Trinity at Bates, Sept. 20 - Trinity (1-0)
head football coach Don Miller equaled the New England Division III record
with his 168th career win with a 31 6 triumph over Bates (0-1) today.
Miller, in his 31st season as Bantam coach, ties Amherst coach
James Ostendarp.
Trinity was paced by junior running back Sherman Francis (Boston,
Mass.), who had 215 yards of total offense. He rushed for 132 yards on 21
carries and caught two passes for 83 yards. He scored two touchdowns,
including a 66-yard reception.
Bates scored its only touchdown on a quarterback scramble by
sophomore Matt Bazirgan (Newbury, Mass.) in the last minute of play.
Trinity 31, Bates 6
Trinity (1-0) 14 10 0 7 31
Bates (0-1) 0 0 0 6 6
T 1 8:06 Sherman Francis 5 run (Andy Reimer kick) 7-0
T 1 1:13 Francis 66 pass from Joe Mullaney (Reimer kick) 14-0
T 2 8:29 Mullaney 1 run (Reimer kick) 21-0
T 2 0:01 Reimer 27 FG 24-0
T 4 14:50 Doug Borgerson 28 interception return (Reimer) 31-0
B 4 0:34 Matt Bazirgan 4 run (kick blocked) 31-6
Tufts at Bates, Sept. 27 -Junior
quarterback Dan Morse (Randolph, Mass.) topped 250 yards of total offense
for the second straight game as the Tufts University Jumbos (1-1) downed
the Bates College Bobcats (0-2), 24-0.
Morse had 101 yards rushing on 17 carries, including a pair of
touchdowns. He was 14 for 24 passing for 181 yards, including a 15-yard
touchdown pass to junior tight end Jon Wilson (Dover, N.H.) late in the
third quarter to close out the scoring.
For the Bobcats, sophomore wide receiver Jason Coulie (Manchester,
N.H.) had a career-high eight receptions for 59 yards.
Tufts 24, Bates 0
Tufts (1-1) 7 3 14 0 24
Bates (0-2) 0 0 0 0 0
T 1 2:55 Dan Morse 1 run (Nate Herpich kick) 7-0
T 2 6:24 Herpich 36 field goal 10-0
T 3 3:26 Morse 2 run (Herpich kick) 17-0
T 3 0:55 Jon Wilson 15 pass from Morse (Herpich kick) 24-0
Bates at Williams, Oct.
4 - Despite a 100-yard rushing performance from senior tailback
P.J. McGrail (Westwood, Mass.) and getting on the scoreboard first for the
first time all season, the Bobcats (0-3) lost to the Williams College Ephs
(3-0), 36-16. Bates had am impressive opening drive, from their own 15 to
the Williams 7, though they had to settle for a Rejean Guerriero
(Spofford, N.H.) field goal. The Ephs converted three Bobcat turnovers and
a faked punt in the the first half to score 29 unanswered points and go
to halftime up 29-3. They also coverted the Bobcats' first turnover of the
second half to take a 36-3 lead with 7:37 left in the third quarter. The
Bobcats bounced back behind back-up quarterback, sophomore Matt Bazirgan
(Newbury, Mass.) who organized a touchdown drive of 13 plays for 68 yards
and 7 minutes of clock time. McGrail rushed for 48 yards in the drive,
including a 5-yard TD scamper. The Bobcats got their first interception of
the season in the fourth quarter from first-year defensive back Kevin
Jackson (Woodbury, N.J.) and scored one minute later on a nine-yard run
from junior tailback Shawn Nee (Quincy, Mass.).
The 16 points
scored matched the team's highest total ever against Williams, set in
1989. McGrail finished with 118 yards on 26 carries, while quarterbacks
Bazirgan and Chris Snow (Tewksbury, Mass.) combined were 14-28 for 172
yards. A pair of sophomores led the defense in tackles; defensive back
Paul Calner (Narraganset, R.I.) with 13 and linebacker Frost HUbbard
(Walpole, Mass.) with 12.
