AMHERST, Mass. -- The Bates football team's defense held Amherst College to just 190 yards of total offense, but the Mammoths were able to defeat the Bobcats 19-7 in Saturday's season-opener for both teams on a hot day at Pratt Field.
It's the fewest yards allowed by a Bates defense in one game since 2015.
Sophomore linebacker Ryan Rozich (Cromwell, Conn.) led the way, finishing with nine total tackles, including five solo stops and two tackles for loss. Sophomores Matthew-Michael Assivero (Ottawa, Ontario) and Michael Spencer (Mansfield, Texas) added five tackles apiece.
The Bobcats (0-1) held a 7-3 lead through the first quarter, but the Mammoths (1-0) took a 9-7 edge with 10:59 to go in the second quarter on a Mason Morrow two-yard touchdown run. They did not surrender the lead, as Bates struggled to get anything going on offense.
The game did not have an auspicious beginning for the visitors, as Amherst's Price Warfield forced a Bates fumble on the opening kickoff, and their kicker Matt Kelley recovered the ball at the Bates 18-yard line. In a sign of things to come, the Bates defense stood tall, forcing a three-and-out. Kelley converted a 33-yard field goal to put the hosts up 3-0 with 13:20 left in the first quarter.
The Bobcats battled back, as the defense set up the offense for a go-ahead score. Facing first and 10 at their own 42, Morrow connected with Sam Gerber in the flat for a four-yard gain. But first-year Marquez Narvaez-Estrada (Montgomery Village, Md.) jarred the ball loose with a big hit. The ball popped up in the air and Spencer came down with it for a fumble recovery and a Bates first down at the Amherst 46.
Here's an up close view of this huge forced fumble by the @Bates_Football rookie Marquez Narvaez-Estrada against Amherst on Saturday! Nice grab out of the air by sophomore Michael Spencer.#d3plays #gobates #mesports #d3fb #d3football #SCTop10 @ESPNAssignDesk @Sports_SJ https://t.co/idyljV4GyK pic.twitter.com/aKMDIxUq3P
— BatesSports (@BatesSports) September 15, 2024
Sophomore Ryan Lynskey (Cranford, N.J.) ripped off a run of 10 yards and first-year Jeff Vidou (Cornish, N.H.) sliced through the Amherst defense for a 17-yard gain. Then on a second and five at the Amherst 13, senior captain Colton Bosselait (Westminster, Mass.) found sophomore Ryan Gleason (Millbury, Mass.) in the back of the end zone for the latter's first collegiate touchdown reception. Sophomore Marcos Ruiz (Haskell, N.J.) made the extra point and Bates led 7-3 with 5:36 left in the first quarter.
The Bates defense forced back-to-back three-and-outs before the Amherst offense finally got going on a drive that started at their own 35-yard line. Morrow found Owen Gaydos for 19 yards to the Bates 45. Then he connected with Keith Delaney for 44 yards to the Bates two. It was by far the longest play of the day for the Mammoths, and Morrow capped off the drive by rushing for the go-ahead score.
Kelley missed the extra point attempt, so Bates trailed by just two points.
Unfortunately for the Bobcats, the offense struggled throughout the contest. Bates was forced to punt on their next drive, and the Mammoths blocked it, setting the home team up with great field position at the Bates 25. The defense held strong, forcing a 47-yard field goal attempt that missed short of the goalposts.
The teams traded punts until the first half ended with the Bobcats down 9-7.
Field position did not go Bates' way in the third quarter. An interception and a failed fourth down attempt in their own territory hurt the cause. But the Bobcat defense continued to hold the Mammoths at bay. Backed up deep into their own territory, the Bobcats punted with just under five minutes remaining in the third, and the Mammoths started their drive at midfield.
This time, they took advantage of the good field position, going 50 yards in eight plays, with Morrow running it in from seven yards out for a 16-7 lead after the extra point.
Another interception by the Amherst defense set up a 34-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, giving the home team their final margin of victory.
Sophomore quarterback Seneca Moore (Lansing, Mich.) entered the game off the bench and led a 16-play, 38-yard drive that lasted more than seven minutes. But with the Bobcats facing fourth down at the Amherst 21, a bad snap ended any hopes of scoring on the drive, and with just 5:09 left in the game, hopes of a comeback faded away.
Lynskey turned in a gritty performance for the Bobcats on the ground, rushing 20 times for a game-high 78 yards. The Bobcats rushed for 122 yards as a team, but only passed the ball for 60 yards. Meanwhile, Morrow completed 13 of 40 passes for 140 yards. The Bobcats held the Mammoths to just 50 rushing yards, but Amherst did score both their touchdowns on the ground, via the legs of Morrow.
Gleason caught three passes for 33 yards and a touchdown for Bates, while junior Maverick Selementi (Montclair, N.J.) added four receptions for 22 yards. Delaney paced the Mammoths with three catches for 52 yards.
Luke Harmon had a monster game on defense for the Mammoths, tallying a game-high 12 total tackles, including two tackles for loss, and a sack. He also picked off two passes.
The Bobcats are back in action next Saturday when they host Trinity at 1 p.m.