Waterville, Maine - In a back and forth, highly contested matchup, the Colby College Football team defeated the Bobcats of Bates College 28-26 under the lights Saturday night at Seaverns Field. With several lead changes, over 500 combined rushing yards between the two teams, and key plays at critical moments, the Mules make it six in a row against Bates, including a 3-0 stretch since the NESCAC approved night games in 2022.
The story of the night was long, sustained drives for both teams. Colby lit up the scoreboard first taking their opening drive 71 yards on eight plays, capped by an 11-yard
Keon Smart touchdown scamper. The senior running back would set a new career-high with 154 yards on the ground on 25 carries. After a three-and-out on their first drive, the visitors tied the score at seven covering 58 yards, all on the ground. The triple option attack of the Bobcats would prove troublesome for the Colby defense throughout the night, as the Bobcats, fresh off an upset of Wesleyan down in Middletown, were committed to misdirection and finding the edge with speed. As the clock wound down on the opening quarter, quarterback
Miles Drake converted his first of two touchdowns on the night, this one finding
Jack Sawyer at the goal line to regain the lead.
The lone score in the second quarter was owned by Bates, driving 68 yards on eight plays, all on the ground, knotting the score at 14 heading into the break.
The Bobcats opened the third frame the same way they closed the second, taking the opening drive of the half the distance to move ahead 20-14. Bates attempted only one pass on the drive, covering 75 yards on the ground. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after the score pushed the point after try back an extra 15 yards, proving too far for the Bates kicker who sailed the try left. Colby's ensuing drive resulted in a punt, as did the Bobcats', however the Bates punter unleashed a brilliant punt and roll that pinned Colby at their own 1-yard line. The Mules saddled up and embarked on a 99-yard drive that chewed up the remainder of the third quarter and dipped into the fourth, ending in a 41-yard Drake to
Jack Nye score that regained Colby's lead to 21-20.
After stopping Bates on their next possession, the offensive line flexed for one more scoring drive, creating holes for Smart and Drake that resulted in Smart's second score of the night. Bates fought back all the way to the end, scoring their fourth and final touchdown with under two minutes remaining. Forced to attempt a two-point play on their point after, the running Bobcats elected to pass, only to be knocked down by edge rusher
Jack Mullen. After an unsuccessful onsides kick, and a third down conversion from Drake to Nye for 34 yards, Colby kneeled away the remaining ticks of the clock for their first win of the 2024 campaign.
Drake was marvelous with his legs and his arm. He rushed 11 times for 110 yards, but more impressively he completed 21 of 24 passes for 225 yards and two scores. Add in Smart's 154 yards on the ground and two carries from
Declan McNamara, Colby posted 274 rushing yards in total. Nye's first year in collegiate football continues to trend high, as he set new career marks with six receptions for 122 yards. Defensively,
Sebastien Romain continues his stellar season, coming up just shy of double-digits with nine tackles.
Trevor Smith matched the linebacker with nine, a new career-high for the safety.
The Mules are back in action next weekend when they head to Wesleyan University for a rematch of last year's overtime barnburner before returning home the following weekend to host the Mammoths of Amherst College.
