Between grind-it-out offense, jarring defense and timely special teams. Bates can share the credit for Saturday’s 10-7 football triumph over Bowdoin at Whittier Field in Brunswick.
One thing the Bobcats don’t have to share, for the second time in three years, is the coveted CBB title. Bates (3-4) won it outright by sweeping in-state rivals Colby and Bowdoin in dramatic fashion on consecutive weekends.
Grant DeWald kicked a 25-yard field goal with 1:14 remaining in regulation to provide the margin of victory for Bates, which can wrap up a .500 season by beating Hamilton at home next Saturday.
Despite gaining only 35 yards, Bates ran 14 plays and kept the ball for more than seven minutes on its winning drive.
Bowdoin tied the game with 8:36 remaining in regulation on a 3-yard touchdown run by Tyler Grant, who led all backs in the defensive struggle with 27 carries for 151 yards.
Ben Coulibaly’s 28-yard return of the ensuing kickoff was padded when Jon Fraser drew a personal foul for using the facemask to make the tackle.
That moved the start of the drive to the Bowdoin 42. Quarterback Matt Cannone converted a pair of third downs with runs of 7 and 6 yards.
After Bates opted to forgo an earlier chance to kick a field goal, Ivan Reese just made it to the marker on fourth-and-1 from the 9 to extend the series and further drain the clock.
Bowdoin (2-5) had a final chance to tie or win the game. The Polar Bears reached Bates’ 43 before a false start penalty knocked them back, and pass attempts by Mac Caputi fell incomplete on third and fourth down.
Mark Upton had an interception and Coulibaly recovered two fumbles for Bates. Upton, Ryan Newson and Joe DiPalma each made a tackle for loss.
It was the 117th meeting in the historic rivalry. Bowdoin now leads, 66-44-7. Bates’ win also spoiled the final home game for Bowdoin coach Dave Caputi, who is stepping down at the end of the season.
Bates’ defense bent but repeatedly held throughout a scoreless first half.
A bad snap ended an early drive on downs at the Bates 10. Later, after Grant galloped 57 yards to the Bates 23, Andrew Sisti forced a Garrett Thomas fumble into the hands of Coulibaly.
Upton stopped Thomas on fourth-and-1 deep in Bobcats’ territory to silence another bid by the Polar Bears.
Bates finally broke the stalemate on Shaun Carroll’s 3-yard TD run with 1:58 remaining in the third quarter. The key play was a 27-yard connection from Cannone to freshman Frank Williams on third-and-16 from the Bobcats’ 45.
Mark Riley (seven catches, 69 yards) also had a 13-yard grab along the way.
Tom Wells’ fumble recovery and two flags set up Bowdoin’s score.
Coulibaly had an apparent interception nullified by a roughing-the-passer penalty. Bates also acquired another personal foul in the sequence, advancing Bowdoin to the Bates 35.
Mac Caputi’s 11-yard completion to Matt Perlow preceded a 22-yard Drew Prescott run, setting up a 3-yard Grant plunge with 8:36 to go.
Carroll rushed 11 times for 83 yards. Cannone completed 10 of 24 for 98 yards on behalf of Bates, which won despite being outgained 294 to 243.
koakes@sunjournal.com
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