MIDDLETOWN, Conn. -- The Wesleyan University Cardinals scored a pair of touchdowns in the first quarter to set the tone as the hosts defeated the Bates football team 34-8 in NESCAC action Saturday afternoon.
The game started with an 11-play, 58-yard drive from the Wesleyan offense that took 7:24 off the clock. But the Bobcats (0-5 NESCAC) stood tall, with junior
Major Spencer III (Mansfield, Texas) and senior
Camden Zambrowicz (Sandown, N.H.) teaming up to stuff Cardinal running back Matt Diaz on fourth and one from the Bates 12.
The Bates offense couldn't take advantage of the big stop, going three-and-out on a drive that started with Wesleyan's Dylan Minnick recording a sack to put the Bobcats behind the sticks.
Wesleyan (5-0 NESCAC) took over at their own 47 after a Bates punt, and on 3rd and 10 from the Bates 41, Cardinal quarterback Matt Fitzsimons found Diego Velez for a 41-yard touchdown.
The Bobcats fumbled the ball away on the first place from scrimmage on their next possession, giving the Cardinals the ball deep in Bates territory at the 24-yard line. The Bobcat defense did force the Cardinals to go for on it on fourth and eight from the 22, but Fitzsimons was able to find Blake Newcomb for a first down to the Bates 11.
Two Diaz runs later and the Cardinals led 14-0 with 28 seconds left in the first quarter.
The Bates offense continued to struggle, going three-and-out on their next possession. The Cardinals proceeded to go 57 yards on seven plays for their third touchdown of the first half, going up 21-0 on an Angelo LaRose four-yard touchdown with 11:50 left until halftime.
Bates and Wesleyan traded punts and interceptions for the remainder of the first half, with sophomore
Liam Keaney (Swampscott, Mass.) notching a pick for the Bobcats.
The Cardinals got the ball to begin the third quarter thanks to a Bates fumble on the opening kick-off. Fortunately, the Bobcat defense held strong, with first-year
Emmanuel Lizardo (Haverhill, Mass.) blocking a Gage Hammond 25-yard field goal to keep the Cardinals off the board.
Bates could get nothing going on offense, picking up one first down before being force to punt. Wesleyan took over at their own 31 and on third and 12 Fitzsimons found Newcomb for 55 yards to the Bates 16. Two Diaz runs were all the Cardinals needed for another touchdown, going up 27-0.
The Bobcats got on the board in an unusual way, with Lizardo blocking the PAT and Spencer III returning the ball 100 yards for two points.
Bates got the ball back but managed a lone first down before being forced to punt. The punt got tipped and only traveled 19 yards, giving the Cardinals a first down at their own 44. They took advantage of the good field position, with Fitzsimons running the ball in from 15 yards out for a 34-2 lead with 13:20 left in regulation after the PAT.
The teams traded punts before the Bobcats went on their only touchdown drive of the game. First-year running back
Ryan Foley (Foxborough, Mass.) sparked the offense, ripping off runs of eight, seven, and 15 yards. The Bobcats also got some help from a targeting penalty on the Cardinals. On third and goal from the six, Foley punched it in to make the score 34-8 with 6:27 left. The extra point was no good and neither team scored down the stretch.
Foley carried the ball 17 times for 76 yards and a touchdown, averaging 4.5 yards per carry. The Bobcats only completed 8-25 passes for 73 yards through the air. Meanwhile, Fitzsimons completed 19-33 passes for 243 yards and a touchdown. Diaz ran the ball 20 times for 103 yards and two scores.
Spencer III had a big day for Bates on defense, tallying 15 total tackles, including 11 solo stops. Senior captain
Ryan Rozich (Cromwell, Conn.) added nine tackles and one sack.
The Cardinals out gained Bates 422 to 142 yards in total offense on the day.
The Bobcats return home Saturday to host Middlebury at 1 p.m. on Garcelon Field.
