Despite its loss in week one, the Bowdoin Football Team heads into its home opener tomorrow optimistic that it can improve and contend for a win.
"We have a talented team and we can compete with anyone in the league," said quad-captain Jack Dingess '09, "but we need to do a better job of capitalizing on opportunities and making the big play when we have the chance."
The team will take on a tough Amherst squad that beat Hamilton at home last weekend. Last season, Amherst beat Bowdoin 30-6.
"We have to take advantage of every opportunity they give us and create a couple more ourselves," said Head Coach Dave Caputi. "This is a team that, in order to beat them, you have to be grimly efficient on both sides of the ball. They don't give up a lot of big plays, and they're a senior and junior oriented team with a lot of good returning players."
The Polar Bears are led by returning players, but will need key contributions from first-year starters to compete with one of the best teams in the league.
"The young guys are improving significantly every time they step on the field," said Dingess. "We've learned from our mistakes against Middlebury, and I think we will be in a good position to surprise Amherst."
Last week's game against Middlebury was an offensive firefight that featured 885 yards of total offense and 10 touchdowns. Bowdoin led the game several times during the first three quarters, but the Panthers scored twice in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.
Bowdoin began the game with an impressive 12-play, 80-yard drive that resulted in a touchdown for junior quarterback Oliver Kell and, after a blocked extra-point, a 6-0 Bowdoin lead. Later, with the Polar Bears up 13-7, first year defensive back David Mandelbaum intercepted a Middlebury pass at the Bowdoin 10-yard line. Kell marched the Polar Bears down the field, passing for 31 yards and rushing for 31 yards, capping the drive with a ten yard touchdown run that put Bowdoin up 19-7 with seven minutes left in the first half.
The Panthers scored on an impressive 80-yard drive to end the first half and scored again four minutes into the second, to take the lead 20-19. Later in the third quarter, Bowdoin senior Tyler Tennant intercepted a Middlebury pass and returned it to the two-yard line. After first year Ian Vieira pounded in the two-yard score and Bowdoin missed its two-point conversion, the Polar Bears led 25-20.
Middlebury then scored two unanswered touchdowns, and the Polar Bears found themselves in a 34-25 hole in the fourth quarter. Senior Nolan McNair trimmed the Middlebury lead to 34-28 with a 30-yard field goal with under ten minutes to play. On their next possession, however, Middlebury put the game away with a 60-yard touchdown drive that took over five minutes off the clock, and secured the 42-28 Middlebury win.
"We had an excellent chance of winning last Saturday," said quad-captain Gus Spaulding '09, "but we came up short on a small number of plays that ended up making the difference."
After taking defending conference champion Middlebury to the brink last weekend, the Polar Bears will look to take down another NESCAC title contender in Amherst tomorrow.
"We already know we can play with any team in this league," Spaulding said, "we just need to step up and play a little bit better on every play."