Williams 36, Bates 16
Bates (0-3) 3 0 7 6 16
Williams (3-0) 7 22 7 0 36
B 1 10:45 Rejean Guerriero 25 FG 3-0
W 1 1:25 Paul Bethe 4 pass from Peter Supino (Sam Landis kick) 3-7
W 2 6:34 Matt Sigrist 13 pass from Sean Keenan (Landis kick) 3-14
W 2 3:11 Sigrist 45 pass from Supino (Graham McPhail run) 3-22
W 2 0:56 Jake Rosenbury 1 run (Landis kick) 3-29
W 3 7:37 Supino 2 run (Landis kick) 3-26
B 3 0:33 P.J. McGrail 5 run (Guerriero kick) 10-36
B 4 14:00 Shawn Nee 9 run (kick failed) 16-36
Bates at Wesleyan, Oct. 12
- Sophomore quarterback Matt Bazirgan (Newbury, Mass.) had 271 yards of
total offense in his first career start for the Bates football team (0-4),
but the Bobcats succumbed to their third undefeated opponent in four
games, losing 17-14 to the Wesleyan University (4-0) Cardinals in
Middletown, Conn.
The Cardinals scored first on a 28-yard pass play from less than three
minutes into the game to take a 7-0 lead. The Bobcats came right back,
eating nearly six minutes off the clock, driving 65 yards for a touchdown,
capped by senior tailback P.J. McGrail's (Westwood, Mass.) one-yard
touchdown plunge. The Bobcats missed the extra point to remaine
down, 7-6.
Bates had a golden opportunity on Wesleyan's next possesion, when
first-year cornerback Kevin Jackson (Woodbury, N.J.) intercepted a
Cardinal pass at Wesleyan's 48. The Bobcats drove to the Cardinal 8-yard
line, converting one fourth-and-one opportunity, but a pair of penalties
prevented them from getting any closer. Late in the first half, Wesleyan
added a field goal to take a 10-6 lead into the lockerroom, but it could
have been worse as a one-yard TD run was called back for holding on the
Cardinals.
On their second possession of the second half, the Bobcats took their
latest lead of the season, driving 76 yards in just over four minutes.
Bates established its running game nicely on the drive, with four
different players running the ball, three picking up first downs. Then
Bazirgan and sophomore wideout Jason Coulie (Manchester, N.H.) caught
Wesleyan napping, as they connected for a 24-yard touchdown, the Bobcats'
first TD strike of the season. Bazirgan ran in the two-point conversion
to put the Bobcats up 14-10 with 4:54 left in the third period. On the
next possession, the Cardinals again got deep into Bates territory, but
came away empty, when a fake field goal attempt from the four-yard line
feel short.
This left the Bobcats in bad field position to start the fourth quarter,
which ultimately killed them. After three four plays, Bates was forced to
punt, and Wesleyan got the ball on the Bobcats' 32. Two plays later, the
Cardinals were in the end zone on a nice fade pattern to take a 17-14 lead
which stood up to the end. The Bobcats had the ball three more times, but
were only able make any movement on their final possession. Statring at
their own 28, Bazirgan found Coulie for 32 yards and sophomore Paul
Fantasia (Watertown, Mass.) for 19, to bring Bates to the Cardinal 21.
Unfortunately, the next four plays were three incompletions and a sack,
ending the Bobcats' come-back hopes.
The Bobcats outgained Wesleyan 430-331 and led in time of possession, 32
minutes to 27. Bazirgan finished 13-27 passing for 187 yards and a
touchdown and rushed the ball 15 times for 84 yards. McGrail earned his
second straight 100-yard performance, carrying 24 times for 103 yards and
a TD. Fantasia led all receivers with six catches, picking up 80 yards.
The Bobcats host Middlebury next weekend.
Wesleyan 17, Bates 14
Bates (0-4) 6 0 8 0 14
Wesleyan (4-0) 7 3 0 7 17
W 1 12:13 Matt Perceval 28 pass from Jake Fay (Ben Kozik kick) 7-0
B 1 6:15 P.J. McGrail 1 run (kick failed) 7-6
W 2 0:30 Kozik 29 FG 10-6
B 3 4:54 Jason Coile 24 pass from Matt Bazirgan (Bazirgan run) 10-14
W 4 13:38 Perceval 35 pass from Fay (Kozik kick) 17-14
Middlebury
at Bates, Oct. 18 - After falling behind 28-0 in the first half, the
Bates College (0-5) football team rallied to outscore Middlebury (3-2)
20-7 in the second half, but fell short in the end, losing, 35-20.
