On Wednesday night, the Pat McGee Band opened up the homecoming festivities with a nice blend of folk and classic rock in front of a mellow crowd. On Saturday, an unrelated Pat McGee - a 6'4", 245-pound defensive lineman for the undefeated Amherst football team - will bring his aggressive style of play to Zimman field, hoping to rock the Tufts offense in front of the homecoming crowd.
McGee, who has recorded 8.5 sacks and 35 tackles already this year, is only one part of the stingy Amherst defensive line, which has yet to allow a touchdown through five games of play. In fact, the defense has merely allowed two field goals - a 42-yard boot from Middlebury's Mike Frissora and a 40-yard shot from Colby's Keith Jonassen.
Having out-scored opponents 103-6, the Jeffs' defense makes it the team to beat in the NESCAC, although tomorrow's battle against Tufts will be its most difficult game of the season so far. While Amherst's opponents have not stood much of a chance so far, they have also been the weaker NESCAC teams; all but Wesleyan (3-2) post a losing record on the year.
Examining the impressive numbers that the Amherst defense has posted this year would make any offensive coordinator cringe, especially one who favors a ground-based attack plan. Amherst has given up an average of only 62.4 yards per game on the ground. The unit has also recorded 13 interceptions, 19 sacks, and seven forced fumbles, giving Amherst's run of the mill offense many more opportunities to score.
"The game of football has a lot to do with field position, so when our defense gives us the ball on the opposing team's 20 yard line it's obviously easier for us to score," Amherst wide receiver Derrell Wright, a senior quad-captain, said. "I think it's sort of a security blanket for our offense to know that we have such a great defense."
Trying to understand why the Amherst defense has enjoyed such success this year might be simplified by looking at the roster. Of the starting 11 defenders, eight are seniors, two are juniors, and one is a sophomore. The maturity of the Amherst defense has been inversely proportional to the number of points allowed in each of the past four seasons. In 1998, the defense allowed 141 points, in 1999 it was 88 points, and last year 70 points. And this year, the Lord Jeffs are on pace to give up about nine. Not surprisingly, Amherst's record has improved steadily throughout the past three years as well - from 5-3 in 98 to 7-1 a year ago.
Leading the defense is the McGee, whose 8.5 sacks this season give him 28 for his career, closing in on the unofficial Amherst school record of 30. The aspiring Navy Seal was named first team All-NESCAC last year, despite missing the final three games to a torn ACL. In the past two seasons he has received Amherst's "Hammer" award for the hardest hitting player.
"He's a real tenacious kid; I have a lot of respect for him," Amherst coach E.J. Mills said." He blew out his knee last year, and then came back 100 percent. He prepares meticulously for every game by watching a ton of film. He's just a good football player."
Besides McGee, two senior linebackers have also put up impressive stats this season and should provide the Jumbo offense with some problems. Dan Lalli at 5'10", 210 has cumulated a team-high 38 tackles so far and was a member of last year's first team All-NESCAC. Fellow linebacker Gregg Stankewicz (6', 220) trails only McGee in sacks with seven, and was on the second team ALL-NESCAC last year.
If anything, Tufts can find solace in the fact that Amherst does not have a dominating offense, and while the Jeffs have blown out most opponents, Middlebury (2-3) held Amherst to only a single touchdown on Oct. 6. Middlebury's defense has given up 75 points this year, but it was able to stifle the Amherst offense until mid-way through the fourth quarter.
"[Offensively], our main goal remains the same, though, and that is to keep getting first downs because if we do that then we'll eventually score," Wright said. "I think we just have to keep doing what we have been doing on defense and special teams."
The biggest question of the game concerns whether Tufts' running back tandem of junior Keven Kelley and senior Chuck McGraw - whose combined 1041 rushing yards lead any duo in the NESCAC - will be able to break through Amherst's line. Thus far, 79 percent of Tufts' offensive plays have been on the ground, and only Williams has had even had moderate success stopping them.
"Tufts has such an explosive offense and has a very solid defense as well," Wright said. "This game is going to be a battle at every position."
