HARTFORD, Conn. – The Trinity College Football team fell to visiting Wesleyan University, 27-17, in their 2024 finale at Jessee Miller Field Saturday afternoon. The Bantams wrap their campaign with a 7-2 record, while the Cardinals close at 8-1 and claim their second New England Small College Athletic Conference Championship.
 
On their second possession of the first quarter, the Bantams struck first as junior Nolan O'Brien delivered a 38-yard punt return to set the Bantams up deep in Cardinal territory. Trinity moved the ball to the Wesleyan three-yard line, but their drive stalled, leading to a 22-yard field goal from Jumes to hand the Bantams a 3-0 lead with 3:32 remaining in the first half.
 
The Cardinals grabbed a 7-3 lead early in the second quarter as senior quarterback Niko Candido connected with first-year Keith Capuano to a 22-yard touchdown pass inside the pylon to cap a 12-play, 75-yard drive with 11:23 on the clock.
 
Trinity responded on their following possession, executing a quick five-play, 75-yard drive, ignited by a 43-yard connection from Zebrowski to Laughlin that put the Bantams at the Cardinal 28-yard line. On third down, sophomore Patrick McCaffrey hauled in a 22-yard touchdown pass from Zebrowski to regain a 10-7 lead for Trinity.
 
Wesleyan delivered an answer on their ensuing possession, ripping off a eight-play, 77-yard drive, featuring a pair of long passes from Candido and a 24-yard run by first-year running back Matt Diaz to put the Cardinals at the Trinity four-yard line. Two plays later, Candido called his own number on a four-yard keeper to put Wesleyan ahead 14-10 with 5:20 remaining in the half.
 
The Bantams took back the lead before halftime with a six-play, 75-yard drive over the next 2:34 of play. Clapp pulled down a 27-yard pass to put Trinity on the brink of the Cardinals redzone, and then O'Brien logged a 27-yard touchdown reception to move Trinity back on top 17-14 heading into halftime.
 
Following a scoreless third quarter, the Cardinals took the lead for good with a nine-play, 59-yard drive that took nearly five minutes off the clock. On fourth-and-17 near midfield, Candido found Luke LaSaracina across the middle for a 27-yard gain to put the Cardinals at the Trinity 31-yard line. Following an eight-yard scramble by Candido, LaSaracina found space in the middle of the endzone for a 27-yard score, putting Wesleyan ahead 20-17 with 6:10 to play.
 
After forcing a Trinity three-and-out, the Cardinals put the game away with an eight-play, 78-yard drive, taking nearly three minutes off the clock. On first-and-ten from the Wesleyan 38-yard line with just over two minutes remaining, Diaz rumbled for a 52-yard tote to the Trinity 10-yard line to ice the game. Three plays later, on fourth-and-15, Candido spotted sophomore Blake Newcomb between the pylons, to seal the 27-17 win for Wesleyan.
 
The Bantams generated a season-low 227 yards of offense, including just 57 yards rushing, the Bantams lowest output since the 2021 season. Zebrowski completed 16-of-23 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns. Clapp tallied five receptions for 75 yards, while O'Brien added 48 yards on four catches with a touchdown. Junior Tyler DiNapoli totaled 81 total yards with four receptions for 32 yards and 49 yards rushing. Defensively, Davis racked up a career-high 13 tackles, while R.J. Martini and Amari Phillips added six tackles each. Sophomore Jordan Atkinson chipped in six tackles with 1.5 sacks
 
Wesleyan registered 404 yards on offense, including a season-high 214 yards rushing. Candido completed 11-of-22 passes for 190 yards and a season-high three touchdowns, along with 5      1 yards rushing and a score . First-year Matt Diaz ran for a career-high 137 yards,  LaSaracina had four catches for 77 yards and a touchdown, and senior Chase Wilson added 40 yards on three receptions. Graduate Nick Donatio notched a team-high nine tackles, while senior Ben Carbeau recorded seven tackles with two sacks.