After a rough start to its season, the football team is currently enjoying a two-game win streak.
Two weeks ago, the Polar Bears ended Tufts undefeated season, beating the Jumbos 33-20. Last week, Bowdoin beat Hamilton 30-24, rallying in the second half for the victory.
Running back Tyler Grant ’17 had a school record 43 carrys for 203 yards and four touchdowns to propel the Polar Bears past the Jumbos on Whittier Field.
Bowdoin took the opening kick-off and drove steadily into the Jumbo red zone. After a 13-play drive, Grant rushed it in one yard for the touchdown, giving the Polar Bears a 6-0 lead after a failed two-point conversion attempt.
Tufts came right back at Bowdoin with a drive culminating in a 15-yard touchdown run by the Jumbo’s Chance Brady. Tufts converted its point after to take a 7-6 lead. Bowdoin answered back quickly with a Grant one-yard touchdown run on the first play in the second quarter.
The Polar Bear offense failed to extend its lead after Bjorn Halvorson ’17 intercepted the Jumbos, allowing Tufts to retake control of the game when it scored on its next possesion.
Bowdoin struck back on its next possesion, culminating its drive with a Grant 12-yard rush to give the Polar Bears a 20-14 lead.
Bowdoin and Tufts continued to exchange blows in the second half. The Jumbos opened the half on a quick, 73-yard scoring drive to tie the game 20-20.
With the same consistency it showed in the first half, Bowdoin hit Tufts right back. During their opening drive of the half, wide receiver Seamus Power ’16 made a remarkable one-handed catch for 19 yards to the Tuft’s 13-yard line, setting the Polar Bears up for a field goal.
“I don’t think that in my time here I’ve ever seen a catch like that,” said Assistant Coach Chris Sapp. “It’s the best catch I’ve seen by someone in the NESCAC.”
Kicker Andrew Sisti ’18 made another field goal at the beginning of the fourth quarter, extending Bowdoin’s lead to 26-20. Grant hammered the final nail into the coffin with a 42-yard touchdown run with about five minutes left in the fourth quarter. Bowdoin’s defense held Tufts down for the rest of the game, sealing the 33-20 victory.
“It was crucial when the game got to 20-20,” said Sapp. “It was bend don’t break. We came right back at them and we played with high energy.”
“In the fourth quarter, it felt really good to know we were about to beat a team that came out 2-0 in the beginning of the season,” said Sisti. “To be able to make my first couple field goals for the team was definitely a relief, but at the same time exciting.”
Quarterback Mac Caputi ’15 shined in the Tufts game, throwing for 209-yards.
Bowdoin proved that it could continue to play well and rise to full capacity after defeating Hamilton last Saturday.
The first quarter was slow for both teams with the only points scored on a field goal by the Continental’s Zachary Altneu. Within the first few minutes of the second quarter, Sisti matched Hamilton’s score with a field goal for the Polar Bears.
Bowdoin stepped up its game in the second half, scoring the only 10 points of the quarter, including a Jack Donovon ’15 touchdown catch by, to give the Polar Bears a 16-10 lead going into the final quarter.
“The team came out with energy after halftime that was absolutely amazing to witness,” said Macat.
The energy culminated in the fourth quarter. Defensive back Jon Fraser ’15 intercepted a pass by Hamilton’s quarterback Chase Rosenberg. The Polar Bears were able to take advantage of the turnover, ending their drive with a six-yard touchdown rush by Grant.
After a long scoring drive the Continentals thought they sucessfully converted an onside kick but were flagged for offsides, giving the Polar Bears great field position after Hamilton’s next onside kick attempt failed.
Using the short field, Grant slipped through the defense, evaded the right tackle and rushed for 39 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown with two minutes remaining to give Bowdoin a 30-17 lead.
Hamilton wide receiver Amman Weaver returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown. Cutting the Polar Bear lead to 30-24 with less than two minutes to go.
Bowdoin was not able to completley kill the clock and gave Hamilton the ball back with nine seconds remaining. The Polar Bears intercepted the Continentals hail mary attempt to seal the game on the next play.
The Polar Bears look forward to their homecoming game tomorrow against Trinity—a top ranked team in the NESCAC—at 12:30 p.m.