BRUNSWICK, Maine – The Bowdoin College football team returns to Whittier Field on Saturday, October 31, hosting Wesleyan University in a 1:00 p.m. NESCAC contest as part of the College's Family Weekend festivities. Saturday's matchup will mark the 100th all-time meeting between the two programs.
SATURDAY'S GAME
The Polar Bears (0-6) return home following a strong defensive performance at Trinity last weekend, looking to break into the win column against a Wesleyan squad that enters Saturday's matchup at 5-1. The Cardinals opened the season with five consecutive victories before suffering their first loss of the year at Amherst last Saturday. Bowdoin will look to build on its defensive effort against Trinity, which saw the Polar Bears hold the conference's highest-scoring offense to a season-low 10 points. The teams have split their last four meetings, including a 25-17 Bowdoin victory in Middletown last October.
FAMILY WEEKEND
Bowdoin welcomes families and friends to campus October 30–November 1 for its annual Family Weekend celebration, featuring a full schedule of events. Families can find a complete schedule of events, parking information and other details on the
official Family Weekend website.
TAILGATE AND PARKING INFORMATION
Tailgate parking will open at 10:00 a.m. Saturday. Fans can find on-campus parking options and walking paths to Whittier Field through the Bowdoin Athletics website. All Bowdoin football home games are free admission.
LIVE COVERAGE
The NESCAC Network, powered by the Northeast Sports Network (NSN), will provide live video coverage of Saturday's game. Additionally, Radio Midcoast WCME will broadcast the contest live on 99.5 FM and 900 AM. Live statistics will also be available through GoUBears.com. Bowdoin's digital game program will be available at
goubears.com/programs and through QR codes posted around Whittier Field on game day.
LAST WEEK
Bowdoin at Trinity: The Polar Bears delivered one of their strongest defensive performances of the season, holding Trinity to a season-low 10 points in a narrow 10-3 setback in Hartford. Bowdoin limited the Bantams to just 222 yards of total offense, including 117 through the air, and kept the conference's highest-scoring offense off the scoreboard in the second half.
Caden Perry connected on a 38-yard field goal in the third quarter, while
Brody Aeschliman led the defense with 12 tackles, including two for loss. Quarterback
Soren Hummel completed 22 of 37 passes for 177 yards, with
Jude Baker catching six passes for 73 yards. The Polar Bears had a pair of opportunities to tie the game in the fourth quarter but couldn't find the end zone.
Wesleyan at Amherst: The Cardinals saw their unbeaten season come to an end in dramatic fashion, falling 15-9 at Amherst on Saturday. Wesleyan led 9-0 entering the fourth quarter thanks to a safety and a three-yard touchdown run by Matt Diaz, but the Mammoths rallied with two late touchdowns, including the game-winning score with just 22 seconds remaining. Quarterback Matt Fitzsimons completed 14 of 23 passes for 181 yards, while Diaz rushed for 64 yards and a touchdown. Donte Kelly led the receivers with four catches for 67 yards, while Tommy Kilroy paced the defense with 11 tackles and an interception. Wesleyan's defense intercepted two passes and recorded three sacks, but the Cardinals were limited to 245 yards of total offense in their first loss of the season.
BY THE NUMBERS
Bowdoin enters Saturday's game ranked sixth in the NESCAC in scoring defense, allowing 18.5 points per game, and fifth in total defense at 291.3 yards per contest. The Polar Bears have been particularly effective against the pass, ranking second in the conference by allowing just 153.7 passing yards per game.
Wesleyan enters Saturday's matchup leading the NESCAC in total offense, averaging 398.5 yards per game, and ranks second in scoring offense at 30.5 points per contest. The Cardinals rank second in passing offense (268.5 yards per game) and have scored a conference-high 26 touchdowns this season. Defensively, Wesleyan ranks second in scoring defense (14.7 points per game) and third in total defense (257.8 yards per game).
LAST MEETING
Bowdoin earned a 25-17 victory over Wesleyan in Middletown last October, handing the Cardinals their second loss of the season while securing the Polar Bears' first win of the year.
Soren Hummel threw for 211 yards and three touchdowns, including a 78-yard scoring strike to
Michael Wolfendale on Bowdoin's first offensive play. The Polar Bears scored 15 unanswered points in the third quarter to take control before
Ferris Collins sealed the victory with a pair of fourth-quarter interceptions. Bowdoin held Wesleyan to just 23 rushing yards and forced four turnovers in the victory, its first in Middletown since 2008.
BOWDOIN vs. WESLEYAN – ALL TIME
Saturday marks the 100th all-time meeting between Bowdoin and Wesleyan, with the Cardinals holding a 63-33-3 advantage in the series. The teams have split their last four contests, including Bowdoin's 25-17 victory in Middletown last fall. The Polar Bears will look to make it consecutive victories over Wesleyan for the first time since 2003-04.
