LEWISTON, Maine -- Two teams hungry for a win square off this Saturday at Garcelon Field when the Bates football team hosts the Tufts University Jumbos. Kick is set for 1:30 pm.
The Bobcats (0-1) and Jumbos (0-1) have played some close contests in recent years, with the Jumbos prevailing in six of the last 11 games between the two squads. The Bobcats took it to Tufts last season, winning on the road by a count of 33-10.
Fans can enjoy the return of the
'Cats Carnival before the game next to the Garcelon Field stands. Admission is free.
THE PARTICULARS:
What: Bates (0-1) vs. Tufts (0-1)
When: Saturday, Sept. 24, 1:30 p.m.
Where: Garcelon Field (Lewiston, Maine)
Live Coverage: Video | Stats
All-Time Series: Tufts leads 63-18-3
Previous Meeting: Bates 33, Tufts 10 (Oct. 9, 2021 in Somerville, Mass.)
TUFTS LAST WEEK:
The Tufts University football team came storming back in the second half and nearly pulled off a comeback victory, but Trinity College held on for a 26-23 win over the Jumbos on opening day of the NESCAC season at Ellis Oval.
Tufts dominated the second half, outscoring the Bantams 20-0 and out-gaining their visitors 266 yards to 115 for Trinity. The Jumbos held Trinity to just 32 yards on their final five possessions while mounting their comeback. However, Tufts couldn't capitalize on two red-zone chances in the fourth quarter that could have tilted the game in their favor.
Tufts senior Phil Lutz, who broke school records for receptions and receiving yards in a season last fall, exploded in the second half. After making just one catch in the first half, he had eight in the second half including a touchdown. He finished the day with nine catches for 192 yards.
BATES LAST WEEK:
The Bates football team hung with NESCAC favorite Wesleyan for a half on Saturday before the host Cardinals pulled away to defeat the Bobcats 41-10 in the season opener for both teams.
Bates (0-1) got the ball first and appeared to be in business when senior quarterback Liam Foley (Foxborough, Mass.) connected with senior wide receiver Mohamed Diawara (Philadelphia, Pa.) for a gain of 73 yards. Diawara got the ball along the sideline and shook off his defender, sprinting away from the Cardinal defense. He lost his footing at the last minute, diving to the three-yard line. Unfortunately, the Bobcats could not punch it in from there and turned it over on a fourth down rush that resulted in a fumble recovery for the hosts.
The Cardinals (1-0) took the momentum from their defensive stand and used it to march 81 yards in 14 plays. They took more than seven minutes off the clock before Daniel Yoon connected on a 30-yard field goal, putting the Cardinals up 3-0 with 4:51 left in the first quarter.
The teams traded punts for the remainder of the first quarter and Bates trailed 3-0 after one.
Wesleyan went on another extended drive to start the second quarter, going 84 yards in nine plays. Quarterback David Estevez connected with Logan Tomlinson for a 30-yard touchdown, as Tomlinson high-pointed the ball in the middle of the end zone for six. Yoon's extra point made the score 10-0 in favor of the Cardinals with 10:21 to go in the half.
But the Bobcats responded on offense. Diawara returned the ensuing kick-off 28 yards to the Bates 40. Senior running back Reza Badiee (La Jolla, Calif.) ripped off a run of 20 yards to start the drive, getting the ball to the Wesleyan 40. Then Foley found senior receiver Jackson Hayes (San Marino, Calif.) for 11 yards to the Wesleyan 29. The Bobcats converted another first down thanks to a diving seven-yard catch by junior tight end Steven Guerrette (Bow, N.H.), which got the ball to the Cardinal 18. Bates got the ball to the 13 before the drive stalled and junior kicker Archie Green Jr. (Upland, Calif.) kicked a 30-yard field goal, cutting the Cardinal lead to 10-3 with 6:19 left in the second quarter.
The Cardinals matriculated the ball down the field on their next drive, starting at their own 20 before the Bobcats forced a 45-yard field goal attempt. Yoon showed off an impressive leg, drilling the long field goal and extending the Wesleyan lead to 13-3.
Down by 10 at halftime, the Bobcats appeared on the brink of a rally after Wesleyan fumbled the ball away on the opening drive of the third quarter. Senior linebacker Thomas Formus (Ridgefield, Conn.) jarred the ball loose from Wesleyan running back Owen Brickley and sophomore Matthew Juneau (Wakefield, Mass.) recovered it for the Bobcats at the Wesleyan 16.
