Logo: Wesleyan Athletics

Wesleyan 24, at Bowdoin 17

Saturday, October 25, 1997 at Brunswick, Maine

GAME NOTES

Big-play offense and defense were the keys to success for the Wesleyan football team as the visitors escaped Brunswick with a 24-17 win over Bowdoin to go to 5-1 on the year, clinching a winning record with two games left to play.

The game came down to the wire as Bowdoin gained a 1st-and-goal at the Wesleyan two-yard line with 30 seconds to play, trailing by seven. Chris Houston, who led the Bowdoin ground game with 31 carries for 118 yards, was stuffed for a six-yard loss, and QB Hayes MacArthur (17-for-28, 251 yards) spiked the ball to stop the clock. His third-down pass missed its mark, but on fourth down, a pass interference call in the endzone set up a 1st-and-goal at the two with :02 remaining. MacArthur pitched right to Houston, who rolled and threw a halfback option pass intended for tight end Scott Roman. The ball was picked off by Wesleyan's Bryant Lee at the goal line and run out to midfield to seal the victory.

An interception and 37-yard return by Wesleyan's Jeff Boutwell set up the Cardinals' opening score, a 61-yard gallop around right end by Tom Themistocles on Wesleyan's first offensive play of the game. Themistocles (10 carries, 100 yards) later scored on a 20-yard scamper while Shane Doyle caught a 36-yarder from QB Jake Fay (14-for-29, 289 yards) for the game-winning score with 3:36 to play. While Wesleyan netted 117 yards from its three TD plays, Bowdoin, which collected 452 yards on the day, let four good scoring chances go by the boards as Wesleyan's two interceptions came after Bowdoin penetrated the 10-yard line and twice let Wesleyan hold on downs, once at the 12-yard line. In all, Bowdoin gained 240 yards during those four scoreless drives. Bowdoin dominated the offensive stats, holding a 452-409 edge in yards, 23-14 in first downs, 89-51 in offensive plays, and 38 minutes-22 minutes in time of possession.

Bowdoin fell to 2-4 on the year with the loss and traveled to Bates for its next game, while Wesleyan hosted undefeated Williams (6-0).

SCORING SUMMARY 

1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr - Total
Wesleyan (5-1) 7 7 3 7 - 24
Bowdoin (2-4) 7 3 0 7 - 17

1st Quarter 
Wesleyan - Tom Themistocles 61 run (Ben Kozik kick) 9:23 (1-play, 61-yard drive)
Bowdoin - Chris Houston 3 run (Jeremy Riffle kick) 2:35 (6-play, 40-yard drive)

2nd Quarter 
Wesleyan - Tom Themistocles 20 run (Ben Kozik kick) 5:25 (10-play, 56-yard drive)
Bowdoin - Jeremy Riffle 27 field goal 0:54 (9-play, 71-yard drive)

3rd Quarter 
Wesleyan - Ben Kozik 27 field goal 7:18 (10-play, 81-yard drive)

4th Quarter
Bowdoin - Kevin Saxton 16 pass from Hayes MacArthur (Jeremy Riffle kick) 13:11 (7-play, 79-yard drive)
Wesleyan - Shane Doyle 36 pass from Jake Fay (Ben Kozik kick) 3:36 (4-play, 46-yard drive)

TEAM STATISTICS 
BOWDOIN WESLEYAN
First Downs (Run-Pass-Penalty) 23 (11-10-2) 14 (5-7-2)
Rushing Attempts 60 22
Positive Yards Rushing 229 149
Negative Yards Rushing 28 29
Net Total Yards Rushing 201 120
Net Total Yards Passing 251 289
Passes Attempted-Completed-Intercepted 29-17-2 29-14-1
Total Offensive Plays 89 51
Total Net Yards 452 409
Average Gain Per Play 5.1 7.9
Penalties: Number-Yards 9-77 9-94
Fumbles: Number-Lost 2-0 1-1
Interceptions By: Number-Yards 1-0 2-86
Punts: Number-Yards-Average 5-175-35.0 5-188-37.6
Punt Returns: Number-Yards 1-2 4-28
Kickoff Returns: Number-Yards 5-115 4-41
Fumble Returns: Number-Yards   0-0 0-0
Time of Possession 38:06 21:54
Third-Down Conversions 11 of 21 2 of 11
Fourth-Down Conversions 3 of 5 1 of 2
Sacks by: Number-Yards   4-29 3-10

 


INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: Wesleyan - Tom Themistocles, 1-110, 2 TDs; Matt Perceval, 2-26; John Pascucci, 6-23; Jake Fay, 4-(-29). Bowdoin - Chris Houston, 31-118, 1 TD; James Kim, 11-54; Bill Dolley, 3-21; Tim Lawson, 7-12; Hayes MacArthur, 8-(-4).

PASSING: Wesleyan - Jake Fay, 29-14-1, 289 yards, 1 TD. Bowdoin - Hayes MacArthur, 28-17-1, 251 yards, 1 TD; Chris Houston, 1-0-1.

RECEIVING: Wesleyan - Nate Moore, 3-110; Matt Perceval, 3-63; Tom Themistocles, 3-(-1); Shane Doyle, 2-45, 1 TD; John Pascucci, 2-15; Henry Wasserman, 1-57. Bowdoin - Chris Day, 4-53; Scott Roman, 3-47; Tim Lawson, 3-45; Steve LaFond, 3-31; Steve Prinn, 1-36; Kevin Saxton, 1-16, 1 TD; Chris Houston, 1-15; James Kim, 1-8.

PUNTING: Wesleyan - Rob Stager, 5-188, 37.6 average. Bowdoin - Jim Cavanaugh, 5-175, 35.0 average.

Attendance: 2,331