The Colby College football team has a few players playing iron man football.

In last week’s 31-28 loss to Wesleyan, a handful of Mules played on both sides of the ball, including lineman John Gilboy and defensive backs Derrick Beasley and Jason Buco, who each saw time at wide receiver.

“It’s based on where we are, depth-wise. We feel that’s what we need to do,” Colby head coach Jonathan Michaeles said. “We’ve got some highly conditioned athletes and kids who can give our team a little bit more than what they give on one side of the ball.”

Buco has played both sides of the ball all season, and against Wesleyan, the sophomore caught a 94-yard touchdown pass and had an interception. For Beasley, a senior, it was the first time playing offense since high school. Beasley caught a pair of touchdown passes and finished with three catches for 46 yards.

“It was a good feeling. A great feeling,” said Beasley, who also made four tackles playing safety. “I was definitely excited to be on the other side of the ball. I think I could help out the team and make some plays. I’m pretty much going back and forth between offense and defense, but I’m doing whatever the team needs me to do, so I can’t complain.”

Added Michaeles: “Derrick hadn’t played a whole lot of. During that week of practice, we gave him a couple plays and they didn’t quite come off the way we drew them up, but he made a play. He made a couple of plays.”

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Colby freshman quarterback Justin Ciero continued to improve last week, completing 17 of 33 passes for 283 yards. Ciero threw three touchdown passes and no interceptions.

“Once again, he made plays. He threw the ball pretty well. He made decisions, they weren’t always the right ones, but he made decisions and he committed to them and he stepped up and showed what he can do,” Michaeles said.

Ciero is fourth in the New England Small College Athletic Conference with five touchdown passes and is sixth in passing yards with 408.

At Amherst on Saturday, the Mules face a team that will try to run the ball and control the clock. The Lord Jeffs average 254.3 yards per game on the ground, second in the conference only to Trinity (303.7). Ryan Silva has 390 yards rushing for Amherst while Tyler Jacobs has 167.

“They’re committed to grinding it out. They’re not going to make mistakes. They’re going to force you to make mistakes,” Michaeles said.

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A defensive tackle at Endicott College, Lawrence High School graduate Kevin Pressey is tied among the NCAA Division III leaders in forced fumbles. Pressey is tied for 13th nationally with three forced fumbles for the Gulls.

This season, Pressey has 24 tackles and 2.5 sacks.

Endicott is 4-2, 2-2 in the New England Football Conference. The Gulls play at Plymouth State on Saturday.

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Husson University will celebrate Homecoming on Saturday by hosting Eastern Collegiate Football Conference rival Mt. Ida.

Husson (1-4) linebacker Ernest Wiggins is among the Division III leaders in sacks with 4.5. Wiggins has 37 tackles. Lawrence graduate Bryant Wade, also a linebacker, has 34 tackles and two sacks.

Mt. Ida (4-1) is tied with Gallaudet and Castleton at the top of the conference standings. The Mustangs average 34 points per game and are led by quarterback Scott Drosendahl, who has 1,367 passing yards and 16 touchdowns.

Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242

tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com