Middletown, Conn. - Senior wide receiver Todd Themistocles (Hanover, Mass.) caught 11 passes for 147 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Wesleyan University Cardinals to a 37-13 win over the visiting Trinity College Bantams in New England Small College Athletic Conference football action this afternoon.

Trinity finishes the season with a 4-4 record after three consecutive losses, while the Cardinals end up at 5-3. The game was 100th between the two historic rivals, dating back to 1885. Wesleyan holds a 52-47-1 edge in the series, although the Bantams have taken 15 of the last 20.

Trinity got on the board on its first possession on a 27-yard field goal by sophomore Skip Sullivan (Milton, Mass.). The drive was kept alive on 4th-and-8 from the Wesleyan 37-yard line on a successful fake punt by Trinity. Junior fullback David Mogan (Foxboro, Mass.) took a direct snap and ran 35 yards to the two-yard line, but the Bantams had to settle for a field goal.

Trinity followed the field goal with more surprises, as Sullivan kicked off onsides. Wesleyan recovered the kick and took advantage of the good field position by driving 48 yards on 10 plays for a touchdown. Freshman quarterback Brennan Carney (South Burlington, Vt.) completed a 10-yard pass to senior captain Larry Woolard (Middletown, Conn.) for the Cardinal score.

Later in the first quarter, Wesleyan threatened to take a larger lead, after recovering a fumbled snap by Trinity freshman punter Joe Wahl (Rumford, R.I.) at the Bantam 28-yard line. The Cardinals fumbled four plays later, and Trinity junior free safety Steven Cella (Peabody, Mass.) recovered on the Trinity 10-yard line to end the threat.

In the second quarter, Wesleyan did take a 14-3 lead on a 32-yard pass from Carney to junior wide receiver John Stokel (Portsmouth, N.H.). Trinity answered with a 42-yard field goal by Sullivan to cut the lead to 14-6 with 2:45 remaining in the half, but the Carney found Themistocles in the end zone from 25 yards out to give Wesleyan a 21-6 advantage at the half.

Trinity began a comeback in the second half, when freshman Tom Pierandri (Ridgefield, Conn.) scored on a 12-yard drwa paly with 11:29 left in the third quarter. The score was set up by an interception by Trinity junior outside linebacker Matt Dorn (Braintree, Mass.) and a late hit call on Ward by the Cardinal defense.

The Trinity defense stopped Wesleyan on its next two drives and came up with a big play late in the third quarter. Cella forced a fumble by Themistocles and Dorn recovered the ball on the Bantam five-yard line. The momentum quickly shifted back to the Cardinals three plays later, when a Trinity lineman was called for a tripping penalty in the end zone giving the Cardinals a safety and a 23-13 lead. Wesleyan took control of the game from there with Carney throwing two more touchdown passes to themistocles to give him a career-high five for the game.

Wesleyan outgained Trinity, 385 to 271, including 267 passing yards by Carney on 17 completions. Sophomore quarterback Greg Ward (Avon, Conn.) completed 14 passes to nine different Trinity receivers in 40 attempts for 177 yards, including three completions for 50 yards to freshman wide out Andrew Eastman (Milton, Mass.) Pierandri paced Trinity on the ground with 67 yards on 18 attempts. Sophomore tailback Ronnie Jacobs (Staten Island, N.Y.) rushed 19 times for 58 yards to lead the Cardinals.

Dorn was active all game on defense, totaling eight tackles, an interception, a fumble recovery, a forced fumble, and a pass breakup. Senior cornerback Charles Botts (Boston, Mass.) made seven tackles and broke up three passes, while sophomore inside linebacker David Midura (Easton, Mass.) added seven tackles for the Bantams.

Trinity, Conn. (4-4) 3 3 7 0 -- 13

Wesleyan (5-3) 7 14 9 7 -- 37

SCORING

1. 10:49 TC- Skip Sullivan 27-yard field goal T3-0

1. 7:47 W- Larry Woolard 10-yard pass from Brennan Carney (Curt Younkin kick) W7-3

2. 14:46 W- John Stokel 32-pass from Carney (Younkin kick) W14-3

2. 2:45 TC- Sullivan 42-yard field goal W14-6

2. 1:37 W- Todd Themistocles 25-yard pass from Carney W21-6

3. 11:29 TC- Tom Pierandri 12-yard run (Sullivan kick) W21-13

3. 3:16 W- Safety (Trinity called for penalty in the end zone) W23-13

3. 1:08 W- Themistocles 16-yard pass from Carney (Younkin kick) W30-13

4. 13:02 W- Themistocles 19-yard pass from Carney (Younkin kick) W37-13

TEAM STATS

                                                                             Trinity                               Wesleyan

First Downs                                                         16                                              14

Rushes-yards                                                        38-94                                    40-118

Passing (att-comp-int-yds)                              40-14-1-177                         33-17-1-267

Return yards                                                          26                                               86

Punts-avg                                                        8-32.1                                     6-40.0

Fumbles-lost                                                          6-2                                               4-2

Penalties-yards                                                  6-42                                      11-81

Time of Possesion                                          28:30                                       31:30

RUSHING

TC- Tom Pierandri 18-67, David Mogan 1-35, Charles Kalender 3-14, Matt Glasz 4-5, Brian Fabrizio 3-(-6), Joe Wahl 1-(-7), Greg Ward 8-(-14).

W- Ron Jacobs 19-58, Dan Quinones 6-31, Rahsaan Wareham 13-29, Brennan Carney 2-(-8).

PASSING

TC- Greg Ward 14-40-1-177.

W- Brennan Carney 17-33-1-267.

RECEIVING

TC- Brian Fabrizio 2-53, Andrew Eastman 3-50, Kevin Waters 1-20, Porter Fraker 1-18, Zachary Costa 1-12, Tom Pierandri 2-9, Mike Indelicato 1-8, Peter Nesbit 2-5, Jake Sexton 1-2.