Logo: Wesleyan Athletics

at Wesleyan 48, Hamilton 12

Saturday, October 3, 1998 at Middletown, Conn.

GAME NOTES

Tailback Tom Themistocles gained 113 yards on nine carries and scored a pair of first-half TDs while wide receiver Matt Perceval had six catches for 134 yards and two TDs to lead Wesleyan (2-0) to an easy 48-12 victory over Hamilton (0-2).

Combined with three wins to end the 1997 campaign and an opening-day 55-28 triumph at Middlebury, Wesleyan ran its win streak to five games heading into its next outing at Colby October 10. It also marked the first time in the team's 116-year history that the team scored over 100 points after its first two games. The 1968 team had 69 points after two contests, the most prior to the 1998 season.

In addition to the performances of Themistocles and Perceval, Wesleyan got strong showings from fullback John Pascucci, with 11 rushes for 84 yards and a TD, while QB Jake Fay completed 11 of 19 passes for 199 yards and the two TDs to Perceval.

Hamilton, which picked up just 53 yards rushing on 40 attempts, was led by QB Robbie Peters, who completed 17 of 33 passes for 180 yards. Kelby Valenti paced the Hamilton receiving corps with four catches for 70 yards.

SCORING SUMMARY 

1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr - Total
Hamilton (0-2) 0 0 6 6 - 12
Wesleyan (2-0) 14 21 13 0 - 48

1st Quarter 
Wesleyan - Bryant Lee 30 punt return (Curt Younkin kick) 13:54
Wesleyan - Tom Themistocles 3 run (Curt Younkin kick) 7:51 (8-play, 53-yard drive)

2nd Quarter 
Wesleyan - John Pascucci 2 run (Curt Younkin kick) 13:24 (5-play, 78-yard drive)
Wesleyan - Tom Themistocles 4 run (Curt Younkin kick) 2:35 (11-play, 75-yard drive)
Wesleyan - Matt Perceval 67 pass from Jake Fay (Curt Younkin kick) 1:26 (1-play, 67-yard drive)

3rd Quarter 
Wesleyan - John Pascucci 5 run (Curt Younkin kick) 13:14 (4-play, 58-yard drive)
Wesleyan - Matt Perceval 9 pass from Jake Fay (kick failed) 9:13 (8-play, 57-yard drive)
Hamilton - Chris Wollard 1 run (kick blocked) 3:08 (7-play, 22-yard drive)

4th Quarter
Hamilton - Cory Malnikof 1 run (kick wide) 1:25 (8-play, 56-yard drive)

TEAM STATISTICS 
WESLEYAN HAMILTON
First Downs (Run-Pass-Penalty) 17 (9-8-0) 15 (7-7-1)
Rushing Attempts 35 40
Positive Yards Rushing 247 99
Negative Yards Rushing 12 46
Net Total Yards Rushing 235 53
Net Total Yards Passing 204 214
Passes Attempted-Completed-Intercepted 20-12-0 35-19-2
Total Offensive Plays 55 75
Total Net Yards 439 267
Average Gain Per Play 8.0 3.6
Penalties: Number-Yards 7-77 2-10
Fumbles: Number-Lost 2-1 1-0
Interceptions By: Number-Yards 2-0 0-0
Punts: Number-Yards-Average 3-111-37.0 6-195-32.5
Punt Returns: Number-Yards 6-76 1-0
Kickoff Returns: Number-Yards 2-57 8-101
Fumble Returns: Number-Yards   0-0 0-0
Time of Possession 25:56 34:04
Third-Down Conversions 2 of 8 6 of 17
Fourth-Down Conversions 1 of 2 1 of 4
Sacks by: Number-Yards   5-27 1-5

 


INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: Hamilton - Chris McCarthy, 13-39; Cory Malnikof, 11-20; Chris Wollard, 5-14; Charles Martin, 1-3; Daniel Catlin, 1-2; Matt Williamson, 2-(-6); Robbie Peters, 7-(-19). Wesleyan - Tom Themistocles, 9-113; John Pascucci, 11-84; Gary Tier, 5-28; Larry Woolard, 3-8; Rahsaan Wareham, 1-6; Dale Hendricks, 1-2; Dan Beaudette, 2-1; Kevin Cornish, 1-(-1); Jake Fay, 2-(-6).

PASSING: Hamilton - Robbie Peters, 32-17-1, 180 yards; Matt Williamson, 2-2-0, 34 yards; Chris McCarthy, 1-0-1. Wesleyan - Jake Fay, 19-11-0, 199 yards, 2 TDs; Kevin Cornish, 1-1-0, 5 yards.

RECEIVING: Hamilton - Shawn Lyons, 5-42; Kelby Valenti, 4-70; Chris McCarthy, 4-27; Chris Wollard, 2-39; Charles Martin, 2-2; Jay Morrel, 1-27; Mike Feurstein, 1-7. Wesleyan - Matt Perceval, 6-134, 2 TDs; George Thompson, 4-60; Chris McCurdy, 1-5; Tom Themistocles, 1-5.

PUNTING: Hamilton - Greg Bemis, 5-195, 39.0 average; Team, 1-0. Wesleyan - Mark Olshefskie, 3-111, 37.0 average.

Attendance: 2,200