The Bowdoin football team faced the Bates Bobcats this past Saturday in what was an exciting game despite the frigid temperature. Led by the running attack of its talented trio of tailbacks? Rob Patchett '05, Matt Boyd '06, and Aaron Cohen '06? Bowdoin dominated this game from the beginning.
While the running game was superb, the real stars of this game were the guys on the other side of the ball. Holding Bates to only 63 yards of total offense in the first half, the defensive corps set the tone for the game. Several big plays in the second half by the defense allowed Bowdoin to post its first shutout in almost six years (the last was a 19-0 blanking of Trinity in 1998). With the 21-0 victory Bowdoin improved its record to 2-5.
The bulk of the carries in the first quarter went to Cohen, due in part to his effort last week against Wesleyan, when he rushed 14 times for 52 yards and a touchdown. Picking up right where he left off, Cohen ran the ball five times for 41 yards and a TD on their first scoring drive. He finished the day with 17 carries for 65 yards.
Choosing to bring Patchett into the game as a secondary back gave Bowdoin an effective one-two punch that Bates had no answer for. With Bowdoin ahead 7-0, Patchett entered the game in the second quarter prepared to do what he does best: run over opponents. He carried the ball ten times on an impressive 11-play drive, capping it off with a 1-yard touchdown lunge into the end zone to give Bowdoin a 14-0 lead going into the half. Patchett had 28 carries on the day for 83 yards. This effort moves Patchett into third place on Bowdoin's all-time rushing list with 2,126 yards, trailing only Jim Soule '77 (2,634) and Tom Sciolla '81 (2,337).
Bowdoin would add seven more points to their total in the third quarter. Faced with a fourth down and 11 yards to go, Coach Caputi elected to not kick a field goal in the gusty wind. QB Ricky Leclerc found TE Jared Pritchard, who would race 31 yards to the end zone for the 21-0 lead.
As the Bowdoin Polar Bears have seen multiple times this season, a 21-point lead is never safe in the NESCAC. It was essential for the Polar Bear defense to stand strong and help put this one away. Bates did have its chances late in the game and was able to drive into Bowdoin territory on multiple occasions, only to be stopped by Bowdoin.
In the third quarter, Dave Donahue '07 forced a fumble, recovered by John Regan '06 on Bowdoin's 1-yard line. Bates almost struck again in the fourth quarter, but was denied when Zach Hammond '07 forced another Bates fumble, ending the Bobcats' final scoring opportunity.
Bowdoin players were determined to win this game, knowing that wins over Bates and Colby will do a lot to salvage a disappointing season. Bowdoin needs to bring that same mindset to the game next week against Colby, in the team's final game of the year. The Polar Bears have a chance to capture the CBB (Colby-Bates-Bowdoin) title for the first time since 1998.
A win at Colby this Saturday in the final game of their Bowdoin careers would go a long way in giving seniors a season to remember. The game is at 12:30 p.m. in Waterville. Make the trip up and support the seniors in their final game in Bowdoin black and white.