HARTFORD, Conn. -- Trinity College scored 31 unanswered points to start Saturday's NESCAC showdown as the host-Bantams secured a decisive 52-7 victory over the Bates College football team.
With Bates winning the coin toss and choosing to kick to start the contest, the Bantams took advantage of the opportunity on offense, capping a nine-play, 52-yard opening drive with a successful 27-yard field goal by Matthew Jumes.
The Bobcats could only get off a total of two plays during their initial drive as a Ma-Lyke Davis interception (10:18) provided possession for the home team at the Bates 31-yard line. Trinity, in four plays, found the end zone as quarterback Spencer Fetter hit running back Tyler Dinapoli with a short pass to the right side, resulting in a 11-yard touchdown (Jumes PAT).
Dinapoli proceeded to record his second TD of the quarter as the sophomore dashed for a three-yard rushing effort at the horn (Jumes PAT) as the Bantams inflated its cushion to 17-0.
Both squads would alternate punts over the first three possessions of the second quarter before Fetter, on the Bantams second series of the period, hit first-year wide receiver Patrick McCaffrey for a 29-yard score (Jumes PAT) with 1:09 left before intermission.
Looking to get on the board before the half, running back
Ryan Lynskey (Cranford, N.J.)
supplied a three-yard run to open the Bobcats' drive. Linebacker Kevin Clark put an immediate end to road team's march as the graduate student picked off a pass attempt at the Bates 40-yard line.
With 00:40 remaining, the Bantams would need just two plays to strike pay dirt with Fetter finding wide receiver Sean Clapp deep down the middle for a 33-yard touchdown (Jumes PAT).
Following a punt on the Bobcats' initial drive of the second half, Trinity used 11 plays and 4:50 of clock to go ahead 38-0 when Fetter fired his fourth touchdown pass of the day, this time to wide receiver Max Roche for the one-yard TD (Jumes PAT).
Will Kirby's three-yard rushing effort (Jumes PAT) made it 45-0 Bantams with 11:42 remaining in regulation before backup quarterback, Nicholas Bailey connected with wide receiver Ian Coffey deep down the left for a 41-yard strike (Jumes PAT) with 8:54 left for Trinity's seventh TD on the afternoon.
Bates (0-7) did avoid the shutout as senior quarterback
Liam Foley (Foxborough, Mass.) hooked up with
Nolan Hobbs (South Portland, Maine) for a two-yard score (Ruiz PAT) at the 2:05 mark, providing the first-year tight end his first collegiate touchdown.
Fetter was sensational for the Bantams (6-1), connecting on 27 of 35 pass attempts, good enough for four TD's and 311 yards.
Lynskey proved to be the offensive star for the Bobcats, leading the garnet and white with 71 yards rushing on 14 attempts.
Ryan Rozich, who grew up in nearby Cromwell, Conn., shined in his homecoming as the first-year linebacker paced Bates with 10 tackles in the effort.
The Bobcats return home next Saturday for Senior Day when they host Hamilton College (2-6) at noon on Garcelon Field.
