 yards for a crucial touchdown that made it a 20-7 game heading into halftime.
 
Taking the ball to start the second half, Wesleyan added to their lead as the Mammoth sent a blitz with the Cardinals at midfield. The offensive line picked up the blitz, allowing for Candido to unleash a bomb down the right side of the field. With just one man to beat, Candido's pass lofted perfectly over the lone Mammoth defender and hit Wilson in-stride for another score.
 
Then on the first play of Amherst's next possession, Piazza threw to his left and was intercepted by Abraham who tip-toed down the sideline to score from 30 yards out, making it 34-7 Cardinals and capping a run of 27 unanswered points for Wesleyan.
 
That Cardinal defense, who scored two touchdowns for the second straight game, was led by LB Ben Carbeau '25 who finished with 10 tackles. LB Kade Doverspike '24 added seven tackles while LB Jake Edwards '24 racked up six tackles and a forced fumble. DB Jack Nally '24 posted two pass breakups while Connors had two himself to go along with his pick-six.
 
Candido finished 16-for-25 throwing for 228 yards with 3 TD. Flynn had his best day as a Cardinal, running for a career-high 65 yards on 12 carries. RB James McHugh '26 went for 33 yards on four attempts as Wesleyan gained 126 yards on the ground.
 
Wilson had a monster day to lead the pass catchers for Wesleyan, totaling nine catches for 146 yards and 2 TD. The 146 receiving yards is just 12 off his career-high of 158 which he established this season in a win over Hamilton. Through seven games, Wilson has 41 catches for 639 yards and 10 TD, the second-most scores in the NESCAC.