BOX
SCORE
BRUNSWICK, Maine - The Bowdoin College football team scored 23
unanswered points to start the second half and forced the first
three-way CBB (Colby-Bates-Bowdoin) Championship tie since 1995,
defeating Colby 32-27 on Saturday. The Polar Bears close the season
with a 3-5 record while the Mules end at 4-4 overall. In addition,
Bowdoin's 
15-member senior class completes a perfect 4-0 career against
their rivals from Waterville, becoming the first Polar Bear senior
class to turn the trick since 1987.
Bowdoin, Bates and Colby each finished with an identical 1-1 mark
against each other in the historic rivalry between the Maine
schools. Bowdoin had won the last three CBB crowns and forced the
first three-way tie in 14 seasons and just the fourth three-way tie
overall (1965, '79 and '95).
Colby looked to be in good shape to grab their first title since
2005 as they sprinted to a 14-6 halftime lead. The Mules took
advantage of a muffed punt deep in Polar Bear territory to score
the first touchdown of the day, as quarterback Nick Kmetz ran six
yards to paydirt on a draw play to give the visitors a 7-0 first
quarter lead. Bowdoin used up almost eight minutes on a lengthy
drive late in the period, marching 75 yards in 18 plays and
converting on a third-and-goal with a one-yard pass from Oliver
Kell to Justin Starr. After a blocked PAT, Colby remained in the
lead, 7-6.
Colby extended their advantage on the ensuing drive, as Kmetz
found Spencer Merwin over the middle for a 13-yard scoring strike
to make it 14-6 at halftime.
Bowdoin marched down the field to start the second half and
received a 25-yard field goal from Bill Donahue to trim the lead to
14-9. Just three plays into Colby's next possession, Tyler Tennant
stepped in front of a Kmetz pass at midfield and returned it 43
yards to the Colby 2. Two plays later, Kell's one-yard dive gave
Bowdoin their first lead of the afternoon, 15-14 after an
unconverted two-point attempt. Tennant intercepted his second pass
in less than two minutes on Colby's next drive, setting up
Bowdoin again. Nick Tom capped an eight-play drive with a 25-yard
scamper down the middle, breaking a tackle at the 10 and scooting
into the endzone to make it 22-14.
Colby was forced to punt on their next drive and Tom finished off
a three-play drive with a 35-yard run down the sideline to the
endzone to give the hosts a 29-14 advantage.
A late surge by the Mules made things interesting, as Colby scored
on a 35-yard pass from Kmetz to Merwin with seven minutes remaining
to cut the lead to 29-21. After another Donahue field goal, Kmetz
and Merwin hooked up for their third scoring pass of the day to
make it 32-27 with 1:53 left.
Bowdoin recovered the ensuing onside kickoff and were forced to
punt, but Colby's final drive failed at midfield in the closing
moments.
On Senior Day at Whittier Field, several seniors shined for
Bowdoin. Nick Tom rushed for 114 yards and two scores while also
collecting four passes for 53 yards. Oliver Kell went 19-31 for 168
yards passing and a touchdown while Tyler Tennant made eight
tackles- two for a loss - to go with his two interceptions.
Laurence Duggan had seven tackles and two sacks on the afternoon to
raise his season total to nine; the third-highest single-season
total in school history. Sophomore receiver Pat Noone ended his
spectacular season with another 10-catch performance for 112
yards.
Colby's Kmetz went 16-33 for 208 yards and three scores while also
rushing for 51 and a touchdown. Merwin finished with 99 yards
receiving and three scores while Dan Prunier rushed for 61 yards.
Chris Copeland led all players with 13 tackles on the afternoon.
Bowdoin extends their lead in the all-time series against Colby
to 66-46-9.
Photos courtesy of Brian Beard and Creative Images
Photography.
