LEWISTON, Me. – The Wesleyan football team controlled play throughout, generating big plays on defense and extended drives on offense, to successfully avenge last season's home defeat to Bates in a 23-7 road win over the Bobcats on Saturday afternoon. The Cardinals join a crowded group at the top of the NESCAC standings as Wesleyan is one of six teams with a 2-1 record while Bates drop to 1-2 on the year.
 
The Cardinals benefited from a stellar defensive outing, holding Bates to 225 yards of total offense while the Wesleyan pass rush generated a season-high five sacks and the unit totaled nine tackles for loss in the win. On offense, Wesleyan benefited from two drives lasting over 10 minutes each while the Cardinals punted just one time and went 10-for-14 on third downs playing on the road for the second straight week.
 
Both defenses dominated in the first quarter, with neither side generating points. The Bobcats opened the game with a 55-yard kickoff return and drove down to the Cardinals' 21-yard line but were stuffed on a 4^th-and-3 as Austin Baker '27 denied Sergio Beltran for just a 1-yard gain on the play. Later in the quarter, Chris DeMartino '26 and Declan Welch '26 combined on a sack to put an end to a Bates drive just as the Bobcats had crossed midfield late in the first quarter.
 
Wesleyan broke the deadlock with just over seven minutes remaining in the second quarter. Capping off a 16-play, 76-yard drive on 3^rd-and-goal, Tyler Flynn '26 took the handoff and went off the right tackle before barreling his way in for his first touchdown of the season. Wesleyan finished that drive with five straight runs plays while the Cardinals converted four third downs in a drive that lasted over 10 minutes.
 
Bates answered right back with a 10-play, 75-yard drive of their own, getting a 27-yard carry from Ryan Lynskey to enter the red zone. Then on 3^rd-and-13 from the 20-yard line, a defensive pass interference call set up 1^st-and-goal from the 5 and Lynskey did the rest, punching the ball in for the game-tying touchdown.
 
Getting the ball back with 1:49 left on the clock from their own 25-yard line, Wesleyan capitalized with big plays down the field from Matt Fitzsimons '27 to Blake Newcomb '27. The classmates connected for three straight receptions for gains of 12, 35, and 12 yards down inside the red zone. The duo tried to connect again and got Bates flagged for a pass interference, setting up 1^st-and-goal from the 5-yard line. Matt Diaz '28 took the handoff and scored to give Wesleyan a 13-7 halftime lead.
 
The Cardinals came up with another stand on their half of the field, forcing a Bates punt from their own 33-yard line to keep hold of the lead. Then taking the ball back with 6:35 left in the 3^rd quarter, Wesleyan marched 76 yards down the field in a drive that lasted 10:18 minutes, finishing with a Gage Hammond '27 30-yard field goal that made it a two-score game at 16-7 Wesleyan.
 
With time starting to become a problem for Bates, an ill-timed personal foul penalty on the Bobcats pushed the ball back 15 yards and turned what would have been a 2^nd-and-2 into a 2^nd-and-17. After an incomplete pass, Baker broke through the line for a six-yard sack, forcing the Bobcats to punt.
 
Looking to ice the game away, Wesleyan had a 3^rd-and-5 from midfield and Fitzsimons spotted Donte Kelly '29 open on a post route and the speedy wideout did the rest, beating three defenders to the end zone to put the Cardinals up 23-7 with seven minutes left.
 
Needing points, the Bobcats tried to air the ball out and paid the price as Vincent Lytle '28 intercepted Jack Perry took his first career interception back 16 yards, across midfield and into Bates territory.
 
That Lytle interception, followed by the Cardinals draining another 4+ minutes off the clock, proved enough to seal the 23-7 road win for Wesleyan.
 
DeMartino had a monster game on defense, as five of his six tackles went for a loss for the Bates offense. The senior linebacker totaled 4.5 tackles for loss, netting a loss of 21 yards for the Bates offense, while adding 1.5 sacks to his totals. Baker went for five tackles, two tackles for loss, and one sack. Jake Karmin '27 and Eamonn Welch '28 each added one sack while Karmin had five total tackles on the day.
 
Fitzsimons finished 20-for-31 throwing for 254 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT. He was sacked just once in the game while seven Cardinals had at least one reception. Newcomb had a career day with eight catches for 116 yards, recording a career-high in receptions while this marked his first career 100-yard game. Kelly had five catches for 84 yards and 1 TD while Sam Wien '28 added three catches for 21 yards.
 
The ground game saw a rotation of Flynn, Diaz, and Angelo LaRose '27 combine for 86 yards on 24 carries. Each running back had eight carries while Fitzsimons added 11 yards on five carries.
 
The Cardinals are back at home next Saturday, welcoming Hamilton for a 1 PM kickoff from Corwin Stadium. Wesleyan has won five straight against the Continentals including a 19-7 road win in Clinton last season.