The Bates football team hopes to spoil Trinity's Senior Day when the Bobcats and Bantams clash this Saturday at 1pm in Hartford, Conn. 

Due to the tragic events in Lewiston last week, both teams had their scheduled contests this past weekend postponed, with Bates' home game against Williams and Trinity's road match at Bowdoin moved to Nov. 18. 

Trinity leads the NESCAC in both scoring offense (38.2 points per game) and scoring defense (13.5 points per game). The Bobcats' biggest strength so far this season has been their passing offense, which ranks sixth in the NESCAC at 207.7 yards per game. The Bantams post the top pass catcher in the conference, as Sean Clapp is averaging 106 receiving yards per game. Meanwhile, sophomore Sergio Beltran (East Palo Alto, Calif.) has been the top receiver for the Bobcats, ranking ninth in the conference at 68.2 yards per game.

At the quarterback position, Trinity's Spencer Fetter is the conference's third-leading passer (261.2 yards per game) while junior captain Colton Bosselait (Westminster, Mass.) ranks sixth in the NESCAC at 188 yards per game. 

On defense, junior captain Matt Juneau (Wakefield, Mass. ) leads the Bobcats and ranks 10th in the conference at seven tackles per game. 
 

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THE PARTICULARS:

What: Bates (0-6) @ Trinity (5-1)

When: Saturday, Nov. 4, 1 p.m.

Where: Jessee/Miller Field | Hartford, Conn.

Live Coverage: Video | Stats

All-Time Series: Trinity leads 40-7

Last Meeting: Trinity 63, Bates 14 (Lewiston, Maine | Nov. 5, 2022)

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TRINITY'S LAST TIME OUT:

Trinity overwhelmed Williams by a score of 41-14 two weeks ago in Williamstown, Mass. 

Williams received the ball to start the game, and immediately went on a 75-yard touchdown drive in seven plays, capped off by a 26-yard pass on play action over the middle by rookie quarterback Owen McHugh to Brady Stahelski.

On the following drive, the Ephs defense made a big play when Justice McGrail recorded an interception on a tipped pass. Trinity managed to force a stop after a failed fourth down conversion attempt by the Ephs from inside the red zone.
Then their offense responded with a nine-play, 79-yard touchdown drive led by quarterback Spencer Fetter. The score came on an 18-yard slant over the middle to Sean Clapp and evened the game at 7-7.

The Trinity air raid continued right at the start of the second quarter, as Fetter led a six-play, 43-yard scoring drive that ended in another slant over the middle, this time to Max Roche, to bring the score to 14-7. Clapp then added another long touchdown reception, a 52-yarder on a rollout from Fetter, to put Trinity up by two scores. Another long touchdown drive with yet another touchdown catch by Clapp brought the score to 27-7. The Trinity defense tightened up and forced four straight three-and-outs in the second quarter. In the meantime, the offense continued to churn, as the score came to 34-7 heading into the break. 

Trinity racked up 432 total yards, with 244 yards passing and 188 yards rushing, and 18 first downs in the win. Fetter completed 12-of-18 passes for 242 yards and a season-high four touchdowns. Clapp had a monster day, hauling in five catches for 129 yards and a career-high three touchdowns, while Roche added two catches for 25 yards and a score. Colin McCabe rushed for 103 yards on 11 carries with two touchdowns, while senior Will Kirby chipped in 65 yards on 15 totes.

BATES' LAST TIME OUT:

The host Middlebury College Panthers scored three touchdowns that went for more than 50 yards on their way to a 48-7 win over the Bates football team two weeks ago in NESCAC action.

After forcing a quick three-and-out, Middlebury capitalized on its first possession of the game. Cole Kennon found Mike Ahonen for a 56-yard touchdown pass and Zach Levy split the uprights for the early 7-0 edge.

With 16 seconds left in the opening stanza, Kennon connected with Patrick Jamin for an 11-yard scoring strike. Levy tallied the PAT, putting Middlebury up 17-0 after one quarter of action.

Tomás Kenary turned Bates over with a strip-sack to start the second session. The Panthers took advantage of their field position at the Bobcats' 22-yard line, as Cody Weitzman bolted into the end zone for a nine-yard rushing touchdown. 

Later in the quarter, Kennon found Donovan Wood for a 29-yard touchdown reception, and the extra point made the score 31-0.

Bates made its way down the field with 3:07 remaining in the half, eventually scoring when junior captain Colton Bosselait (Westminster, Mass.) hooked up with senior captain Steven Guerrette (Bow, N.H.) for a nine-yard scoring strike. First-year Marcos Ruiz (Haskell, N.J.) converted the extra point to cut the deficit to 31-7 at the halftime break.

First-year quarterback Seneca Moore (Lansing, Mich.) was a bright spot for Bates, coming off the bench to run the ball 18 times for 77 yards. He also completed 7-12 passes for 84 yards. The Bobcats struggled to protect their quarterbacks, with Bosselait and Moore getting sacked a combined five times.

Junior captain Matt Juneau (Wakefield, Mass.) paced the Bobcats on defense with nine total tackles, including five solo stops.

