HADLEY, Mass. -- Bates football senior quarterback Jack Perry and junior placekicker Marcos Ruiz were both honored by the NESCAC on Monday, as Perry was named the conference's Offensive Player of the Week and Ruiz earned Special Teams Player of the Week for their respective performances in Saturday's 26-23 double overtime win over Amherst.

Perry (Newbury, Mass.) came off the bench to throw three touchdown passes. It was a remarkable performance considering that Perry had completed one pass in his collegiate career entering the game.

Bates was down 23-7 entering the fourth quarter before rallying to force overtime, with Perry throwing two of his three touchdown passes in the final 15 minutes of regulation.

Overall, Perry completed 7-14 passes for 110 yards and no interceptions. His three TD passes went to three different receivers and his long throw of the night was a 35-yard strike with 1:52 left in regulation. That throw tied the game after the extra point, completing the comeback.  

Perry is the first Bates football player to earn NESCAC Offensive Player of the Week since Ryan Lynskey '27, who earned the honor twice last year. He is the first Bates quarterback to pick up the award since Colton Bosselait '25 in 2021.

Ruiz (Haskell, N.J.) made both his field goal attempts and both his PATs against the Mammoths. His game-winning 24-yard field goal in double OT set off a wild celebration at Garcelon Field. The clutch kicker has now made nine of his 10 career field goal attempts.

This is the second time Ruiz has been honored as the conference's Special Teams Player of the Week, also earning the award last year following the team's 24-13 win over Wesleyan.

The Bobcats (1-0) visit Trinity (0-1) this Saturday for a 1 p.m. kick. Bates is 1-0 for the first time since 1999 and with a win can improve to 2-0 for the first time since 1979.