Logo: Wesleyan Athletics

Wesleyan 37, at Bates 16

Saturday, October 12, 1996 at Lewiston, Maine

GAME NOTES

The Cardinals made it 10 straight wins over Bates, dating back to 1983, by using big-play offense and timely defense to pull away in the second half for a 37-16 victory in Lewiston.

After an even first half, Wesleyan held a slim 10-9 margin. But on the opening play of the third period, Wesleyan demonstrated what it had to do to win when tailback Tom Themistocles darted off the right tackle untouched and raced 66 yards for a 16-9 Wesleyan lead. The score then stood 23-16 in Wesleyan's favor late in the third period as the deciding activity transpired. Wesleyan lost the ball deep in its territory when an errant lateral pas was recovered by Bates at the Wesleyan 28. Bates reached the Cardinal 20 but got stuffed twice on third and fourth down, thanks mostly to the strong tackling of linebacker Matt Francis, who twice trapped P.J. McGrail (22-97) for little or no gain. Wesleyan took over on downs, and on second down, QB Jake Fay (12-of-21, 173 yards) found tight end Nate Moore (6 catches, 132 yards) over the middle near midfield. Moore snagged the aerial and split the defense, racing the rest of the way for an 80-yard score and a 30-16 edge on the opening play of the fourth quarter.

When John Pascucci found the endzone for the third time with a five-yard scamper midway through the final stanza, the final score was secured. Pascucci, who finished with 10 carries for 101 yards, increased his total to nine rushing TDs on the year, which led the NESCAC. He ended the game just three TDs shy of the team seasonal mark. With Themistocles rambling for 151 yards on 20 attempts, Wesleyan had a game with two 100-plus performers for the first time since Dave Cottrell and Troy Robinson combined for the feat against Colby in 1993.

Offensive, Wesleyan performed with near-record proficiency through four games. With 123 points, the 1996 Cardinals were the second highest-scoring team after four games in the college's 114-year football history. They also were only the second squad to score 25 points or more in each of the opening four games. Only the 1967 team, which had 127 points after four games, scored at that level, coming away with four straight games with at least 29 points on the board. Wesleyan's scoring average (30.5 PPG) and total yardage average (406.5) were both ahead of team record pace (28.0 PPG and 360.9 YPG).

While Wesleyan conquered Bates on the scoreboard, the game statistics were considerably closer as Wesleyan outgained Bates by just five yards (446-441), had fewer plays (64-75) and less time of possession (28:55-31:05) while the first downs were dead even (18 apiece).

SCORING SUMMARY 

1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr - Total
Wesleyan (3-1) 0 10 13 14 - 37
Bates (0-4) 6 3 7 0 - 16

1st Quarter 
Bates - P.J. McGrail 8 pass from Dan Hooley (kick blocked) 8:59 (6-play, 80-yard drive)

2nd Quarter 
Bates - Rob Sanderson 25 field goal 14:40 (12-play, 61-yard drive)
Wesleyan - John Pascucci 8 run (Rob Stager kick) 6:43 (5-play, 65-yard drive)
Wesleyan - Rob Stager 38 field goal 1:15 (11-play, 39-yard drive) 

3rd Quarter 
Wesleyan - Tom Themistocles 66 run (Rob Stager kick) 14:41 (1-play, 66-yard drive)
Wesleyan - John Pascucci 26 run (Rob Stager kick) 8:16 (8-play, 62-yard drive)
Bates - Jared Libby 19 pass from Dan Hooley (Rob Sanderson kick) 4:55 (11-play, 65-yard drive)

4th Quarter
Wesleyan - Nate Moore 80 pass from Jake Fay (Rob Stager kick) 14:48 (2-play, 80-yard drive)
Wesleyan - John Pascucci 5 run (Rob Stager kick) 7:07 (5-play, 54-yard drive) 

TEAM STATISTICS 
BATES WESLEYAN
First Downs (Run-Pass-Penalty) 18 (3-14-1) 18 (9-8-1)
Rushing Attempts 33 43
Positive Yards Rushing 132 298
Negative Yards Rushing 17 25
Net Total Yards Rushing 115 273
Net Total Yards Passing 326 173
Passes Attempted-Completed-Intercepted 42-22-1 21-12-0
Total Offensive Plays 75 64
Total Net Yards 441 446
Average Gain Per Play 5.88 6.97
Penalties: Number-Yards 10-711 7-55
Fumbles: Number-Lost 3-1 2-1
Interceptions By: Number-Yards 0-0 1-0
Punts: Number-Yards-Average 6-197-32.8 5-208-41.6
Punt Returns: Number-Yards 1-(-2) 2-7
Kickoff Returns: Number-Yards 6-92 3-87
Fumble Returns: Number-Yards   1-0 1-0
Time of Possession 31:05 28:55
Third-Down Conversions 8 of 18 5 of 14
Fourth-Down Conversions 1 of 3 1 of 3
Sacks by: Number-Yards   0-0 1-4

 


INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: Wesleyan - Tom Themistocles, 20-151, 1 TD; John Pascuci, 10-101, 3 TDs; Jack Eighmy, 2-11; Jake Fay, 3-8; Nate Moore, 1-5; Bob Beatty, 2-3; Dale Hendricks, 5-(-6). Bates - P.J. McGrail, 22-97; Steve Potamis, 3-7; Matt Perrault, 2-5; Wyatt Crosswhite, 1-4; Dan Hooley, 5-2.

PASSING: Wesleyan - Jake Fay, 21-12-0, 173 yards, 1 TD. Bates - Dan Hooley, 42-22-1, 326 yards, 2 TDs.

RECEIVING: Wesleyan - Nate Moore, 6-132, 1 TD; Mike Hakim, 2-20; John Pascucci, 2-(-4); Matt Perceval, 1-15; Shane Doyle, 1-10. Bates - Wyatt Crosswhite, 8-119; Tom Spiro, 7-130; Jared Libby, 4-55, 1 TD; Steve Potamis, 2-14; P.J. McGrail, 1-8, 1 TD.

PUNTING: Wesleyan - Rob Stager, 5-208, 41.6 average. Bates - Chris Snow, 5-169, 45.6 average; Mike Voelker, 1-30.

Attendance: 2,112