With the stands packed for Homecoming weekend, football (5-3) fell to the Wesleyan Cardinals (6-2) in a crushing 34-28 overtime loss on Saturday.
Students, alums, faculty, and families flocked to Farley-Lamb Field to support the Ephs in one of the season’s most anticipated games. “The atmosphere was so electric,” quarterback Mustafa Mozawalla ’29 told the Record. “It was so cool seeing the whole Williams community together and united for one goal.”
The team embraced this support and intensity from the fans. “It definitely got the players going, and we knew how much this game meant even before we stepped on the field,” defensive end William Baker ’27 said. “That’s why you go to Williams, to play in these games.”
This Homecoming matchup also marked the last home game for the seniors. “It’s definitely an emotional day,” said co-captain and running back Jon Oris ’26. “It’s a special moment to share with the other guys in my grade.”
Facing off against the Cardinals added yet another layer of significance for the Ephs, given the matchup’s history. “We haven’t beaten them in all four years that I’ve been here,” Oris said. “So that gave us a little chip on our shoulder.”
The opening exchanges of the game resulted in a pair of punts for both teams, but on Wesleyan’s third possession, a botched snap led to a fumble recovered by Campbell Pang ’26. On a drive starting at the Wesleyan 25, Ephs starting quarterback Drew Renzella ’27 hit Oris for a 14-yard touchdown reception, putting Williams on the board.
On the next Ephs possession, Renzella connected with Henry Machnik ’28 for a deep touchdown pass to increase the lead to 14-0. Wesleyan struck back with an 86-yard touchdown drive of their own, bringing the score to 14-7.
Just as the Cardinals threatened the Ephs’ end zone with the half winding down, Brady Carroll ’27 picked off Wesleyan quarterback Matt Fitzsimons at the goal line, preserving the Williams lead. On the first snap of the subsequent drive, though, Renzella was sacked and forced to leave the game with an ankle injury, leading Mozawalla to sub in as quarterback for the first time in his collegiate career.
“It was just so fast, so I wasn’t really thinking about being nervous,” Mozawalla said. “I was thinking more about doing what I love to do.” Despite the first drive with Mozawalla under center stalling out to end the half, the Ephs got out to a quick start to open the third quarter.
“Historically, we have been a run-heavy offense,” Oris said. “But it’s shifted this year, and we’re able to air the ball out a little bit more, which has been able to open up the offense.”
This transition was on full display in the opening drive of the third quarter, as Mozawalla led the Ephs downfield, completing 39-yard and 27-yard passes to Zach Falls ’28 and Oris, respectively. A 4-yard pass to Riley O’Connell ’26, caught on a ricochet, capped off the 86-yard touchdown drive, giving the Ephs a 21-7 lead.
Deep into the second half, the Ephs’ defense continued to make key plays. Later in the third quarter, Baker forced a fumble, halting the Cardinals’ drive into Ephs territory. Then, early in the fourth, linebacker Luke Mangini ’28 returned an interception 40 yards, leading to a 12-yard touchdown run by Oris to put the Ephs in front by two scores.
These big-play turnovers fit well into the Ephs’ game plan. “Coach [Mark Raymond] always puts an emphasis on winning the turnover battle and getting stops in the red zone, so we as a unit really tried to do that,” Baker said. “We all tried to step up together to be one and give our best effort towards the game.”
Entering the latter half of the fourth quarter with a 28-14 lead, Williams faced a ferocious Wesleyan comeback. With under five minutes left in the game, the Cardinals marched downfield on back-to-back touchdown drives, putting up 14 unanswered points and tying the game. In the closing seconds of regulation, an interception ended the Ephs’ drive, sending the game into overtime.
With the first possession in overtime, the Ephs got off to a promising start as Mozawalla connected with wide receiver Daven Bailey ’29 for 15 yards. Soon after, though, the drive faltered, and the Ephs’ 26-yard field goal attempt was blocked.
The Cardinals capitalized immediately on the Ephs’ scoreless possession, taking just two plays to secure the walk-off touchdown and the victory. “A lot of guys on the team showed their toughness,” Oris said. “But at the end of the day, [Wesleyan] made more plays when it mattered.”
Although the outcome wasn’t what the team had hoped, Oris expressed confidence in their potential. “We can hang in there with anybody,” he said. “Wesleyan has the best defense in the league this year, so being able to put 28 points up on them is impressive.”
Despite the loss, the Ephs emphasized their collective resilience. “My teammates kept telling me on the bench that they have my back,” Mozawalla said. “It was really nice knowing they fully supported what I was doing and what we were trying to accomplish.”
Baker also praised the team’s growth and their ability to remain focused and composed, even under pressure. “We’re always staying in the fight, regardless of the score,” he said. “This year we’ve done a much better job not hanging our heads when we get down or make a bad play, and we just keep working on the next play.”
This Saturday, the Ephs will travel to face their longtime rivals, the Amherst Mammoths (4-4), to finish off their season.
“We’re starving for a win,” Mozawalla said. “We’re going to do anything we can to win and send the seniors out on a positive note.”
Baker echoed Mozawalla. “We’ve fallen short two weeks in a row, and that’s not us,” he said. “We have to give [the seniors] one last win.”