The Panthers scored on their second possession of the game, and then
recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff. They converted the tornover and
quickly had a 14-0 lead. Middlebury then scored on its final two
possessions of the half, including a score with two seconds left before
halftime. The Panthers dominated the first half, outgaining Bates 274-39
and holding a 15-minute advantage in time of possession.
The Bobcats averted falling into a further hole on Middlebury's first
possession of the second half when junior linebacker Matt Sherwood
(Maybrook, N.Y.) forced a fumble in the shadow of the Bobcats' endzone,
which sophomore defensive back Paul Calner (Narragansett, R.I.) recovered
for a touchback. That spurred the Bates defense, which held Middlebury on
its next possession and forced turnovers the next two times the Panthers
got the ball. One of those turnovers came when first-year linebacker Bob
Rosenthal (Walpole, Mass.) broke through the offensive line, sacked the
Panter quarterback, forced and recovered the fumble and rambled 35 yards
for the Bobcats' first defensive touchdown of the season.
On Bates' first possession of the fourth quarter, sophomore Matt Bazirgan
(Newbury, Mass.) drove the Bobcats 62 yards in six plays, capped by a
five-yard touchdown pass to first-year tailback Marlon Gresham (Milton,
Mass.). The Panthers reclaimed the momentum of the game, driving 57 yards
in 10 plays to ice the game with 9:35 remaining. The Bobcats scored again
on a Bazirgan sneak with 4:04 remaining, capping a 9-play, 46 yard drive.
Junior Shawn Nee (Quincy, Mass.) had a perfect on-side kick and the
Bobcats started with excellent field position to get back in the game, and
Bazirgan's scrambling ability enabled Bates to convert third downs of
eight and ten yards and a fourth down of 21. Unfortunately, the Bobcats'
final play of the game was a 4th anf 11 which went for 10 yards, stopping
the rally.
Bazirgan was the offensive star of the day, rushing for 60 net yards (107
positive, 47 negative) and a touchdown and throwing for 139 yards on
12-for-31 passing and another TD. Sophomore wideout Jason Coulie
(Manchester, N.H.) had four receptions for 46 yards. Defensively,
Rosenthal had 15 tackles, 12 solo, the touchdown on the fumble recovery
and a half a sack for nine yards.
Middlebury 35, Bates 20
Middlebury (3-2) 14 14 0 7 35
Bates (0-5) 0 0 7 13 20
M 1 5:11 Brian Coates 1 run (Scott Dudley kick) 7-0
M 1 3:39 Zach Campbell 35 pass from Coates (Dudley kick) 14-0
M 2 2:12 Brian Holmes 5 run (Dudley kick) 21-0
M 2 0:09 Brian Sanchez 32 pass from Coates (Dudley kick) 28-0
B 3 1:53 Bob Rosenthal 35 fumble return (Rejean Guerriero kick) 28-7
B 4 14:05 Marlon Gresham 5 pass from Matt Bazirgan (Guerriero kick)
28-14
M 4 9:35 Sanchez 16 run (Dudley kick) 35-14
B 4 4:04 Bazirgan 1 run (Bazirgan run failed) 35-20
Bates at Colby, Oct. 25 - In
one of the more bizarre endings in CBB Conference history, the Bobcats
(1-5) hung on to defeat the Colby College White Mules (0-6), 22-21, in
Waterville.
The Bobcats have snapped a 14-game overall losing streak. They had lost 10
in a row to Colby dating back to 1987, and 33 in a row on the
road.
In the While Mules' last possession of the game with 3:54 remaining, they
took over at their won 20, but worked their way to midfield.
On second down and 10, first-year defensive back Pat Collins (Walpole,
Mass.) picked up a five yard sack, which senior defensive lineman Greg
Donoghue (Norwell, Mass.) compounded with an 11-yard sack of his own.
