Wesleyan 30, Bates 24

Wesleyan (4-0)  18   6   6   0   30
Bates (0-4)     14   7   0   3   24

W   1   7:30   Tom Themistocles 2 run (kick failed)       0-6
B   1   6:29   Ryan Jarvis 67 run (Rejean Guerrieo kick)  7-6
W   1   4:00   Nate Moore 53 pass from Kevin Cornish 
				  (pass failed)           7-12
B   1   2:53   Jarvis 52 run (Guerriero kick)            14-12
W   1   1:22   John Pasucci 5 run (pass failed)          14-18
B   2   12:20  Matt Bazirgan 5 run (Guerriero kick)      21-18
W   2   9:01   Moore 58 pass from Cornish (kick failed)  21-24
W   3   6:50   Moore 13 pass from Cornish (kick failed)  21-30
B   4   5:02   Guerriero 27 FG                           24-30

                 B         W
First Downs      13        17
Rushes-Yards     39-186    44-135
Passing (A-C-I)  24-12-0   26-17-2
Passing Yds.     156       276
Total Yds.       342       411
Punts-Avg.       6-29.2    4-33.5
Fumbles-Lost     1-1       0-0
Penalties-Yds.   8-75      9-90
Sacks By-Yds.    7-40      5-37
Possession Time  33:02	   26:58

Individual Leaders

RUSHING                Att.    Yds.    Avg.   TD    LG
Ryan Jarvis, Bates     19      148     7.8     2    67
Tom Themistocles, Wes. 18      104     5.8     1    43
John Pascucci, Wes.    15       78     5.2     1    22

PASSING                Com.     Att.   Yds.    TD     INT
Kevin Cornish, Wes.    17       26     273      3      2
Matt Bazirgan, Bates   12       24     156      0      0

RECEIVING                 Rec.     Yds.   TD
Nate Moore, Wes.           9       168    3
Matt Perceval, Wes.        5        41    0
Jason Coulie, Bates        4        91    0

LEWISTON, Maine -- For the second straight year, the Bobcats (0-4) were within one score of defeating Wesleyan (4-0), but fell just short, dropping a 30-24 decision to the Cardinals.

After two series of three-and-out to start the game, Wesleyan got on the board off a Bates turnover. A high snap from the shotgun position got away and Wesleyan recovered at the Bobcat two yard line, scoring three plays later. It was the first of six straight drives that ended in a touchdown, though the Cardinals missed the extra point, as they did on all of their TDs.

Two plays after the ensuing kickoff, junior tailback Ryan Jarvis (Boxford, Mass.) ran 67 yards for a touchdown and the Bobcats' longest play from scrimmage this season. After getting around the corner to his right, Jarvis eluded several Cardinal defenders on his way to the end zone. Sophomore kicker Rejean Guerriero (Spofford, N.H.) kicked the extra point to give Bates its first lead of the season. Wesleyan answered with a 52-yard TD pass 2:30 later, but Jarvis responded with a 53-yard TD scamper right through the middle of the line.

The Cardinals went 60 yards in four plays to go up 18-14 with 1:22 left in the first quarter. The Bobcats responded once again, as junior quarterback Matt Bazirgan (Newbury, Mass.) had a 15-yard run and a 26-yard pass to classmate Jason Coulie (Manchester, N.H.) before scoring on a 5-yard scramble to put Bates up, 21-18. Wesleyan threatened to score again, reaching the Bobcat 10 yard line before sophomore Bob Rosnethal (Walpole, Mass.) made the Bobcats' first interception of the game. The Bobcats couldn't capitalize, however, and Wesleyan made them pay, completing a 58-yard touchdown pass on the first play after the Bobcats punted, giving the Cardinals a 24-21 lead which they carried with them into the locker room.

The second half was a defensive battle. Wesleyan scored in the third quarter, converting a fourth-and-nine from the Bates 13 into a touchdown on a bootleg pass with 6:50 left in the third. The Bobcats were poised to answer on the next possession, as a hard count by Bazirgan drew the Cardinals offsides on 4th and one. Bates was unable to convert another first down, as Jarvis was stopped just short on fourth and one from the Wesleyan 45, the Bobcats' deepest penetration in the third quarter.

The Cardinals reached the Bates four yard line on their next possession, the first of the fourth quarter. A touchdown pass was called back because of a personal foul on Wesleyan, and sophomore linebacker Keith Anthony (Gilford, Conn.) made his first career interception on the very next play. The Bobcats were aided by another Wesleyan mistake, when they picked up a taunting penalty after a 10-yard sack on third down, giving Bates first and 10 instead of fourth and long. The Bobcats reached the Wesleyan 35, but three successive losses and a penalty backed them up again. The defense held on Wesleyan's next possession and the Bobcats drove 39 yards before Guerriero kicked his first field goal of the season from 27 yards out, putting Bates within eight points with 5:02 remaining.

The Bobcats had Wesleyan with a third and 8 at their own 41 on the next possession, but a 43-yard run seemed to dash the Bates hopes of a comeback. But the defense held, forcing an incompletion on fourth and three and giving the offense the ball at their own 9. After a four yard run by Bazirgan, his next three passes were all incomplete, ending the Bobcats' day.

Bates travels to Middlebury to take on the Panthers next week.