MIDDLETOWN, Conn. - Behind a suffocating performance from its defense, the Wesleyan University football team took a 35-0 win over Bowdoin on Saturday at Corwin Stadium.

The Cardinals improve to 5-1 on the season with the victory while the Polar Bears fall to 2-4. 

Wesleyan held Bowdoin to just 170 yards of total offense on the day, and quarterback Jesse Warren tossed five touchdown passes - including three to Josh Hurwitz - to supply all the scoring the Cardinals would need.

Lou Stevens had 121 yards rushing for Wesleyan while Hurwitz caught seven passes for 74 yards to go with his three scores. For Bowdoin, Tyler Grant rushed for 52 yards on 17 carries. Daniel Barone caught three passes for 43 yards. Mac Caputi and Tim Drakeley combined to go  11-27 passing for 147 yards for the Polar Bears.

Hurwitz caught scoring strikes in the first and second quarter to give the Cardinals a 14-0 lead. Jon Day's three-yard TD catch came just 39 seconds before halftime, giving the hosts a 21-0 advantage at the break. Jay Fabien hauled in a 10-yard scoring pass late in the third quarter. WIth under six minutes remaining, Wesleyan closed out the scoring on a fourth down pass to Hurwitz from seven yards out.

Brendan Lawler made a game-high 12 tackles for Bowdoin while Jibrail Coy and Bjorn Halvorson had nine apiece. Dan Johnson had an interception for Bowdoin. Wesleyan got nine tackles from Alex Daversa-Russo and picked off three Polar Bear passes on the afternoon.

The Polar Bears will begin pursuit of the C-B-B Championship next week as they host Bates on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. The Bobcats took a dramatic 34-28 overtime victory against Colby on Saturday in the opening game of the three-way rivalry.