MEDFORD, Mass. – A late rally by the Bowdoin College football team came up just short in a 23-21 season-opening loss to Tufts on Saturday evening. The Polar Bears fall to 0-1 this season while the Jumbos begin the year 1-0.
 
Game Highlights

• Tufts scored the first ten points of the game, and held a 10-0 lead midway through the second quarter.
• Bowdoin took advantage of a fumbled punt return by the Jumbos late in the opening half, scoring on a 16-yard touchdown run by Robbie Long with 3:18 remaining in the second quarter.
• After forcing a three-and-out by Tufts to start the second half, Bowdoin marched 66 yards in eight plays, taking their first lead of the game when Long scampered 38 yards to paydirt, giving the Polar Bears a 14-10 lead at 8:53.
• Tufts answered with a field goal to cut the lead to a single point, and regained the lead following an interception in Bowdoin territory, covering 24 yards in seven plays to take a 20-14 lead entering the fourth quarter.
• The Polar Bears refused to go away, however, pinning Tufts deep in their own territory following a 50-yard punt by Jotham Casey. On the second play of the Jumbos' next drive, Aidan Reidy recovered a fumble at the Tufts 11 with 12:05 to go.
• Two plays later, Long found Ty Connolly in the flat for a 12-yard touchdown pass to give Bowdoin a 21-20 edge with 11:18 remaining.
• Tufts replied with a 72-yard, eight-play drive that resulted in a 21-yard field goal to take their final lead of the game, 23-21, with 7:55 on the clock.
• The teams traded possessions before Bowdoin had its last, best chance to win the game. Taking over at their own 6, the Polar Bears marched 57 yards to the Tufts 32 with 44 seconds on the clock. Tufts' Ty Richardson picked off his second pass of the day, stepping in front of a Long pass intended for Luke Watson.
• Bowdoin's defense again forced a three-and-out, and Bowdoin was able to complete a pair of passes to get into Tufts territory as the clock expired.

By The Numbers

• Long rushed for 95 yards and two touchdowns while going 9-22 for 124 passing yards and a score.
• Austin Hiscoe caught four passes for 33 yards as Bowdoin gained 273 yards of total offense.
• Tufts gained 407 yards of offense, most of it through the air courtesy of quarterback Michael Berluti, who went 22-38 for 321 yards.
• Bowdoin's defense kept the Jumbos at bay for most of the contest, holding the hosts to 4 of 14 on third down and allowing just two touchdowns in five red zone visits and forcing four turnovers.
• Dan Fiore led Bowdoin with ten tackles while Aidan Reidy collected eight tackles, three for a loss, with two sacks and a fumble recovery.
• Ferris Collins and AJ Muse had interceptions for Bowdoin while Jotham Casey averaged 39.9 yards on eight punts with two over 50 yards and two downed inside the 20.

Up Next

• Bowdoin will return to Brunswick next weekend for its home opener against Middlebury at 1:00 p.m. Saturday at Whittier Field.