LEWISTON, Maine -- Senior captain Tony Hooks set a Bates football program record with 23 total tackles and the Bobcats defeated Bowdoin 21-14 under the lights Saturday at Garcelon Field.

The Bobcats (2-3) never trailed in the contest, beating Bowdoin (1-4) for the 10th time in the last 11 seasons. 

Hooks (New Rochelle, N.Y.) broke a program record set in 1996 by Mike Holte '97, when Holte made 21 total tackles against Colby. Nine of Hooks' 23 tackles on Saturday against Bowdoin were solo stops. He had one tackle for loss in the contest.

Bates got on the board in the first quarter. The Bobcat defense forced a three-and-out on the opening drive of the contest, setting up sophomore quarterback Colton Bosselait (Westminster, Mass.) and the offense with good field position at the Bowdoin 48.

On third and 10, he found senior receiver Mohamed Diawara (Philadelphia, Pa.) for a gain of 11 yards to the Bowdoin 37. On second and seven, sophomore Jamil Mouehla (Harrington Park, N.J.) ran for 10 yards to the Bowdoin 24. But a sack of Bosselait combined with a couple of incomplete passes left the Bobcats facing a 4th down, with 14 yards needed for a first down.

They got 28.

Bosselait lofted a pass to the end zone over the outstretched hands of a Bowdoin defender and senior Jackson Hayes (San Marino, Calif.) reeled it in for the touchdown, putting Bates up 7-0 with 10:01 to go in the first quarter after junior Archie Green Jr. (Upland, Calif.) made the extra point.

The Polar Bears got the ball to the Bates 14-yard line on their next drive but senior Jack Ryan (Cornwall on Hudson, N.Y.) recovered an Andre Eden fumble.

The teams traded punts for the rest of the first and into the second quarter.

With 5:06 remaining until halftime, the Bobcats stopped Bowdoin on downs after the Polar Bears got the ball to the Bates 28. Three straight incomplete passes gave Bates the ball back, and the Bobcats made the most of it. 

On 3rd and 11, Bosselait connected with Diawara for 15 yards to the Bates 42. The Bobcats committed a false start, but Bosselait connected with senior Christian Olivieri (Hull, Mass.) over the middle and the speedy receiver raced all the way to the Bowdoin two-yard line for a 61-yard reception. Aidan MacNeil made the touchdown saving tackle for the Polar Bears.

A holding call backed Bates up to the 12. Then Bosselait called his own number and scampered into the end zone for the touchdown, putting the Bobcats up 14-0 with 1:19 left in the half after Green Jr. made the extra point. 

A big sack by senior Thomas Formus (Ridgefield, Conn.) ended Bowdoin's next drive and Bates took a 14-0 lead into the half.

Bates got the ball to start the second half but the Polar Bears forced a three-and-out and got the ball at the Bates 49-yard line after the Bobcats punted. The visitors went on a nine-play, 49-yard drive, capped off by an Eden 10-yard rushing touchdown up the middle on fourth and one, trimming the Bates lead to 14-7 with 8:44 to go in the third quarter.

The teams traded punts and Bates struck again midway through the third. Facing a third and eight at their own 40, the Bobcats took advantage of an all-out blitz from Bowdoin. Bosselait escaped the pressure and went on a 60-yard jaunt for six points, his second rushing touchdown of the night. Green Jr. made the extra point and Bates led 21-7 with 4:09 left in the quarter.

Bowdoin drove deep into Bates territory after Trent Lipsett picked off a Bosselait pass to start the fourth quarter. But on 3rd and 12 at the Bates 15, the Bobcats returned the favor when junior defensive lineman Kyle Hamilton (White River Junction, Vt.) made a leaping interception of an Andrew Boel pass at the Bates 18-yard line with 9:08 remaining in regulation.

The Polar Bears continued to put the pressure on Bates, getting a fourth and one at the Bobcat 28 with just over five minutes left. But Boel fumbled on a QB sneak attempt and sophomore Finn Duffey (Scituate, Mass.) fell on the loose ball for Bates.

Bowdoin did cut into the Bates lead late in the contest, as Boel found Brendan King for a 31-yard touchdown with 1:25 remaining. 

But the ensuing onside kick bounced off a Bates player out of bounds, securing a second straight win for the Bobcats.

Bosselait completed 10 of 18 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown. He also ran the ball nine times for 50 net yards and two touchdowns. Moehla carried the ball eight times for a team-high 61 yards.

Olivieri finished with three catches for a game-high 108 yards. Diawara caught five passes for 49 yards. 

For Bowdoin, Boel completed 30 of 50 passes for 281 yards and a touchdown. Eden carried the ball 21 times for 63 yards. Jed Hoggard paced the Bowdoin receivers with nine catches for 91 yards. 

Hooks had the historic performance on defense, but other Bobcats stepped up as well. Senior Mohamed Coulibaly (Philadelphia, Pa.) tallied 11 tackles, including six solo stops. He also broke up a pass. The Bobcats as a defense broke up nine passes on the evening. In addition to his fumble recovery, Duffey tallied 1.5 sacks. Ryan broke up two passes and had a half sack. Formus finished with nine total tackles, two tackles for loss, and two pass break-ups.

Gordon Gozdeck and Drew Ortiz paced the Polar Bears with six total tackles and one sack apiece. 

The Polar Bears had the ball for 13 more minutes than the Bobcats, and outgained Bates 342-308 in total offense. But the Bobcats held strong and earned yet another victory over their rival, the 50th in school history. 

Bates is back in action at Garcelon Field next Saturday when Middlebury comes to town for a 1pm contest.