Football

Wesleyan and Trinity Share NESCAC Football Title

The Wesleyan Cardinals held off the Trinity Bantams to earn a 31-28 victory at Andrus Field in Middletown in the final football game of the regular season.

The Cardinals and Bantams finished the season with identical 7-2 records and finished the season as NESCAC Co-Champions. Wesleyan earns a share of the conference title for the second year in a row and third time in program history after winning it outright in 2024. Trinity earns a share of the title for the 12th time in team history and the third time in the last four seasons.
  • Despite Wesleyan dominating the time of possession, both defenses held firm over the first quarter.
  • In the second quarter, the Cardinals struck first. A 22-yard field goal from Gage Hammond capped a 15-play, 73-yard drive to put Wesleyan ahead 3-0.
  • On 2nd-and-17 with 11:30 to play in the second, Matt Fitzsimons connected with Justin Meyreles on a 74-yard catch-and-run to push the Cardinals’ lead to 10-0.
  • With 3:58 remaining in the first half, the Bantams found the endzone with a quick five-play, 45-yard drive, featuring a 33-yard reception from Darison Hooper, followed by a five-yard touchdown catch from Hooper to trim the margin to 10-7.
  • On Wesleyan’s ensuing possession, Angelo LaRose ripped off a 78-yard touchdown run to add to the Cardinals' lead, 17-7.
  • The team went score-for-score in the third quarter, as Jaxon Carroll spotted Jamieson Hodlin for a 59-yard touchdown on the Bantams' opening drive to set the score at 17-14.
  • Again, the Cardinals responded on the following drive as LaRose found a hole for a 65-yard run to set up Wesleyan at the Trinity 11-yard line. Two plays later, Fitzsimons hit Sam Wien on a 13-yard touchdown pass to put the Cardinals on top 24-14.
  • Trinity answered with a nine-play, 69-yard drive, punctuated with Michael Miller Jr. hauling a deflected pass in the endzone to close the gap to 24-21 with 6:06 to play in the third quarter.
  • With 13:16 left on the clock, Wesleyan orchestrated a 13-play, 57-yard drive, lasting nearly seven minutes of play as a one-yard touchdown run from Fitzsimons gave the Cardinals a 31-21 lead.
  • With less than four minutes to play, the Bantams looked to rally with a 10-play, 64-yard drive, which closed with a 14-yard touchdown reception from Hooper to make it a 31-28 game.
  • Trinity’s Hail Mary attempt after forcing a Wesleyan punt came up empty.
Inside the Numbers:
  • The Bantams produced 292 yards on 58 plays, including 255 passing yards and a season-low 37 rushing yards.
  • Carroll completed 19 passes on career-high 39 attempts for 255 yards and a career-high four touchdowns.
  • Hooper matched a career-high with five receptions for a career-high 85 yards with a career-high two touchdowns.
  • Hodlin registered a career-high 71 receiving yards on two catches with a score.
  • Defensively, Lincoln Moore recorded a game-high nine tackles, including two tackles for loss.
  • The Cardinals generated 493 yards on 67 plays, including a season-high 215 yards on the ground.
  • Wesleyan held the edge in time of possession, 36:55-23:05.
  • LaRose rushed for a career-high 219 yards on 26 carries with a touchdown.
  • Fitzsimons completed 15-of-26 passes for a game-high 278 yards and two touchdowns, along with a touchdown rush.
  • Donte Kelly posted 78 receiving yards on a game-high six receptions, while Blake Newcomb had 78 yards on three catches.
  • Austin Baker led the Cardinals' defense with a team-high eight tackles, while Dean Sokaris registered five tackles, including three TFLs and a game-high two sacks.