On fourth and 26, however, Colby completed a 37-yard pass to get to the
Bobcats' 22 yard line. Two plays later, they had the ball first and goal
at the Bates 10. A run up the middle brought them to the Bobcat three yard
line. After an incomplete pass on second down, the Bobcats committed pass
interference, giving Colby four more chances from the Bates 2. The first
pass was incomplete. The next was batted up in the air by senior
co-captain Brendan Cullen (West Roxbury, Mass.) and appeared to be
intercepted by first-year linebacker Bob Rosenthal (Walpole, Mass.), but
he was called out of bounds. On third down, Colby brought on the field
goal unit for a 19-yard attempt. The kick was blocked by Collins, but the
Mules recovered for another chance, with six seconds left on the clock.
Collins and Rosenthal each got good pressure, and though the Mules got the
kick off, it was wide left, giving Bates the dramatic win.
The Bobcats got on the board twice in the first quarter. On their first
possession of the game, they drove 79 yards in 21 plays, running eight
minutes off the clock. Quarterback Matt Bazirgan (Newbury, Mass.) hit Paul
Fantasia (Watertown, Mass.) from 26 yards out to put the Bobcats up 7-0.
In their only other possession of the first quarter, punter and backup
quarterback, senior Chris Snow (Tewksbury, Mass.) completed a fake punt on
4th and 18 to sophomore lineback Frost Hubbard (Walpole, Mass.) for a
first down. The Bobcats scored three plays later on another Bazirgan to
Fantasia strike, this time for 29 yards. Bazirgan found senior
running back P.J. McGrail (Westwood, Mass.) for the two-point
conversion, putting the Bobcats up 15-0.
Colby scored on the first possession of the second quarter to cut the
score to 15-7. On the second possession of the third quarter, McGrail
picked up 48 yards on just three plays, scoring from 26 yards out to put
Bates up for good, 22-7. McGrail rushed for 124 yards on 26 carries, 112
of those yards coming in the second half. Bazirgan finished 16 for 28
passing for 195 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also picked up 65 yards
rushing. The Bates defense was led by Hubbard's 11 tackles.
Bates 22, Colby 21
Bates (1-5) 15 0 7 0 22
Colby (0-6) 0 7 8 6 21
B 1 5:12 Paul Fantasia 26 pass from Matt Bazirgan
(Rejean Guerriero kick) 7-0
B 1 0:06 Fantasia 29 pass from Bazirgan
(P.J. McGrail pass from Bazirgan) 15-0
C 2 9:59 Miguel Gonzalez 5 run (Adnrew Tripp kick) 15-7
B 3 11:42 McGrail 26 run (Guerriero kick) 22-7
C 3 2:52 Tom Keblin 4 pass from Nate Bradley
(Pete Hans pass from Bradley) 22-15
C 4 11:43 Keblin 1 run (kick failed)
22-21
Bowdoin at Bates, Nov.
1 - In the 100th meeting between the two teams, the Bowdoin Polar
Bears (3-4) prevailed over the Bates Bobcats (1-6) by a score of 28-19.
Bowdoin now leads the all-time series, 59-34-7, and has the inside track
on the CBB title when they host Colby next week.
The Polar Bears got out to an early 14-0 lead in the fourth quarter on a
76-yard passing touchdown. On Bates' next possession, the Polar Bears
recovered at Bates fumble and scored 11 plays later.
The Bobcats got a scare on the first possession of the second quarter when
sophomore quarterback Matt Bazirgan (Newbury, Mass.) was sacked hard and
lay on the ground for several minutes without moving. He was take to
Central Maine Medical Center, where he was diagnosed with a concussion and
was back on the sidelines by the end of the game. Bowdoin capitalized on
another Bates turnover, taking over at their own 39 and converting four
straight first downs and eventually scoring on a quarterback
keeper. The Bobcats looked to have a golden chance on the ensuing kickoff
which was returned 64 yards by junior Shawn Nee (Quincy, Mass.), but a
fourth down conversion attempt fell just short.
