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Bowdoin Polar Bears Beat Williams in Football 28-14 - September 24, 2007
BRUNSWICK, Maine - The Bowdoin Polar Bears (1-0) pulled a stunning upset right out of the gate, beating Williams (0-1) for the first time in 16 contests by a score of 28-14. The loss snaps a 14-game win streak for the Ephs, fresh off their sixth perfect season in school history. It is the first time Bowdoin has beaten Williams since 1979.
The Polar Bears scored 28 more points Saturday than they did last year when Williams shut them out 27-0 at Weston Field. The Ephs committed a whopping seven more turnovers than Bowdoin on the game, proving to be the difference in a game where, in almost every other category, the two teams were relatively even.
As all eight Williams turnovers would come in the second half, the first half was evenly matched. After marching down the field on their second possession of the day- only to miss a field goal- the Polar Bears went 80 yards in 12 plays, scoring on a slashing run by Jeff Smith from four yards out to take an early advantage. Williams answered immediately, going 69 yards in nine plays and tying the contest on a one-yard plunge by Brian Morrissey midway through the second quarter.
Bowdoin rebounded with a quick score of their own, as Ian Merry collected a pass from Oliver Kell and dashed 69 yards up the sideline to give the hosts a 14-7 lead with 6:24 before the break. The Ephs replied late in the half, when Patrick Lucey capped a 10-play 80-yard drive with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Karolak that evened things 14-14 at halftime.
Despite mistake after Williams mistake, Bowdoin was unable to break the tie until the fourth quarter, when a Lamont White interception started a 36-yard ground drive for the Polar Bears, culminating in a touchdown for a 21-14 lead. Said Eph head coach Mike Whalen, "Our defense actually played pretty well overall, but with all the turnovers giving them (Bowdoin) good field position, it was just a matter of time."
On the Ephs next possession, almost all hope for a comeback was dashed when White again stepped in front of a Lucey pass, this time on fourth-and-ten. White returned the interception 40 yards for a touchdown, all but sealing the game for Bowdoin.
Despite an obvious abundance of mental errors, Coach Whalen insisted on giving Bowdoin their credit due. "You gotta take your hat off to Bowdoin, they made some plays (including a one-handed interception of a tipped pass), and we didn't."
Williams will need to cut down on their mental mistakes in a hurry to prepare for a dangerous Trinity team this weekend. One area for improvement will certainly be the level of timing and communication between Lucy and the receiving core, but Coach Whalen warned that the loss couldn't be blamed on any one aspect of the game.
"I don't think you could put your finger on just one thing. There were a few times we got down in the red zone and felt like we were going to score, and then one time there was a holding call, another time a false start, we need to work on getting all 11 guys on offense and on defense on the same page," he said. "These are the situations where you learn the most about yourself."
The Ephs will have to learn fast as they prepare for another away game against perennial conference powerhouse Trinity next Saturday. |
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