But on third and eight, Foley's pass was intercepted in the back corner of the end zone by Danny Banks, preserving the 13-3 edge for Wesleyan.
The Bobcats forced a punt, but another turnover turned out much worse for the visitors. Nick Helbig sacked Foley on first down and jarred the ball loose. Pat Boujoukos recovered at the Bates 14 and Wesleyan had an instant red zone opportunity.
The hosts made the most of it, with Estevez finding Tomlinson for a nine-yard touchdown pass. Yoon's extra point extended the Cardinal lead to 20-3 with 10:10 left in the third quarter. Estevez threw another touchdown later in the third quarter as the Cardinals pulled away from the Bobcats.
BATES' AND TUFTS' LAST MEETING:
Senior quarterback Brendan Costa threw three touchdown passes to Sean Bryant and ran for a touchdown as well to lead the Bates football team past Tufts by a final score of 33-10 at the Ellis Oval.
Costa (Westport, Mass.) returned to his home state in style, throwing for 254 yards and rushing for a game-high 113 yards, propelling Bates to its first win over Tufts since 2013.
Bryant (Falmouth, Maine) turned in another outstanding performance, catching five passes for 91 yards and three touchdowns. Christian Olivieri (Hull, Mass.) added four receptions for 80 yards on the afternoon while senior Derek Marino (Marblehead, Mass.) caught two passes for 39 yards.
Spencer Adams (Bedford, N.H.) continued his outstanding season with a game-high 12 tackles. He also broke up two passes and recorded an interception.
BATES' PROBABLE STARTERS:
OFFENSE
LT 73 Peter Simplicio Jr. 6-5 280
LG 76 Quinn Woods Sr. 6-2 275
C 71 Nick Florio Sr. 6-0 265
RG 77 Cameron Winslow Sr. 6-4 306
RT 63 Cole De Magistris Jr. 6-4 270
TE 89 Steven Guerrette Jr. 6-3 225
WR 7 Mohamed Diawara Sr. 6-1 180
WR 81 Sean Bryant Sr. 6-3 200
WR 1 Jackson Hayes Sr. 5-9 165
QB 9 Liam Foley Sr. 5-11 195
RB 4 Reza Badiee Sr. 5-11 201
DEFENSE
DL 90 Matthew Juneau So. 6-1 220
DL 98 Kyle Hamilton Jr. 6-3 230
DL 93 Drew Kremhelmer So. 6-0 275
DL 52 Jack Ryan Sr. 6-2 255
LB 17 Thomas Formus Sr. 6-0 205
LB 5 Tony Hooks Sr. 6-1 225
LB 23 George Hawkins III Jr. 6-1 205
CB 21 Owen Straley Sr. 5-9 165
CB 2 Mohamed Coulibaly Sr. 6-0 180
S 24 Jarrin Sato Jr. 5-8 170
S 14 Jose Calleja Sr. 5-10 175
SPECIALIST
P/K 35
Archie Green Jr. Jr. 5-11 190
TUFTS' PROBABLE STARTERS:
OFFENSE
QB 8 Michael Berluti So. 6-1 180
RB 26 Tyler Johnson Sr. 5-9 185
WR 13 Phil Lutz Sr. 6-0 180
WR 5 Jaden Richardson Jr. 6-2 210
WR 9 Jackson Butler Sr. 6-2 190
TE 86 Chase Mangini Sr 6-2 195
LT 74 Nick Swift Sr. 6-5 290
LG 52 Ciaran Hourihan Sr. 6-4 260
C 63 Blair Horning Sr. 6-1 260
RG 79 Travis Cepalia Sr. 6-2 250
RT 73 Izzy Lobin Sr. 6-3 270
DEFENSE
DE 71 Javier Rios Jr. 6-1 230
DT 62 Edward Iuteri Jr. 6-0 260
DT 97 Michael Butler Sr. 6-4 250
DE 54 Tyler Roach Jr. 5-11 225
LB 25 Louis Timmins So. 6-2 185
LB 58 Shane Reiner Jr. 5-11 220
LB 36 EJ Comerford Jr. 6-0 215
CB 3 OJ Armstrong Gr. 5-10 170
S 28 Johnathan O'Neal Gr. 6-0 185
S 7 Cam O'Brien Sr. 5-10 180
CB 22 Vic Garza Jr. 5-9 185
SPECIALISTS
K 47 Vaughn Seelicke Fy. 6-1 170
P 8 Michael Berluti So. 6-1 180
