BRUNSWICK, Maine - A 27-yard field goal attempt by Bates hit the upright with 51 seconds remaining to give the Bowdoin College football team a wild 21-20 win over Bates on Saturday afternoon at Whittier Field. The Polar Bears (2-5) earn their second win of the season and will battle Colby in Waterville next Saturday for the CBB Championship. The Bobcats have lost five-straight and fall to 1-6 this season.
Turnovers doomed Bates on Saturday, as Bowdoin was able to cash in for 15 points on three Bates miscues. Despite the mistakes, the Bobcats still had a chance to win the game late in regulation. Down by a touchdown entering the fourth quarter, a high snap on a punt gave Bates great field position at the Bowdoin 11. Quarterback Ryan Katon tossed a fade to John 
Squires for a touchdown, but a missed PAT left the Bobcats one point shy, at 21-20. Bates assumed control of the ball later in the fourth quarter, and marched 58 yards in 17 plays as time ticked under a minute to play. Gavin Segall-Abrams lined up the potential 27-yard game-winner, and hooked it left off the upright with 51 seconds remaining to give Bowdoin the victory.
The Bobcats carried a 14-12 advantage into halftime after a pair of missed PAT's by Bowdoin. Bates took an early lead on a 25-yard scoring strike from Trevor Smith to Squires in the back corner of the endzone in the first quarter. After Bowdoin answered with a seven-play drive, capped by a 35-yard pass from Grant White to a wide open Brendan Garner, Jared Jammal dove in from one yard out to give the Bobcats a 14-6 lead. With under a minute to play in the half, however, Bates quarterback Trevor Smith fumbled the ball and Dominic Ridgard recovered deep in Bobcat territory. Four plays later, Bowdoin quarterback Thomas Romero found Garner on a ten-yard slant in the endzone to cut the lead to 14-12.
Bowdoin took advantage of another Bates miscue to take the lead for good in the third period. After Ian Vieira intercepted a Trevor Smith pass, Polar Bear running back Kevin Miao scampered five yards to paydirt. Another missed extra point left the Bowdoin advantage at 18-14. The Polar Bears again took advantage of a Bates turnover, a fumble recovery by 
Vieira, that was converted into a 22-yard field goal by Bill Donahue to extend the lead to 21-14.
Garner finished an outstanding day with six catches for 114 yards and two touchdown catches. White went 8-10 for 92 yards passing and a touchdown while Romero went 6-19 with 98 yards, a score and three interceptions. Zach Donnarumma (59 yards) and Miao (50) led the Polar Bear rushing attack. Defensively, Vieira made an interception and a fumble recovery while Dan Evans made 12 solo tackles. Peter Troubh had nine tackles including a sack and three stops for a loss.
Bates finished with 176 yards rushing as seven different players carried the ball. Jammal (56 yards) and Ryan Curit (47) led the Bobcats on the ground while Smith (5-9 passing) tossed for 83 yards and Katon (5-12) threw for 53. Pat Quinn made five solo tackles and had a pair of interceptions for Bates.
The victory marked the final home game for 14 Bowdoin seniors, who have particularly enjoyed the confines of Whittier Field. The Polar Bear seniors finished their career with a home record of 9-7 and will look to win their third outright CBB crown in four seasons next Saturday at Colby. Bates, Colby and Bowdoin had a three-way tie for the title last fall.
Photos courtesy of Brian Beard and Creative Images Photography.
