A Perfect Ending: Amherst Football Seniors End Careers with Williams Win

The football team hosted conference foe Williams on Saturday for the Biggest Little Game in America, marking both Homecoming and Senior Day. In their final game of the 2025 season, the Mammoths walked away victorious, 14-13, capping an unforgettable day of celebration for alumni, fans, and especially the senior class.

Both teams traded possession back and forth. At the end of the first quarter, the Amherst offense got going. Quarterback Marek Hill ’28 found receiver Carter Jung ’26 for 31 yards, followed by receiver Christian Moore ’27 for an additional gain of eight yards. Receivers Sam Gerber ’26 and Keith Delaney ’26 were also successful Hill targets, helping move the chains. At the beginning of the second quarter, their hard work pushed Amherst into field goal range, and Hudson Fulcher-Melendy ’28 successfully kicked the 27-yard field goal for the 3-0 lead. Williams looked to equalize or gain a lead, but defensive back Tylik Sims ’27 had other plans; reading the Williams quarterback’s pass with ease, he leapt into the air for the interception, returning the ball 24 yards. With the ball now back in Amherst’s possession, Fulcher-Melendy kicked his second field goal of the game for the 6-0 lead. The stifling Amherst defense prevented any serious Williams advancement: Linebacker Ty Kazanowsky ’27 forced Williams quarterback Mustafa Mozawalla to fumble, and linebacker Luke Harmon ’26 tackled Eph player Henry Machnik the following play on the Williams 22-yard line for a loss. Later on in the second quarter, Williams went for it on fourth and two, but stellar play from defensive lineman Jackson Duncan ’27 and Kazanowsky brought Williams down short, forcing the turnover on downs. Williams would find the endzone towards the end of the first half, sending the teams to half with a narrow 7-6 Eph lead.

Although Williams started the second half with the ball, a huge sack by defensive lineman Wyatt Morgan ’28 and a quarterback-hurry by Duncan gave the ball back to the home purple team. Running back Demitrius Smith ’27 and Delaney helped Amherst progress slowly but steadily down the field. And again, Fulcher-Melendy stepped up in critical times, making a 22-yard field goal attempt to help the Mammoths regain the lead. Unfortunately for Amherst, Williams found the end zone again. But the Ephs decided to go for the two-point extra point conversion, much to their detriment. Kazanowky anticipated their play like a pro, abandoning his player and jumping into the passing lane. He picked off the ball and returned it full field for the pick two, narrowing the score to 13-11. 

In the fourth quarter, the Mammoths showed true grit and determination. A huge pass to Jung and a 15-yard catch from tight end Matthew Diaz ’27 put Amherst back in field goal territory. Again, it was none other than Fulcher-Melendy, playing hero and making the game-winning field goal with under three minutes to earn a slim 14-13 Amherst lead. As the defense took the field for what seemed like the last full possession, the chaos subsided as both teams focused in. As Williams threw, defensive back Niles Riding ’26 read it perfectly, intercepting the ball and falling to the ground. Amherst retook the field and knelt. Cheers erupted as students, players, coaches, and family members alike stormed the field. Amherst beat Williams, 14-13.

In the win, Fulcher-Melendy’s four made field goals tied an Amherst College 2014 single-game record for field goals in a game and earned him NESCAC Football Special Teams Player of the Week honors. Jung, Delaney, and Moore paced the receivers, while Smith led the Mammoths on the ground. Defensively, Sims and Riding each registered an interception, while Kazanowsky’s pick two landed him on the SportsCenter Top 10. Luke Harmon, defensive lineman Charlie Taylor ’29, Morgan, and defensive lineman Kemit Fisher ’26 all sacked the Eph quarterbacks, with multiple tackles for loss. Luke Harmon and defensive back Miles Harmon ’26 led the team in tackles, with 11 and nine, respectively.

The Rivalry

The Mammoth’s season concludes with a 5-4 record and a fourth-place NESCAC conference finish. Jung ranks fourth in the conference in receiving yards per game with 79.3, and Smith is sixth in rushing. Linebacker Carson Skotak ’27 leads the team in the defensive stats, averaging 8.8 tackles per game.

The win marks Amherst’s second win against Williams in three years. The Biggest Little Game in America, featuring the two schools, has been played since 1884, making it the most-played Division III rivalry game. The rivalry draws national attention from news outlets and schools. This year’s senior class graduates 2-2 playing Williams, ending on a high note. There is something indescribable about playing in and being a part of the game itself. “Beating Williams is always the goal,” Hill said. 

While they focus on the process and the specific game in front of them, every student-athlete recruited to play at Amherst knows what the Amherst-Williams rivalry is all about. Fulcher-Melendy describes it perfectly: “The Amherst-Williams rivalry is so much bigger than just a football game, especially when the game is played at Amherst; it feels like we have the whole school and alumni behind us, playing with us and rooting for us. It was the greatest feeling ever to look around the field and not see a gap in the stands. Especially when I saw people rushing the field, I can tell you that it’s not just a win for the football team, but it’s a win for Amherst College.”

Team mentality 

Aside from numbers and accolades, the conclusion of the 2025 season prompts reflection. This year’s senior class is one of the strongest in recent years, boasting impressive positional depth. More importantly, though, their leadership and commitment to the culture helped them secure the victory. When asked to describe the team in one word, captain Kazanowsky chose family. “Our team is built on family,” he said. We spend so much time playing together that we develop a bond that is like that of a family. We all run off of one heartbeat and owe it to each other to give the best we have, no matter the circumstances.” 

Luke Harmon said that he hopes his class “left behind the beginning of a special culture.” To do this, they worked tirelessly to “establish a culture, led by the captains, that gave everyone, even the freshmen, a chance to lead.”

Fulcher-Melendy praised the seniors for their leadership. “In many ways, a lot of the success we will see in the future started with these individuals,” he said. “These guys raised me, and I felt that I owed it to them to give them everything I had, and I know that other underclassmen feel the same way. They will be extremely missed, but they should feel proud of the impact that they had on this program, and everybody on the team will remember them as the guys who reinstated the Amherst football winning culture.”

Endings are always bittersweet. That’s true in this case as well. As departing senior Luke Harmon puts it: “This team was truly a pleasure to be a part of.” Jung adds that he will “remember the resilience and connection between all the guys.” Hill, who has two years ahead of him, reminds us all to cherish “the little moments.” Amidst this change, the class of 2026’s legacy endures as the team looks to begin rebuilding for what is sure to be promising future seasons.