By EVAN JARASHOW
Staff Writer
 

Head Coach Rick Pardy blames last weekend's loss largely on what he calls "mental mistakes." In general, it is clear that the Bobcats did not rise to the occasion of playing one of NESCAC's powerhouse teams. Admittedly, Bates did get the short end of the stick on a number of occasions due to referee error, but that does not account for the end result.

The team's youth was evident in last week's performance. Experience hones one's abilities to adjust, and the lack thereof made it hard to read many of the Trinity plays. According to coach Pardy, the 'Cats were thrown into many plays that they were not expecting because Trinity had not used them in past years. As a result, Trinity broke open a few big plays as evidenced by running back Sherman Francis who gained 215 yards rushing.

Despite the 31-6 final tally, the situation was not as dismal as it would seem. There were a number of bright spots that are noteworthy: quarterback Chris Snow '98 did a good job throwing the ball in the first quarter, and also punted well; Paul Erickson '00 displayed his power by kicking off into the end zone; and the Bobcat defense was very solid in the second quarter. Although last week was a general disappointment, the 'Cats have used it to fuel this week's fire. This week Bates takes on Tufts, and this may be the one to watch. Last year's matchup against the Jumbos was an exciting one, which saw the Bobcats take the lead into the second half, but then lose it later in the game.

Both teams have the ability to score. Tufts put 33 points on the board last weekend, but still lost to Wesleyan who tallied 51. Although the Bobcat offense was stifled before, given the various weapons the team possesses, they should be able to produce. If Bates is to win this weekend, they must put more points on the scoreboard and the defense must shut down the Tufts offense, namely the Jumbos' wide receivers and Quarterback Dan Morse. Morse is very athletic and can scramble effectively. His style is similar to that of Trinity QB Joe Mullaney, who gave the 'Cats defense more than they could handle last weekend.

Undoubtedly the stand out players from last weekend, Snow, fullback Alexi Whitney '00, and defensive back Paul Calner '00 - Special Teams, Offensive, and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively - will be called upon to produce again. The Bobcats need much more of a team effort, and they need the younger players to assume prominent roles on the team. "Last week was a great learning experience for many of the younger players, but in order to win we must eliminate the mental mistakes, and we absolutely must execute on both sides of the ball," said Coach Pardy.

Last weekend we saw a team with a stagnant offense, and a lack-luster defense. The truth is that the talent is there, and so is the experience. The problem is going to be getting the two to mesh on the same day. If that happens, this team can compete with almost anybody in the league. Let`s hope it all comes to life this Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Garcelon Field.