LEWISTON, Maine -- It's the 150th year of Bates football and the 2025 Bobcats hope to celebrate the milestone with a big season in the always-tough NESCAC. The campaign gets underway this Saturday at 1 p.m. when Bates hosts Amherst on Garcelon Field. Coming off a season where they beat eventual NESCAC champion Wesleyan in Middletown and knocked off Middlebury at Garcelon Field, the Bobcats return a lot of key players who are looking to take the program to the next level.

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THE PARTICULARS:

What: Bates (0-0) vs. Amherst (0-0)

When: Saturday, Sept. 13, 1 p.m.

Where: Garcelon Field (Lewiston, Maine)

Live Coverage: Video | Stats

All-Time Series: Amherst leads 30-5-2

Previous Meeting: Amherst 19, Bates 7 (Sept. 14, 2024 in Amherst, Mass.)

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Offense

Quarterbacks

When it comes to finding a quarterback to run the triple option offense, Bates head coach Matt Coyne is looking for certain traits. 

"We want our quarterbacks to have discipline and to execute their reads and be decisive," Coyne says. "I think the hardest part is that every QB has to be ready because in a triple option offense, you're one hit away from the next guy."

The Bobcats have depth at the position, with returnees senior Jack Perry (Newbury, Mass.) and sophomore Sean Greene (Bedford, N.H.) looking good in camp. They are being pushed by first-years Connor Hennessey (Newton, Mass.) and Jack Gilmore (North Arlington, N.J.), while senior Matthew Wiley (Bow, N.H.) is moving to quarterback this year to provide Coyne with another choice at the position. 

"Never get bored," Coyne tells his quarterbacks. "A four-yard run for us is something to celebrate. Just keep moving the offense down the field."

Running backs

Junior captain Ryan Lynskey (Cranford, N.J.) had a sensational season as a sophomore in 2024. He ranked first in the NESCAC and 12th in NCAA Division III with 121.1 rushing yards per game. With his 1,091 rushing yards, Lynskey became the first Bates running back to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark since Sean Atkins '03 in 2002. His 10 rushing touchdowns were also tops in the conference on his way to both first team All-Region and first team All-NESCAC honors.

The sophomore made history on Nov. 2 against Bowdoin, carrying the ball 20 times for a NESCAC and Bates record 344 yards and three touchdowns. Lynskey was twice named the NESCAC Offensive Player of the Week, and earned the Gold Helmet Award from the New England Football Writers along with a spot on the D3football.com Team of the Week following his performance against the Polar Bears. Lynskey was so good that even if you took away his 344 rushing yards against Bowdoin, he still would have led the NESCAC in rushing. 

"Ryan's a special player," Coyne says. "Every game we have to get him going. Our team knows it. I think every team in the NESCAC knows it. We're not afraid to talk about it. That's who we are, but Ryan really took the next step this off-season. What people don't realize is last year he was eight months off of a full knee repair, so it was pretty impressive for him to be back that fast and now he has a different twitch to him this year."

Senior Jack Morrall (Hopkinton, N.H.) and sophomore Tyler Walcott (Marshfield, Mass.) saw action last year and will be counted upon once again in the run-heavy Bates offense.

Wide receivers

Coyne's mantra to his quarterbacks of never getting bored extends to the receiving corps. Blocking is something every receiver needs to be prepared to do.

"It's about loving your teammates," Coyne says. "Your opportunities will come as we get through the season. But we can really tell your level of respect for your teammates by how you block for somebody else." 

When the Bobcats throw the ball, they have some good targets. Senior captain and All-NESCAC selection Sergio Beltran (East Palo Alto, Calif.) can do everything on offense. Last year, he caught 20 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns. He also carried the ball 37 times for 239 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 6.5 yards per carry. Beltran accomplished all this despite missing the first two games of the season due to injury. He embodies what the program is looking for in a player.

"Sergio was arguably the best blocking wide receiver in the conference last year," Coyne says. "When you look at it last year, perimeter blocking is a huge thing for us, especially in this offense. If we can execute there, we're going to have a chance to be successful in every single game we play."

The Bobcats return almost all of their wide receivers from last year. Junior Ryan Gleason (Millbury, Mass.) caught 19 passes for a team-high 292 yards and four touchdowns. Sophomores Quinn Carver (Boston) and Jeff Vidou (Cornish, N.H.) got valuable experience last year as rookies, while senior Maverick Selementi (Montclair, N.J.) was fourth on the team in receptions and made a spectacular touchdown catch in a win over Middlebury. Senior Matthew Holmes (Carpinteria, Calif.) has had some big games for Bates and junior Jermaine Anson (Manchester, N.H.) is another strong blocker who started getting the ball more and more throughout the season. 

