Bowdoin football suffered its first shutout loss of the season on Saturday, falling to Tufts (3-3) 49-0 in Medford, Massachusetts. The Polar Bears drop to 0-6 with the loss and are tied with Bates (0-6) and Colby (0-6) for last place in the NESCAC.

The 49-point margin of defeat represents the fifth-worst loss in program history. The loss was the Polar Bears’ first shutout since October 27, 2018, when they fell to Wesleyan (5-1) 24-0.

Bowdoin’s defense surrendered 622 yards to the Jumbos, falling only one yard short of the all-time record for most yards allowed in a single game. The record of 663 yards was set by Trinity on October 23, 1993.

On offense, the Polar Bears posted only 181 yards behind Matt Marcantano ’21, who got the start at quarterback for the first time this season. Marcantano took over for Austin McCrum ’21 midway through the Polar Bears’ loss to Amherst (4-2) on October 12.

“[McCrum] is not playing very well … so we need to make a change to give a little spark,” said Head Coach BJ Hammer. “We’re pretty stagnant right now, so it’s one of those things where we’re going to see if [Marcantano] can help us.”

Marcantano threw for 143 yards on Saturday on 16-36 attempts and one interception.

Hammer said that he plans to experiment with McCrum at wide receiver to fill the void left by Bo Millett ’21, who suffered a torn medial collateral ligament during Bowdoin’s October 5 loss to Amherst. Millett, who led the team in receptions, will miss the remainder of the season.

Bowdoin kept the Jumbos scoreless through the first quarter before surrendering three touchdowns in the second, two in the third and two in the fourth.

Running back Brendan Ward ’22 led the team in receptions, catching five passes for 65 yards. Greg Olson ’21 had four catches for 47 yards. The Jumbos defense held Nate Richam-Odoi ’20 and the Bowdoin offense to 38 yards on the ground.

Bowdoin faces undefeated Middlebury (6-0) on Saturday at Whittier Field at 1 p.m..

Editor‘s Note, 10/28/19, 5:44 p.m.: This article’s original headline misstated the team Bowdoin played and lost to on Saturday, October 19. It was Tufts, not Trinity.