LEWISTON, Maine -- The Bates football team ended 2019 on a high note, winning the final two games of the year, including pulling off the program's biggest comeback victory in 50 years in a 26-21 win at Hamilton in the season finale. 

Then the pandemic hit and the 2020 season was wiped out. This Saturday against Amherst, the Bobcats return to the gridiron for the first time in nearly two years, for a 1pm kickoff at Garcelon Field.  

• Introducing the 2021 Bates football coaching staff

Offense

Quarterbacks

For a team that hasn't played since 2019, the Bobcats return quite a bit of experience, starting with fifth-year senior quarterback Brendan Costa (Westport, Mass.), who set the program record for total yards in one season in 2019 with 1,739. He made the decision to return to Bates and use his final year of NCAA eligibility. 

"It was obviously a big decision, putting my whole life on hold," Costa said. "After originally deciding not to come back, I changed my mind in December of 2020. I was going to go straight to graduate school and finish my eligibility there. But I decided I love my team. I love this program."

"There is unfinished business. I couldn't leave without actually attempting to finish it."

Costa burst onto the scene as a first-year in 2017, winning the team's offensive MVP award as an option quarterback. When a new coaching staff arrived the following year, Costa had to learn a brand new offensive system, the "air raid", under offensive coordinator Custavious Patterson.

"I've worked with coach for three years now and he's taught me so much, just based off of schemes and reading coverages and just adjusting line play, making audibles," Costa said. "I think I'm the best version of myself right now, with all the knowledge that I've obtained from Coach Patterson over the last three years." 

The Bobcats have five quarterbacks on the roster. Senior Jack Bryant (Falmouth, Maine), and junior Liam Foley (Foxboro, Mass.) both have starting experience. Then sophomore Park Penrod (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and first-year Colton Bosselait (Westminster, Mass.) provide even more depth. 

Running Backs

Bates is a little thinner at running back but senior Christian Olivieri (Hull, Mass.) makes the move to the position from wide receiver for the 2021 campaign. A big-play threat, Olivieri caught 15 passes in 2019 for 249 yards. Now, he brings his speed to the rushing attack.

"I love having Christian back there," Costa said. "I think he's probably the fastest kid at Bates. He is tough to handle. And once he gets on the edge, there's no catching him." 

Seniors Caleb Bolden (Dover, N.H.) and Garrett Evans (Sauquoit, N.Y.) will also see action in the backfield for Bates. Bolden played running back as a first-year in 2018 before moving to the defensive side of the ball the following season. Evans is also a member of the Bates men's track and field team and carried the ball 11 times as a sophomore in 2019. 

The coaching staff is excited about first-year running back Jamil Mouehla (Harrington Park, N.J.), whom coach Patterson says is acclimating quickly to the college game. 

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Bates wide receivers made a big splash against Bowdoin and Hamilton to finish the 2019 season. And the top three receivers from that year return to Bates in 2021.

Senior Sean Bryant (Falmouth, Maine) caught 15 passes for a team-high 300 yards and a team-high four touchdowns, including three against Hamilton in the 2019 season finale. He and fellow senior Derek Marino (Marblehead, Mass.) are tallest receivers on the team, both measuring in at 6-foot-3. 

Senior Jackson Hayes (San Marino, Calif.) was Costa's favorite target two years ago, tallying a team-high 23 catches for 282 yards and three touchdowns, including two long scores against rival Bowdoin in a 30-5 win over the Polar Bears. Junior Mohamed Diawara (Philadelphia, Pa.) is a break-out candidate for Bates after finishing third on the team in receiving as a first-year in 2019 with 18 catches for 223 yards and a touchdown.

"Our wide receivers been through the pressure cooker, and now it's their time to see where they're at right now," Patterson said. "I'm excited to see them compete because for the first time, they'll be among the oldest kids in the conference, not the youngest." 

Bates will break in a pair of sophomore tight ends, whom Costa says look "really good." Steven Guerrette (Bow, N.H.) and Alexander Suny (North Reading, Mass.) will make their debuts for Bates in 2021. Both are 6-foot-3 targets for Costa, with Guerrette tipping the scales at 227 pounds.

Offensive Line

Led by senior captain Quinn Woods (Minot, Maine), the "hogs" up front on the offensive line will be tasked with keeping Costa on his feet. 

• Mic'd up: Bates football captain Quinn Woods

"They've got good size, they're fairly athletic and they're smart," interim head coach and offensive line coach Ed Argast said. "Everything you'd look for in an offensive line, they have. They're a close-knit group. They like each other and spend a lot of time around each other when they're off the field. I think that's important because there's chemistry there, and I think we've developed some depth too." 

Joining Woods on the line as senior leaders are Nick Florio (Beachwood, N.J.) and Erik Stephens (Dover, N.H.). Stephens is well-traveled, having started his career at Bates as a tight end, moved to the defensive line, and now returning to the offensive side of the ball. 

