Logo: Wesleyan Athletics

at Wesleyan 31, Bowdoin 23

Saturday, October 31, 1998 at Middletown, Conn.

GAME NOTES

Senior tailback Tom Themistocles and senior fullback John Pasucci combined for 36 carries for 218 yards and three TDs to power Wesleyan (5-1) to a 31-23 home victory over Bowdoin (3-3).

Wesleyan scored a TD in each of its first three possessions to move out to a 21-7 edge 10:33 into the game and Bowdoin, which got 335 yards passing from senior QB Hayes MacArthur on 23-of-42 throwing, narrowed the gap to 21-17 at halftime. Senior Steve Lafond was on the receiving end of nine Bowdoin passes for 121 yards and a TD. Themistocles, who led all rushers with his fourth 100-plus game of the season (23-136), put Wesleyan ahead 28-17 early in the fourth quarter before the teams traded scores down the stretch for the final margin.

Playing a good portion of the game in the secondary in addition to his role at fullback (gaining 82 yards on 13 attempts), Pascucci intercepted three Bowdoin passes, returning them a total of 44 yards. He also had one sack and broke up a two-point conversion pass in the fourth quarter with Wesleyan ahead 28-23 at the time.

Wesleyan junior QB Jake Fay completed 13 of 24 passes for 242 yards with junior Matt Perceval hauling in seven passes for 163 yards and one TD, his 11th of the year. It was the 12th pass of the season for Fay, who is Wesleyan's career leader in that department with 34.

SCORING SUMMARY 

1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr - Total
Bowdoin (3-3) 10 7 0 6 - 23
Wesleyan (5-1) 21 0 0 10 - 31

1st Quarter 
Wesleyan - Tom Themistocles 1 run (Curt Younkin kick) 13:13 (6-play, 80-yard drive)
Bowdoin - Steve Prinn 38 pass from Hayes MacArthur (Alex Tatum kick) 9:16 (8-play, 70-yard drive)
Wesleyan - Matt Perceval 38 pass from Jake Fay (Curt Younkin kick) 8:09 (2-play, 35-yard drive)
Wesleyan - John Pascucci 4 run (Curt Younkin kick) 4:27 (4-play, 72-yard drive)
Bowdoin - Alex Tatum 36 field goal 1:20 (9-play, 46-yard drive)

2nd Quarter 
Wesleyan - Steve Lafond 15 pass from Hayes MacArthur (Alex Tatum kick) 0:42 (13-play, 80-yard kick)

3rd Quarter 
No scoring

4th Quarter
Wesleyan - Tom Themistocles 3 run (Curt Younkin kick) 13:27 (19-play, 84-yard drive)
Bowdoin - Wes Breton 12 pass from Hayes MacArthur (pass failed) 4:29 (10-play, 51-yard drive)
Wesleyan - Curt Younkin 26 field goal 2:13 (5-play, 38-yard drive)

TEAM STATISTICS 
WESLEYAN BOWDOIN
First Downs (Run-Pass-Penalty) 23 (13-9-1) 19 (15-4-0)
Rushing Attempts 57 30
Positive Yards Rushing 311 76
Negative Yards Rushing 44 41
Net Total Yards Rushing 267 35
Net Total Yards Passing 242 335
Passes Attempted-Completed-Intercepted 24-13-0 42-23-3
Total Offensive Plays 82 72
Total Net Yards 509 359
Average Gain Per Play 6.2 5.0
Penalties: Number-Yards 5-48 2-16
Fumbles: Number-Lost 1-0 1-0
Interceptions By: Number-Yards 3-44 0-0
Punts: Number-Yards-Average 4-154-38.5 4-156-39.0
Punt Returns: Number-Yards 2-10 1-1
Kickoff Returns: Number-Yards 2-79 4-63
Fumble Returns: Number-Yards   0-0 0-0
Time of Possession 33:55 26:05
Third-Down Conversions 7 of 17 1 of 4
Fourth-Down Conversions   10 of 16 0 of 0
Sacks by: Number-Yards   6-32 5-27

 


INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: Bowdoin - Tim Lawson, 10-46; Shaun Leonardo, 3-9; Chris Houston, 9-4; Hayes MacArthur, 8-(-24). Wesleyan - Tom Themistocles, 23-136, 2 TDs; John Pascucci, 13-82, 1 TD; Jake Fay, 17-37; Matt Perceval, 3-10; Mark Wollard, 1-2.

PASSING: Bowdoin - Hayes MacArthur, 42-23-3, 335 yards, 3 TDs. Wesleyan - Jake Fay, 24-13-0, 242 yards, 1 TD.

RECEIVING: Bowdoin - Steve Lafond, 9-121, 1 TD; Wes Breton, 4-74, 1 TD; Steve Prinn, 3-97, 1 TD; Chris Day, 3-36; Tim Lawson, 2-9; Chris Houston, 2-(-2). Wesleyan - Matt Perceval, 7-163, 1 TD; Nate Moore, 3-46; Mike Hakim, 1-18; Tom Themistocles, 1-8; George Thompson, 1-7.

PUNTING: Bowdoin - Rich Bolduc, 4-156, 39.0 average. Wesleyan - Mark Olshefskie, 4-154, 38.5 average.

Attendance: 2,100