Bates College

As the sole captain of this year's Bates football team, Patrick George represented the Bobcats with dignity and class, in a terrible week for the close-knit team -- a week in which they lost one of their own, freshman wide receiver Troy Pappas.

Somehow, the day after Troy passed away, the Bobcats played what may have been their best game in the past decade, a 33-6 defeat of Williams that will be long remembered. George undoubtedly played an enormous role, just as Bates' coaching staff and each team member did for himself, in finding a way to pay their respects to Troy by demonstrating their ultimate athletic efforts.

George was a consummate team leader in the week before the game and in the aftermath of the dominating win over the Ephs -- and he played an enormous role between the sidelines, as well. Bates' leading rusher in all four of his seasons thus far, George rushed for a career-high 104 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries, leading a rushing attack that overwhelmed the Ephs with 305 yards on 66 carries.