At 6-4, 306 pounds, junior Cameron Winslow (Winslow, Maine) is the biggest "hog" up front for Bates. Junior Jake Parsons (Belmont, Mass.) brings good size to the table as well at six-foot-three, 300 pounds.

The unit also features four sophomores who have yet to make their collegiate debuts due to the pandemic but may be asked to play a role in 2021.

Defense/Special Teams

Defensive Backs

Fifth-year senior safety Anthony Costa (West Springfield, Mass.), who is not related to Brendan Costa, leads a Bates secondary that returns a lot of playmakers from 2019. 

Costa came to Bates as a triple option quarterback before moving to the defensive side of the ball. He was forced into the lineup as a sophomore in 2018 due to injuries, and took advantage of the opportunity. He tied for second on the team with 49 total tackles on the season (32 solo) and led the Bobcats in interceptions with three. He didn't play as large a role in 2019 (12 total tackles, one forced fumble, three pass break-ups) but figures to be on the field for every defensive snap this season. 

"Anthony Costa has been amazing," said defensive coordinator Keith Davis. "Since he got here, he has preached accountability and detail and just staying focused day in and day out. He's been a great leader across the board, not just to the defensive backs. He's set a great example." 

Davis expects senior Owen Straley (Norwell, Mass.), junior Mohamed Coulibaly (Philadelphia, Pa.) and senior Thomas Formus (Ridgefield, Conn.) to lead the secondary. Straley notched 12 tackles and picked off a pass two years ago. Coulibaly saw increased action through his first season, and tallied 15 tackles and two pass break-ups. Formus is a force on special teams for Bates, and he tallied 17 tackles, forced a fumble, and recovered a fumble in 2019. 

"They're focused, and they're ready to make an impact," Davis said. "They're ready to show teams in the league that they are some big-time players."

Bates has some depth in the secondary who should be able to rotate in this season. Davis says fans can expect to see first-year Anthony Morton Jr.  (Philadelphia, Pa.), sophomore Jarrin Sato (Honolulu, Hawaii) and junior Quinn Kieselowsky (Newton, N.J.) get significant playing time this season.

Linebackers

Junior Tony Hooks (New Rochelle, N.Y) and senior captain Mike Bulman (Hanover, Mass.) lead the linebackers into the season. Hooks was Bates' leading tackler as a first-year in 2019, finishing the season with 59 total tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks. Bulman is an impact player in his own right, having finished second on the team to Hooks in tackles two years ago, with 45. Bulman finished the year with 5.5 tackles for loss. 

Seniors Spencer Adams (Bedford, N.H.) and Tyler Hamilton (White River Junction, Vt.) also return to further bolster the linebacker corps. Adams tallied 19 total tackles in 2019 and Hamilton made 11 total tackles and recovered a fumble. 

"Hooks should be one of the best linebackers in the conference this year and all four of these guys play really fast and really hard," Davis said. "They're going to make a lot of plays this year."

In terms of depth, the Bobcats expect sophomore George Hawkins III (Jacksonville, Fla.) and junior Reza Badiee (La Jolla, Calif.) to make an impact this season as well.

Defensive Line

Senior defensive ends Jack Ryan (Cornwall on Hudson, N.Y.) and Nolan Potter (Wells, Maine) give Bates fans a lot to be excited about on the defensive line. Potter burst onto the scene two years ago after not having played as a first-year. He recorded 22 tackles, a sack, 2.5 tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and two pass break-ups that season. Meanwhile, Ryan tallied 19 total tackles, one sack, 1.5 tackles for loss and one forced fumble in 2019. 

Davis is intrigued by first-year 275-pound nose tackle Finn Duffey (Scituate, Mass.), who has been turning heads in practice.

"Duffey is a dominant nose tackle who plays hard, plays fast and gives tremendous effort," Davis said. "We have a veteran group who are leading the way, helping these young guys learn day in and day out. I'm excited about it." 

Davis also singled out sophomore Alexander Zunino (Windsor, Conn.) as another defensive lineman Bates fans should keep an eye on this year.

Kickers

When it comes to special teams, the Bobcats have a pair of players who can both kick field goals and punt.  

Senior Simon Redfern (Providence, R.I.) is the most experienced kicker. He made five PATs and a field goal in 2019. Redfern is joined by sophomore Archie Green Jr. (Upland, Calif.), who has impressed Davis in camp. 

"When you see those guys kick, they're amazing right now," Davis said. "That's probably going to be the toughest part is that you want to get both those guys on the field because they can both kick well, so I think they're both going to have a great year." 

For the Bobcats, it's been quite the ride the last few years.

"I'm just really excited to get back out there," Brendan Costa said. "Honestly, it's been way too long. Our energy was really, really good going into the off-season from 2019 into 2020. And when we heard the season was canceled, that was absolutely devastating. So just getting back out there, playing with my brothers on a Saturday afternoon, just making things feel normal again is really what I'm looking forward to."