WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – The Bowdoin College football team opened its 2026 season with a 17-7 loss at Williams on Saturday afternoon at Farley-Lamb Field.
The Polar Bear defense kept Bowdoin within striking distance for most of the afternoon, forcing three turnovers and holding the Ephs to 93 yards through the air. Williams led 7-0 at halftime and 10-0 after three quarters before adding a touchdown midway through the fourth. Bowdoin broke through on its final possession as
Soren Hummel connected with
Conrad Babka for a 27-yard touchdown to account for the final margin.
Game Highlights
- Bowdoin's defense made an immediate impact, recording three sacks in the opening quarter. Owen Lydon, Charles Willey and Charlie Saurack each brought down Williams quarterback Owen Johansen, helping limit the Ephs to a single first-quarter touchdown.
- The Polar Bears generated their first turnover midway through the second quarter when Steven Vargo intercepted Johansen at the Bowdoin 24. Later in the quarter, Zach Taylor forced a Williams fumble that was recovered by Max Oenning at the Eph 22 but neither resulted in a score for the Polar Bears.
- Taylor added his second takeaway of the afternoon in the third quarter, intercepting Johansen and returning it five yards to the Bowdoin 42. Williams turned a Bowdoin fumble on the ensuing play into a 20-yard field goal for a 10-0 advantage.
- Bowdoin put together a promising drive early in the fourth quarter, moving from its own 28 to the Williams 27, highlighted by a 27-yard completion from Hummel to Jake Wang. The drive eventually stalled at the Eph 30 on downs.
- Williams extended its lead to 17-0 with 6:54 remaining, but the Polar Bears closed the game with their best drive of the afternoon. Bowdoin marched 65 yards in six plays and 1:17, including a 27-yard Hummel completion to Michael Wolfendale followed immediately by a 27-yard touchdown strike to Babka with 36 seconds remaining. Caden Perry added the extra point.
By The Numbers
- Hummel finished 20-of-42 for 190 yards and a touchdown, with eight different Polar Bears recording a reception.
- Jude Baker led Bowdoin with five catches for 49 yards, while Wolfendale had three receptions for 39 yards and Babka caught two passes for 35 yards and the touchdown.
- Bowdoin's defense forced three turnovers, collecting two interceptions and a fumble recovery, while holding Williams to just 9-of-19 passing for 93 yards.
- Saurack led the defense with nine tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack, while Lydon added seven tackles, a tackle for loss and a sack. Taylor finished with five tackles, an interception, a forced fumble and five interception-return yards.
- The Polar Bears recorded six tackles for loss and three sacks, with Willey joining Saurack and Lydon with a sack.
- Perry averaged 41.4 yards on eight punts, placing two inside the Williams 20 with a long of 48 yards.
- Williams finished with a 278-202 advantage in total offense, with 185 of its yards coming on the ground. Bowdoin held the Ephs to 3-of-10 on third down.
Up Next
- Bowdoin will return to action next Saturday for their home opener at Whittier Field against Middlebury at 1:00 p.m.
