BOX
SCORE
BRUNSWICK, Maine - Bowdoin quarterback Oliver Kell threw for 224
yards and a touchdown and ran for another score to lead the Polar
Bear football team to their first win of the season, a 28-26 win
over Tufts on Saturday at Whittier Field. The Polar Bears, who
forced five turnovers on the afternoon, improve to 1-2 this season
while the Jumbos fall to 2-1.
A pair of early turnovers gave the Polar Bears a two-touchdown
lead. A first-quarter punt by Bowdoin's Nolan McNair deflected off
Tufts' Pat Bailey and was recovered by James Lathrop, setting the
Polar Bears up at the Tufts 26. Seven plays later, Bowdoin cashed
in on a one-yard plunge by Ian Vieira to take a 7-0 lead. Just two
plays into Tufts' next possession, Tyler Tennant stepped in front
of an Anthony Fucillo pass at the Jumbo 43, giving Bowdoin great
field position again. It took the Polar Bears nine plays to score,
this time on a Kell one-yard dive, to increase the lead to
14-0.
The Jumbos opened the second period with a 10-play, 71-yard drive
that ended in a 14-yard crossing pattern touchdown pass from
Fucillo to David Halas that trimmed the lead to 14-7. On their
second possession of the quarter, Tufts went 74 yards in just nine
plays - the big strike coming on a 23-yard scamper by Will Forde,
and capped the surge with a one-yard dive by Fucillo. The PAT
attempt by Adam Auerbach was missed, however, and would later prove
costly.
After a Bowdoin three-and-out, Tufts gained the lead for the first
time, as a seven-play, 49-yard drive saw Fucillo find Halas for a
five-yard touchdown pass that gave the Jumbos a 20-14 edge. But
Bowdoin responded before the half, efficiently using a two-minute
offense to travel 69 yards in just 1:35 to grab the lead before
intermission. Kell rolled to the right and lobbed a well-placed
pass to Nick Tom in the corner of the endzone to make it 21-20
Polar Bears at the break.
Neither team scored in the third quarter, but Bowdoin increased
their lead early in the fourth stanza, as an eight-play, 64-yard
drive culminated with another Vieira touchdown run that pushed the
lead to 28-20. Tufts would respond with a nine-play, 72-yard drive
as Fucillo found Halas again for a 20-yard touchdown score that cut
the lead to 28-26. On the ensuing two-point conversion attempt,
Fucillo found an open Stephen Black in the endzone, but the pass
bounced off of Black's pads and fell incomplete.
Tufts had one final chance to win the game after taking over
possession with 2:59 to play. But Halas attempted to lateral the
ball after receiving a pass at the Bowdoin 40 and the fumble was
recovered by Kevin O'Connor to seal the win for Bowdoin.
Tufts out-gained Bowdoin 416-286, thanks in great part to 175
rushing yards from Forde. Fucillo tossed for 240 yards and three
scores all to Halas, who caught eight passes overall for 124 yards.
Kell was 22-33 for 224 yards and a touchdown for Bowdoin, while
Matt Moran caught four passes for a career-high 71 yards. Bowdoin's
defense was extremely opportunistic, led by Tyler Tennant's 13
tackles, one forced fumble and one interception. Kevin Zikaras made
15 tackles while Dominic Ridgard had 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
O'Connor had one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.
