Courtsey of Brian Beard

In only the second start of his collegiate career, quarterback Peter Macaulay ’28 threw five touchdown passes, tying a school record and helping lead the football team (3–5) to a 35–24 victory over Bates College (2–6) last Saturday.

Macaulay came into the game having thrown his first multi-touchdown game the previous week during Bowdoin’s 14–34 loss to Trinity College (7–1).

“I was a little nervous at first [during the Trinity game], of course, but it quickly wore off, and it just became normal football,” Macaulay said “It’s just fun to be out there.”

Macaulay finished the game against Bates having thrown for 272 yards and no interceptions. His five touchdown passes tie a Bowdoin record, matching the performances of Ricky LeClerc ’06 in 2005 and Andrew Boel ’24 in 2021.

Despite the impressive achievement, Macaulay says that during the game, all that mattered to him was executing the play and doing what he needed to do with help from the cohesion and performance of his teammates.

“Our coach did a great job of getting a great game plan, and all I had to do was get the ball to my friends, and they did the rest,” he said. “The [offense] played amazing, and so they just gave me the opportunity to play by the book.”

Macaulay believes the team got what it was expecting out of the Bates matchup.

“We had a great week of practice,” he said. “[We] dialed in for their defense, and our defense got in for their offense, and we just overall executed as a team….[Our] coaches do a great job of executing game plans and creating them … and putting us in positions for us to succeed.”

Macaulay has been playing football since sixth grade, his father’s love for the sport inspiring his decision to start playing. His father was raised in South America and didn’t grow up playing American football but still passed on his love for the game to Macaulay, who cites his family as a major influence on him.

“[My dad has] obviously huge support for me, same with my mom, and so just being able to go out there and make them proud means the world to me,” Macaulay said.

Wanting to be part of something bigger than himself, Macaulay says, was a major reason he decided to continue playing football at the collegiate level.

“There’s nothing better than being on a team, in my opinion,” he said. “I’ve just always enjoyed doing that.”

According to Macaulay, the community that the team provides was a significant draw to play at Bowdoin.

“When I got here, the whole team accepted all the freshmen.… It was really cool to see,” Macaulay said. “The coaches made [Bowdoin] seem like a fun place to be, with a good community, and that’s what I was looking for.”

College football, Macaulay noted, is also very different from high school football. He cited the skill level and intensity as major changes. However, he says, he appreciates the transition.

“Everyone out there is good,” Macaulay said. “Practices are upbeat, nonstop, and I love it.… Everyone’s out there competing.”

On Saturday, the Polar Bears will face Colby College (3–5) at home in their final game of the season. This matchup is the deciding game of the Colby, Bates, Bowdoin (CBB) championship.

Because Colby also defeated Bates last month, the winner of Saturday’s game will walk away with the CBB trophy. Bowdoin is hoping to win the trophy for the second consecutive season.

Macaulay emphasized the importance of staying in the moment, especially leading up to such an important game.

“We’ve had an up and down season, but we just focus on the next game,” he said. “So, right now, focus on Colby.”

He still sees a chance for the team to improve, even in its final week of the regular season.

“I’m excited. I’m really just looking forward to a great week of practice,” Macaulay said. “[And to] keep that trophy here.”