Wesleyan University

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – It may have been a bitterly cold October afternoon, but the Wesleyan football team was firing on all cylinders in a 34-8 Homecoming win over Bates on Saturday afternoon from Corwin Stadium on Andrus Field. Wesleyan improves to 5-0 for the first time since 2021 while the Bobcats are winless on the year at 0-5.
 
Playing in front of 3000+, Wesleyan scored three touchdowns in a 6+ minute span between the first and second quarters, ultimately leading 34-2 midway through the fourth quarter before finishing off the 26-point home win. Wesleyan outgained Bates 422-142 while the Cardinal defense forced four turnovers, totaled six tackles for loss, and generated two sacks in another dominant performance.
 
Junior running back Matt Diaz '28 rushed for 103 yards and two scores for his second career 100-yard game and third career game with 2 TD. Senior quarterback Matt Fitzsimons '27 threw for 243 yards, completing passes to nine difference receivers, while totaling one passing score and another on the ground.
 
Wesleyan received the opening kickoff and chewed up more than seven minutes of game clock on an 11-play drive that ultimately ended in a turnover on downs as the Cardinals failed to convert on fourth down for the first time this season. The Cardinals had converted all 10 of their fourth down attempts heading into this week's tilt.
 
Despite coming up empty on the extended opening drive, the Cardinal defense pushed the Bates offense back on the Bobcats' first possession. Dylan Minnick '28 broke through the line for his first career sack on the first Bates play on offense then picked up four yards on consecutive run plays to go three-and-out.
 
Taking over close to midfield, Wesleyan was faced with a 3^rd-and-10 early in the drive and Fitzsimons stepped into the pocket and found junior wideout Diego Velez '28 on a deep crossing route. Velez had his defender beat and with the pinpoint pass, Velez crossed the goal line untouched for the first score of the day.
 
Bates then fumbled on the opening play of their next drive, giving the Cardinals the ball back just outside the red zone late in the first quarter. After seeing a Donte Kelly '29 touchdown called back due to a holding call, Wesleyan shook off the miscue and converted on fourth down to set up a Diaz off tackle rush to the left from six yards out for the touchdown.
 
Another Bates three-and-out gave the Cardinals the ball back at their own 43-yard line just 13 seconds into the second quarter. Senior running back Angelo LaRose '27 picked up 25 yards on the first play on the drive then Diaz rushed middle for 17 yards into the Bates red zone. Diaz converted a 3^rd-and-7 with an eight-yard rush then LaRose barreled in from four yards out as Wesleyan suddenly held a 21-0 lead.
 
After picking up one first down on their first four drives, Bates took advantage of a pair of 15-yard penalties from the Wesleyan defense, only to see senior linebacker Jack Eisenhardt '27 come up with a crucial interception late in the half. Bates quarterback Jack Gilmore attempted a throw to his right and Eisenhardt went full extension to snag his first career interception.
 
Taking a 21-0 lead into halftime, Wesleyan came up with a big special teams play as Warren Little '27 landed a big hit on return man Quinn Carver, forcing the ball loose. A scramble on the grass resulted in Chase Vaughan '27 falling on the ball for the fumble recovery on the first play of the second half.
 
Despite coming up empty with a missed field goal on the ensuing drive, Bates punted the ball back to the Cardinals at the midway point of the third quarter. A 55-yard completion from Fitzsimons to senior receiver Blake Newcomb '27 set the Cardinals up inside the Bates red zone. One play later, Diaz rushed through the teeth of the Bates defense for his second score to make it 27-0 Wesleyan.
 
Bates played the extra point attempt following the Diaz touchdown and Major Spencer III caught the blocked kick in the end zone and went the full length of the field for a two-point conversion to get the Bobcats on the board.
 
Wesleyan put the game to bed with an eight-play, 56-yard drive between the third and fourth quarters. The Cardinals completed a 4^th-and-2 with an eight-yard Kelly reception then Fitzsimons took it himself on a designed run to the left sideline, using his speed to turn the corner and score his fifth rushing TD of the year to make it 34-2 Wesleyan with 13:20 remaining.
 
The Bates offense broke through with a TD drive late in the fourth, while the second team Wesleyan offense drove 68 yards and used up nearly six minutes of clock before the final whistle sounded on the 34-2 win.
 
As a team, Wesleyan rushed for 179 yards and 4 rushing TD, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. Diaz picked up 103 yards to lead the team while LaRose rushed for 44 and Ryan Villano '27 picked up 26 yards on seven carries in the fourth quarter.
 
Newcomb led the receiving unit with three catches for 78 yards. Sean Cannon '27 finished with three catches for 43 yards and Velez's 41-yard TD is the first score of his career.
 
Both Eisenhardt and Drew Goldman '29 snagged their first career interceptions. Joey Weidl '27 blocked a punt in the second half. Minnick and Eamonn Welch '28 tallied one sack each while Welch added two QB hurries. Tommy Kilroy '29 led the team with seven tackles.
 
After playing back-to-back games at home, Wesleyan heads on the road for their next two contests, starting with a huge clash on Saturday in a battle of the unbeatens when the Cardinals travel to Amherst for a 1 PM kickoff.