Hartford, Conn. - The Colby College Football team opened their 2024 campaign on the road against the Bantams of Trinity College.  As reigning New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC), Trinity defended its home turf 17-7 to begin their charge back to title contention. 

It has been since 1995 since Colby bested Trinity in this series match up, but in each of the last three meetings the two have played close at least through the first half.  In 2021 the Mules led the Bantams 12-0 at the half before the game slipped away.  In 2022 the two foes were knotted at seven before Trinity opened it up with two late scores.  Last year Colby trailed 9-7 at half before the Bantams tallied 30 in the third quarter to seal the win. 

The 2024 version told a similar story. Both teams held possession three times before Trinity lit up the scoreboard in the opening seconds of the second quarter on a quarterback scramble by graduate student Zander Zebrowski. The two opponents exchanged field position for most of the second quarter until Trinity capitalized with a 27-yard field goal with five minutes remaining, heading into the break with a 10-0 lead.  Key plays in the first half for the Mules included a forced fumble on Trinity's first possession, a coffin corner punt by Christos Tzoumakas to force starting field position inside Trinity's five yard line for their second possession, and a sack of Zebrowski at midfield by Jordan Uzochukwo and Jack Mullen to run the clock out on the first 30 minutes.  

The Trinity quarterback threw his first touchdown pass of the season for the only score in the third. Colby mounted its first scoring drive of the season in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter, moving 63 yards on 12 plays, with Declan McNamara finding Duke Ferrara in the back of the end zone for a four-yard score.  The Mules held the Bantams to less than 100 yards rushing on the day, but Zebrowski was 29 of 34 passing for 295 yards.  He had one score on the ground and one through the air.  Colby was held to 54 net yards rushing on the afternoon, but Ferrara closed in on the century mark with six catches for 90 yards, both career-highs for the senior.  

Colby will return to Mayflower Hill next weekend welcoming Williams College for a Homecoming affair.  The Mules took down the Ephs two seasons ago in Waterville 24-12, but narrowly lost the match up last season at Williams 25-22.  Kickoff is slated for 1:00 pm.