The football team recorded its first victory of the season with a 17-10 triumph over Tufts on Saturday. For the first time this season, the Polar Bears led the entire game and had a longer possession than their opponents. 
The Polar Bears left Whittier Field with a win over the Jumbos due in large part to running back Zach Donnarumma ’14, who rushed for 137 yards and two touchdowns. On defense, junior linebacker Griffin Cardew shined with 14 tackles. Senior captain and defensive back Beau Breton had yet another solid game, snagging Bowdoin’s first interception this year. 
Bowdoin sits in sixth place in the NESCAC with a 1-2 record. Unfinished drives and untimely missed tackles were common themes in the team’s two losses this year. 
“[Amherst] had 155 yards of offense on missed tackles. There were simple execution assignments for Tommy [Romero ’14] and other guys that we didn’t do,” Head Coach Dave Caputi said in reference to the home-opener loss against the Lord Jeffs. “We just had to finish plays.” 
Against the Jumbos, however, the Polar Bears responded to Caputi’s call to action. The offense capped off drives with scores while the defense provided lockdown support. 
In the beginning of the second quarter, quarterback Romero led the team downfield to the Tufts 21-yard line. On third down and two, Donnarumma rushed for the final 21 yards to score the first touchdown of the game. Although this was the junior running back’s first game back this season, his presence was felt the entire game. 
Starting running back Greg Pierce ’14 also managed to rack up 73 yards of his own on 17 attempts. Having both Donnarumma and Pierce in the backfield reduced the amount of pressure piled on backup quarterback Romero and the rest of the offense.
It was the defense that came up with a game-changing stop. 
Romero opened the third quarter with an interception at the Bowdoin 44 that was returned for ten yards. An offside penalty then gave the Jumbos the luxury of a first and five at the Bowdoin 29 yard line. The Polar Bear defense stood firm, only allowing the Tufts offense to pick up three yards on three attempts and stuffing them for no gain on fourth and two. 
Although difficult for the team to celebrate defeating Tufts, who have not recorded a victory since 2010, the Polar Bears are still feeling optimistic about their play. 
“I don’t want to say satisfied, but I am excited by the improvement we have shown each week,” said defensive coordinator John Burrell.  
Bowdoin will face Hamilton Saturday, and though the team has not had a victory this season, the Polar Bears understand the importance in coming away with another win. 
“Record-wise, it’s huge to be back at .500,” Cardrew said, highlighting the importance of this game. “I know everyone on the defense is going to take this game personally because Coach Cohen [the Hamilton head coach] was our defensive coordinator last year.” 
While the defensive unit has extra motivation in the back of their minds to impress their former boss, quarterback Romero is simply focused on getting a victory—regardless if the defense, rushing attack, or his own passing ability is the headline on Sunday 
 “Obviously I play quarterback and love to throw the ball,” Romero said. “I love winning more...it’s better than anything that can come from personal stats.”