Just like every other week this season, Bates sophomore linebacker Mark Upton was seemingly everywhere in Saturday's season finale, a 31-10 win over Hamilton at Garcelon Field.
Upton (Winthrop, Mass.) led the Bobcats (4-4) with 11 tackles in the game, two for lost yardage and one a solo quarterback sack. He also knocked down two Hamilton passes in the game. Best of all, in the first quarter Upton scooped up a fumble and returned it 34 yards for his first collegiate touchdown, giving Bates a 14-0 lead.
Upton's performance capped a remarkable season that may net him all-conference honors even as a sophomore. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Upton led the Bobcats in tackles (84), sacks (3.5), tackles for loss (13) and forced fumbles (4). Upton led the entire NESCAC in the latter category and was second in the conference in tackles and third in tackles for a loss.
Upton had at least eight tackles in every game this season, as the Bobcats finished with three straight wins and, for the third straight year, with a final record of .500 or better. It's the first three-year stretch without a losing season for the program since 1977-79.