BATES' AND TRINITY'S LAST MEETING:

Senior Christian Olivieri tallied a pair of touchdown catches but the visiting Trinity College Bantam defeated the Bobcats 63-14 at Garcelon Field. 

The Bantams gained 571 yards of total offense and held Bates to 207 total yards in the contest. Trinity's Spencer Fetter completed 24-32 passes for 362 yards and three touchdowns. Tyler DiNapoli had a big day on the ground, carrying the ball 17 times for 125 yards and three touchdowns. Cal Messina added nine carries for 45 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Sean Clapp was Fetter's favorite target, finishing with seven catches for 125 yards and a touchdown. DeVante Reid added four catches for 97 yards and a score.

Olivieri (Hull, Mass.) paced the Bobcats with five catches for 113 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Reza Badiee (La Jolla, Calif.) had a strong day for Bates as well, with eight carries for 66 yards, averaging 8.3 yards per carry. Colton Bosselait (Westminster, Mass.) completed nine of 20 passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns. The Bantams picked off Bosselait three times on the afternoon.

Defensively, senior captain Tony Hooks (New Rochelle, N.Y.) led the way with a game-high 16 tackles, including six solo stops and a tackle for loss. Fellow seniors Jose Calleja (Secane, Pa.) and Thomas Formus (Ridgefield, Conn.) had big days as well, with Calleja tallying 13 total tackles, including four solo stops and a half sack. Formus intercepted a Fetter pass, broke up three passes, hurried the QB once, and tallied eight tackles, including three solo stops and 1.5 tackles for loss. Jackson Collins (Glen Ridge, N.J.) sacked Fetter once and finished with three total tackles. Senior Jack Ryan (Henderson, Nev.) hurried the QB twice and Finn Duffey (Scituate, Mass.) recorded a half sack. Senior Spencer Adams (Bedford, N.H.) forced a fumble but the Bantams were able to recover. 

Third downs were a big difference in the game, with Trinity converting on 11 of 15 chances and Bates struggling to a 1-9 mark on the day. Trinity was also 1-2 on fourth down and 6-7 in the red zone.

BATES' PROBABLE STARTERS

OFFENSE
OL 73 Peter Simplicio Sr. 6-5 280
OL 60 Tyler Castriotta Sr. 6-0 285
OL 66 John Antolik Fy. 6-1 280
OL 72 Kevin McDonald Fy. 6-3 255
OL 75 Matthew Schreiber Sr. 6-3 295
WR 7 John Boyle Fy. 5-9 185
WR 6 Sergio Beltran So. 5-11 180
WR 80 Maverick Selementi So. 6-0 185
TE 89 Steven Guerrette Sr. 6-3 232
RB 4 Ryan Lynskey Fy. 5-11 190
QB 8 Colton Bosselait Jr. 6-0 210

DEFENSE
DL 90 Matt Juneau Jr. 6-1 227
DL 93 Drew Kremhelmer Jr. 6-0 275
DL 99 Finn Duffey Jr. 5-10 250
DL 98 Kyle Hamilton Sr. 6-3 245
LB 44 Jackson Collins So. 5-11 225
LB 39 Ryan Rozich Fy. 5-11 205
LB 2 Matthew-Michael Assivero Fy. 5-11 195
DB 12 Presley Green So. 5-9 175
DB 21 Johnny Walker Sr. 6-0 185
DB 23 Jack Morrison Fy. 5-10 195
DB 5 Michael Spencer Fy. 5-10 162

SPECIALISTS
P 97 Parker Huynh-Benningfield So. 5-10 185
K 49 Marcos Ruiz Fy. 5-8 200

TRINITY'S PROBABLE STARTERS

OFFENSE
QB 1 Spencer Fetter Gr. 6-3 195
RB 26 Tyler DiNapoli So. 6-0 187
TE 22 Nicholas Zalanskas Gr. 6-2 225
TE 83 Max Roche Sr. 6-4 230
WR 2 Matt Laughlin Jr. 5-10 185
WR 82 Sean Clapp Jr. 6-4 205
OT 78 Matthew Almansi Gr. 6-4 265
OG 72 Jaheim Scott Sr. 6-0 275
C  65 Anthony Casillo Sr. 6-2 290
OG 71 Ryan Wiley Gr. 6-5 285
OT  79 Patrick Donovan-Jenkins Sr. 6-3 265

DEFENSE
CB  3 Darren Warren Gr. 5-11 185
CB 9 Ma-Lyke Davis Jr. 6-1 190
SS  34 Hunter Tully Gr. 5-10 190
FS  5 Tyler Jameson So. 6-2 210
ILB 59 Cade Klarides-Ditria Gr. 6-2 225
ILB 44 Michael Masse Gr. 5-11 230 
OLB 90 Kevin Clark Gr. 6-1 215
OLB 40 Wigs Crowley Gr. 6-0 195
DE 96 Lucas Folan Gr. 6-2 235
NG 95 Cooper Mandel Gr. 6-3 255
DT 58 Joseph Lepore Gr. 6-0 250