One of the things that has hurt the Colby College football team in the early part of the season is turnovers. The Mules have only caused one, while giving the ball away six times. Colby (0-3) has the worst turnover margin in the New England Small College Athletic Conference — minus-5.
“We’ve had some chances. If you saw the game last weekend (vs. Wesleyan), we had two in our hands,” Colby head coach Jonathan Michaeles said. “You’ve got to catch the football when you cause them to put the ball in your hands.”
Michaeles thinks the turnovers Colby’s offense committed stem from trying to do too much when playing catchup.
“Offensively, they’ve been coming late in the game, and we’ve been behind. We’re pressing and we’re trying to do too much,” Michaeles said. “Even when you’re behind, you just have to make that play that’s available for you to make. Go through your reads and take care of the football.”
Colby has used a lot of young and inexperienced players, but at this point of the season, that’s not an excuse, Michaeles said.
“We’re in Week 4 now, and whether you’re a freshman or a sophomore, you’re really a sophomore or junior at this point. Game reps only help,” Michaeles said.
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As usual, Colby’s schedule is frontloaded with some of the top teams in the NESCAC. Including this week’s opponent, Amherst, the Mules first four opponents are a combined 10-2. Amherst, Wesleyan and Trinity are each currently undefeated.
“We’ve been talking about that since January. It’s a known commodity. We knew what they were last year. We knew what those teams had coming back, and that is the challenge. When you face great teams, you’ve got to step up and make plays,” Michaeles said.
The schedule eases up a little for the Mules in the second half of the season, with games against Hamilton (0-3), Bates (1-2), Tufts (2-1) and Bowdoin (1-2).
“We’ve done some good things. The defense played well much of the game against Wesleyan. We had a running back for 100 yards in two of the three games,” Michaeles said. “We’re doing things, we’re not finishing the drive.”
This week, Colby faces an Amherst team that leads all of Division III in points allowed (4.3 per game) and is 12th in the nation in total defense, allowing 230.3 yards per game.
“They play sound, sound defense,” Michaeles said.
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Last week, Husson opened Eastern Collegiate Football Conference play with an impressive 20-10 win over Norwich. This week, the Eagles face SUNY-Maritime on the road in another tough conference game.
Husson (2-1) is playing balanced football, offensively. The Eagles average 130.7 yards per game rushing and 185.7 yards per game through the air. SUNY-Maritime allowed 265 yards in a 7-6 loss at Mt. Ida last week.
Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242
Twitter: @TLazarczykMTM
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