WATERVILLE, Me. – Big plays in the passing game and another stellar showing from the Cardinal defense paved the way to a 24-7 road win over Colby on Saturday afternoon from the Harold Alfond Stadium. A third straight win for Wesleyan keeps the Cardinals tied atop the NESCAC standings at 4-1 while the Mules drop down to 2-3 on the year.
 
Leading the charge on the day was the Wesleyan defense, as the top-ranked unit in the NESCAC (in scoring defense) allowed just eight first downs while the Mules gained just 110 yards of total offense. The 110 yards of offense is the fewest Wesleyan has allowed in a game since Week 7 in the 2018 season when Bowdoin gained 100 total yards against the Cardinals.
 
Colby did not turn the ball over on offense but were forced into punts on eight of the nine possessions. Wesleyan's defensive line wreaked havoc all afternoon long, generating three sacks while holding Colby's QB Miles Drake to just three completions on 16 attempts, totaling just 20 yards through the air in the contest.
 
A tremendous showing on defense was backed up by another terrific outing from the reigning NEFW Gold Helmet winner and NESCAC Offensive Player of the Week QB Matt Fitzsimons. After throwing for 365 yards and 5 TD in last week's 42-point win over Hamilton, Fitzsimons went 22-for-32 throwing for 258 yards and 2 TD with 0 INT against the Mules. His top target was WR Donte Kelly '29 who torched Colby with 12 catches for 140 yards and 1 TD as the rookie wideout leads the NESCAC in both receptions (35) and yards (534) through five games. WR Blake Newcomb '27 added six catches for 70 yards and 1 TD as the duo went over 200 yards receiving for the second straight week.
 
The first quarter saw each team hold the ball just once as a lengthy Colby drive ended in a punt on the Cardinals' side of the field. Taking over at their own 20-yard line, the Cardinals then marched 80 yards down the field in 13 plays in a drive that lasted over eight minutes, finishing on a 3-yard Fitzsimons TD run on a 3^rd-and-goal play.
 
Owen McDevitt '27 recorded a sack on 2^nd-and-9 on the next Colby possession, forcing the Mules into a 3-and-out. Following a 65-yard punt, the Cardinals took over at their own 11-yard line but again staged an extended drive, this time going 72 yards in 17 plays while draining 9:35 minutes off the clock. Wesleyan got to the Colby 17-yard line before the drive stalled out but not before Gage Hammond '27 knocked in a 34-yard field goal to make it 10-0 Cardinals.
 
On their second drive of the second half, Wesleyan started at their own 36-yard line and picked up a pair of third downs on a TD-scoring drive. Fitzsimons called his own number on both third downs, first picking up 10 yards on a 3^rd-and-3 before following with a 7-yard scamper on 3^rd-and-2 in the red zone. Then on the very next play, Fitzsimons connected with Newcomb on a 4-yard score to put Wesleyan up by three scores.
 
The Wesleyan defense continued to dominate, forcing three straight three-and-outs while the Colby offense picked up just one first down in the opening 20+ minutes of the second half. A fumble on a punt return gave the ball back to Colby who took full advantage on an Antone Moreis rushing TD from 37 yards out to make it 17-7 Wesleyan with 7:12 left.
 
Colby chose to attempt an onside kick trailing by 10 with 7+ minutes left and the attempt was unsuccessful as the Cardinals secured the ball and took over at their own 47-yard line. The Cardinals then didn't just sit on the ball, Fitzsimons aired it out to Newcomb on 2^nd-and-10, picking up 21 yards and followed with a 22-yard completion to Kelly to put the Cardinals in the red zone. Two plays later on 3^rd-and-goal, Fitzsimons put an exclamation point on the win, finding Kelly for a 5-yard TD score to restore the 17-point lead.
 
The Cardinals held a massive edge in time of possession, holding the ball for 38:42 compared to 21:18 for the Mules. Wesleyan ran 67 plays, averaging 5.2 yards per play, while the Mules had just 43 plays on offense, generating only 2.6 yards per play. Wesleyan went 7-for-12 on third downs and scored on all four of their red zone trips in the contest.
 
Sporting a 4-1 record, tied with three others (Amherst, Trinity, Williams) for the first place spot in the league standings, Wesleyan returns home for the start of a season-ending home swing with three of their final four games in the 2025 season to be played in Middletown. Next up is a showdown with Bowdoin on Saturday for a 1 PM kickoff.