Bates' luck started to change on the third play of the second half, when
first-year cornerback Kevin Jackson (Woodbury, N.J.) took his third
interception of the year 50 yards for a touchdown. The extra point cut the
lead to 21-7. On their first possession of the fourth quarter Bates
extended the momentum by going 83 yards in 16 plays, including a pair of
fourth down conversions, one on a quarterback sneak by quarterback Chris
Snow (Tewksbury, Mass.), the other on a 29-yard pass completion from Snow
to sophomore wideout Paul Fantasia (Watertown, Mass.). Three plays later,
sophomore fullback Alexi Whitney (Brookline, Mass.) plunged in from the
two. A failed extra point left the score at 21-13. The Bobcats defense
came up huge when Jackson recovered a Bowdoin fumble two plays later at
the Bowdoin 45. Sophomore wide receiver Jason Coulie made a spectacular
catch five plays later for a 24-yard touchdown. Snow's pass on the
two-point conversion went out of the end zone, meaning the Bobcats would
need one more score to win. The Polar Bears ended that threat, however, by
driving 65 yards in just over four minutes of play for another TD.
The Bobcats offense was paced by senior tailback P.J. McGrail's (Westwood,
Mass.) 162 yards on 34 carries. McGrail had 118 yards in the first half,
including a 47-yard ramble, his second-longest of the season. Coulie had
five catches for 73 yards and the touchdown.
Bowdoin 28, Bates 19
Bowdoin (3-4) 14 7 0 7 28
Bates (1-6) 0 0 7 12 19
Bow 1 6:46 Chris Day 76 pass from Hayes MacArthur
(Jeremy Riffle kick) 0-7
Bow 1 1:04 Randy Petit 3 run (Riffle kick) 0-14
Bow 2 5:10 MacArthur 6 run (riffle kick) 0-21
Bat 3 14:35 Kevin Jackson 50 interception return
(Rejean Guerriero kick) 7-21
Bat 4 9:03 Alexi Whitney 2 run (kick failed) 13-21
Bat 4 6:06 Jason Coulie 24 pass from Chris Snow
(pass failed) 19-21
Bow 4 1:51 Petit 4 run (Riffle kick) 19-28
Bates at Hamilton, Nov.
8 - The Bobcats (1-7) got off to a quick start, scoring first
for the third time this season, but were unable to build on the lead, as
the Hamilton College (2-6) Continentals had the better of the play in the
pouring rain, 17-7.
Things looked to be going the Bobcats' way on their first possession,
which resulted from a Hamilton fumbled kickoff. The Bobcats got to the
Continental 10-yard line, but could not get any closer, failing to convert
a fourth and two play. On Hamilton's first possession, first-year
corner back Pat Collins (Walpole, Mass.) intercepted a pass and returned
it 53 yards to the Continental two. Two plays later, senior tail back P.J.
McGrail (Westwood, Mass.) scored his team-leading fourth touchdown of the
season.
Unfortunately, the Bobcats would only penetrate Hamilton territory three
more times on the afternoon. Only one of those three drives got inside the
Continental 35. After going scoreless in the first quarter, Hamilton
scored once in each of the next three, with their two touchdowns coming
off Bates turnovers.
McGrail entered the game as the leading rusher in the NESCAC. He rushed
for 88 yards on 31 carries. He finishes the season with 745 yards.
Sophomore Jason Coulie (Manchester, N.H.), the second leading receiver in
the conference, had three more catches to end the season with 36.
Hamilton 17, Bates 7
Bates (1-7) 7 0 0 0 7
Hamilton (2-6) 0 7 3 7 17
Scoring:
B 1 8:13 P.J. McGrail 2 run (Rejean Guerriero kick) 0-7
H 2 9:14 Robbie Peters 5 run (Greg Bemis kick) 7-7
H 3 11:24 Bemis 20 field goal 10-7
H 4 12:12 Frank Loverro 1 run (Bemis kick) 17-7
Bates leaders: Rushing: P.J. McGrail 31-88-1.
Passing: Chris Snow, 19-6-3, 62 yards
Receiving: Jason Coulie, 3-38.
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