Offensive line

The "Hogs" had a strong season last year, twice being named to the D3football.com Team of the Week. Juniors John Antolik (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Kevin McDonald (Atlanta) bring a ton of experience, having started since their first years on campus. Sophomore Ryder Smith (Castle Rock, Colo.) had a strong debut season and junior Zach Louvat (West Paris, Maine) moves over from the defensive side of the ball to join the O-line. Junior Andrew Finn (Foxborough, Mass.) rounds out the starters, having played a lot on special teams last year. 

"The offensive line has developed nicely and they have a better understanding now as we've gone into year two of this offense," Coyne says. "Kevin and John are the leaders of the group, but they all embody what we're looking for in terms of developing their bodies and minds in the off-season."

Owen Watrous returns as the offensive line coach, and has also been promoted to offensive coordinator this season.

"He's ready for this position," Coyne says. "This is his time and he's shown that throughout the preseason. We have a great relationship. There's loyalty and trust. He's worked really hard and he's going to do a great job with it.

Tight ends

Coyne considers the Bates tight ends as an extension of the offensive line. Senior Damien DiGiovine (Westford, Mass.), junior Jake Walters (West Lafayette, Ind.), sophomore Bryce Carberry (Dover, N.H.), and sophomore Nick Dalessio (Glastonbury, Conn.) make up the group this year, with Dalessio moving over from linebacker and Walters from wide receiver. 

"Jake is going to work in multiple roles for us," Coyne says. "He's really invested in his body and really taken the next step there. We are very happy with the entire tight end group." 

Defense

Defensive line

The Bobcats return a lot of talent on defense, starting up front. Senior Shane Broughton (Arlington, Mass.), senior Jackson Collins (Glen Ridge, N.J.), junior Josh Ezerioha (Lagos, Nigeria), and junior Ryan Kimmel (Jeannette, Pa.) anchor the unit.

Broughton recorded 27 total tackles a year ago, with three tackles for loss and three QB hurries. Ezerioha added 20 total tackles, a sack, and three QB hurries. 

"We only lost one starter up front," Coyne says. "You see these guys walking around campus and they look ready to go, their development has been impressive."

Linebackers

The heart and soul of the Bates defense is junior captain Ryan Rozich (Cromwell, Conn.), who led the conference in tackling last season and earned second team All-NESCAC honors for his efforts. Rozich finished the year with 82 total tackles and his 9.1 tackles per game ranked 47th in all of NCAA Division III. He notched 6.5 tackles for loss and his big pass break-up against Wesleyan late in the fourth quarter sealed the victory for Bates over the eventual NESCAC champions. 

"His play speaks for itself," Coyne says. "He's an unbelievable leader and we know he can run and tackle, so he's going to be the guy in the middle that's holding it together."

Coyne also raves about sophomores Carmel Crunk (Lancaster, Calif.) and Elias Scott (South River, N.J.), both of whom he says are ready to take their games to another level.

"Our rising sophomores are going to make an impact," Coyne says. "They've had a full year in the weight room and a good understanding of what we're trying to do."

Defensive backs

A cool feature of this year's team is twin brothers Michael Spencer and Major Spencer III (Mansfield, Texas) playing next to each other as safeties for Bates. Major Spencer III is a transfer from Division I program East Texas A&M while Michael Spencer is in his third year in the Bates football program. 

"Major understands the relationship that myself and Mike have, now he's come up here and obviously their relationship was a big factor in that," Coyne says. "And we're just happy to have him, another member of the family. It's been a good thing for us." 

The secondary also features talented sophomore cornerbacks Marquez Narvaez-Estrada (Montgomery Village, Md.) and Samuel Christopher (Los Angeles), both of whom made an immediate impression last year. 

Narvaez-Estrada was tested often by opposing offenses as a rookie and broke up a team-leading eight passes. Christopher broke up a pair of passes himself, and the talented duo should make life difficult for quarterbacks once again this season. 

Junior safety Jack Morrison (Manchester Center, Vt.) and senior cornerback Presley Green (Pompano Beach, Fla.) bring a ton of playing experience as well, giving Bates significant depth in the secondary.

"We lost one player from our back seven a year ago," Coyne says. "This group has been working hard and I am excited about their potential this year." 

Special teams

Junior Marcos Ruiz (Haskell, N.J.) made both of his field goals last year, including a 38-yard boot to help the Bobcats defeat eventual NESCAC champion Wesleyan. He also converted 21 of 22 extra points. Senior Parker Huynh-Benningfield (Austin, Texas) averaged 33 yards per punt last year and brings two years of starting experience back to the Bobcats this season.

Bates is looking to improve their execution in special teams in general this year and it's something that's been a point of emphasis in practice.

"Field position is so critical in these games," Coyne says. "And just understanding that whether you're the punt or the snapper, the right wing, whatever it is, it's about trusting the other 10 guys are going to do their job, and you do yours." 

Per usual, the Bobcats will play nine games, all against NESCAC foes. Home games are Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. against Amherst, Sept. 27 at 1 p.m. against Wesleyan, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. against Colby, Oct. 18 at 1 p.m. against Williams, and Senior Day, Nov. 8 at noon against Hamilton.