AMERST, Mass. – The Trinity College Football team overcame an early 10-point deficit to capture a 45-20 victory over host Amherst College in a New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) battle at Pratt Field Saturday afternoon. The Bantams rise to 7-1 on the season, while Amherst slides to 2-6 overall.
 
On their opening possession, the Bantams methodically moved the ball to midfield, but on a first-and-ten play, graduate Zander Zebrowski tossed a pass in-between a pair of Trinity receivers, which was intercepted by Amherst junior Luke Harmon and returned to the Trinity 19-yard line. Inside the Bantams' redzone, the Mammoths needed one play to reach paydirt as first-year Marek Hill connected with sophomore Matthew Diaz inside the endzone pylon to give Amherst a 7-0 lead with 5:11 remaining in the first quarter.
 
The Bantams suffered another misfortunate turnover as they moved the ball into Mammoths territory. Zebrowski found junior Nolan O'Brien across the middle, but the ball was jarred loose and recovered by Amherst at their own 45-yard line. Hill completed five straight passes, including a 38-yard strike to sophomore Christian Moore. On second-and-goal from the Trinity five-yard line, Hill tried to connect with senior Owen Gaydos on a fade in the endzone but the pass was intercepted by junior Ronald Scott II to stifle the Mammoths at the end of the first quarter.
 
The Mammoths defense forced a punt after a Trinity three-and-out to take possession at their own 30-yard line. Amherst used a 42-yard strike from Hill to junior Carter Jung to move the ball to the Bantams three-yard line. The Trinity goal line defense stood strong, forcing a 19-yard field goal from first-year Hudson Fulcher-Melendy to extend the Mammoths lead to 10-0.
 
The second quarter proved to be a turning point for Trinity as the Bantams scored 28 unanswered points before halftime. Following a sack that put Trinity on their own 19-yard line, Zebrowski hooked up with senior Sean Clapp on a career-high 81-yard touchdown reception to close the gap to 10-7 with 9:29 on the clock. With the reception, Clapp became the program leader in career receptions, passing the mark set by Terry McNamara (1986-89).
 
With the Mammoths knocking on the door of the endzone again, Hill made another mistake as junior Jason Irizarry picked off a pass in the endzone to maintain the 10-7 scoreboard. On their ensuing possession, junior Tyler DiNapoli ripped off a 20-yard run followed by a 4-yard catch, and then two plays later, Zebrowski found Clapp again on a 44-yard touchdown toss to give the Bantams the lead, 14-10. Clapp moves to 25 career touchdowns, tying Jonathan Girard as the program leader in career touchdown receptions.
 
On the opening play of the Mammoths next possession, senior Skye Dolce intercepted Hill at the Amherst 21-yard line and returned the ball to the two-yard line, setting up a touchdown scamper from DiNapoli to escort the Trinity lead to 21-10 at the 4:15 mark.
 
After forcing another Amherst punt, the Bantams executed their two-minute offense as Zebrowski completed 6-of-6 passes for 58 yards to put Trinity at the Mammoths seven-yard line. Following a Zebrowski four-yard scramble, DiNapoli pounded the rock into the endzone for three yards out to build a 28-10 advantage heading into halftime.
 
The Mammoths capitalized on a Bantams turnover to open the second half as junior Kermit Fisher forced a fumble on a Zebrowski scramble, which was recovered by Harmon at the Trinity 25-yard line. Amherst used a six-play drive, capped by a six-yard touchdown run from senior Jack Roberge to trim the Bantams lead to 28-17.
 
Amherst looked to respond to the Trinity score, orchestrating a 12-play, 65-yard drive that took five minutes off the clock, but another miscue from Hill resulted in his fourth interception of the day as sophomore Bryce Ferrell jumped a route at the Bantams 12-yard line, handing the ball back to Trinity with 1:14 left in the third quarter.
 
On the first play of the Bantams drive, the Mammoths forced another turnover on a sack and fumble of Zebrowski, giving Amherst the ball on the Trinity five-yard line. The Bantams defense delivered another goal line stand to keep the Mammoths out of the endzone, forcing a 25-yard field goal from Fulcher-Melendy, making it a one-score game at 28-20 with 14:48 to play.
 
The Bantams closed the game with a trio of scoring drives to put the Mammoths away, beginning with junior Charlie Cooper pulling down Trinity's fifth interception of the day at the Amherst 23-yard line. On third-and-goal from the Mammoth's 10-yard line, Zebrowski hit graduate Max Roche on a touchdown strike to put Trinity ahead 35-20.
 
On Amherst's next possession, Trinity forced their sixth turnover of the game as junior Amari Phillips scooped up a fumble by Hill at the Mammoths 45-yard line and stormed down to the Amherst 23-yard line. With 7:09 on the clock, DiNapoli knifed through the Mammoths defense to score on a 20-yard run as the Bantams doubled up Amherst, 42-20. Trinity senior kicker Matthew Jumes added a 23-yard field goal in the final minutes to seal the 45-20 victory.
 
DiNapoli rushed for a season-high 121 yards on 21 carries and matched a career-high with three rushing touchdowns, while adding three receptions for 15 yards. Zebrowski completed 21-of-26 passes for 297 yards and three touchdowns, while Clapp finished with a season-high 162 yards on five catches with two touchdowns. O'Brien logged a career-high 10 receptions for 80 yards.
 
Defensively, the Bantams allowed a season-low 12 yards rushing and forced a season-high seven turnovers. Phillips tallied seven tackles and a fumble recovery, while senior Ma-Lyke Davis and sophomore Ethan Krauss notched five tackles each.
 
The Bantams will look to win their 12^th NESCAC Football Championship when they host Wesleyan University on Senior Day on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for Noon. Amherst travels to Williams for their season finale Saturday at Noon.