BRUNSWICK, Maine -- It was only two big plays in the second quarter, but that's all Bowdoin needed on Saturday as the Polar Bears defeated the Bates football team by a score of 17-9 in NESCAC action. 

The Bobcats (2-6 NESCAC) tallied 17 first downs in the contest to just six for Bowdoin (2-6 NESCAC) and out-gained the Polar Bears in total yards by a count of 285 to 187. It's the fewest yards allowed by a Bates defense in one game since 2015.

Points on the scoreboard is what matters though, and Bowdoin quarterback Soren Hummel found Ty Connolly for a 48-yard touchdown with 11:47 left in the second quarter and Jude Baker for a 32-yard touchdown with 3:56 left until halftime to put the Polar Bears ahead for good. Caden Perry made a 30-yard field goal with 14:40 left in regulation to spot the home team a 17-0 lead.

Down by three scores, Bates got the offense going after the defense forced a punt with 9:04 left in the second quarter. Sophomore quarterback Sean Greene (Bedford, N.H.) got sacked on the opening play of the ensuing drive but classmate Jeff Vidou (Cornish, N.H.) helped him out with a 10-yard run. Then Greene used his legs for a 12-yard gain to the Bowdoin 47. Sophomore Quinn Carver (Boston) ran it for four yards and Greene ripped off a 10-yard run to the Bowdoin 33. Then he used his arm to find Vidou for a nine-yard game to the Polar Bear 24. Greene picked up the first down before giving the ball to Vidou who ran it in from 22 yards out for his first career rushing touchdown.

The extra point got blocked, but Bates was within 11 at 17-6 with 4:42 left in the contest after the nine-play, 63-yard drive. 

The Bobcats tried an on-side kick, but Bowdoin recovered. Bates was able to force a three-and-out on defense, using all their timeouts and getting the ball back at their own 16 with 4:12 left. The Bates offense matriculated the ball down the field, but too much time came off the clock. By the time junior Marcos Ruiz (Haskell, N.J.) made a 24-yard field goal to cut the deficit to eight, there was only 1:07 left in regulation and Bates had no more timeouts.

The ensuing on-side kick got recovered by Bowdoin and the Polar Bears took two knees to run out the clock.

Turnovers were an issue throughout the game for the Bobcats, with two interceptions and a lost fumble slowing down the offense. The Bates defense forced a turnover of their own, with senior Will Sutton (West Newbury, Mass.) picking off a Hummel pass in the end zone in the first quarter.

Perry was probably the MVP for Bowdoin, punting nine times and averaging 41.2 yards per punt. He pinned Bates inside their own 20 five times, with two punts of more than 50 yards.

The Bowdoin defense sacked Bates quarterbacks five times, as Angus Leary led the way with 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

Both teams passed for 130 yards. Greene led all players with 50 net rushing yards.

Baker tallied six catches for a game-high 60 yards and a touchdown for Bowdoin. Connolly caught four passes for 55 yards and a touchdown. He also carried the ball 16 times for 42 yards. Senior Matthew Holmes (Carpinteria, Calif.) caught three passes for a team-high 51 yards for Bates.

The Bobcats hope to finish the year on a strong note when they host Hamilton at Garcelon Field for Senior Day next Saturday at noon.