AT WESLEYAN 17, BATES 14
Saturday, October 12, 1997 at Middletown, Conn.
Game Notes:
Behind two TD catches by receiver Matt Perceval, the second coming with 13:38 to play on a 35-yard reception, Wesleyan pulled out a 17-14 victory over Bates to stay undefeated at 4-0. Bates, which has dropped 13 in a row over three seasons, and 50 of its last 51 contests, fell to 0-4 this year. Wesleyan has beaten Bates 11 consecutive times since 1982.
Bates dominated the contest statistically, outgaining Wesleyan 430-331 in total yards, holding a 25-17 edge in first downs, and a five-minute margin in time of possession. But when the game came down to a final drive by the Bobcats, the Wesleyan defense held after Bates gained a first down at the Wesleyan 21-yard line. From there, Bates QB Matt Bazirgan, a sophomore who was making his first collegiate start, tossed an incompletion, was sacked for a five-yard loss by Larry Mason, then failed to find his target again on 3rd- and 4th-down pass attempts. Still, on the day, Bazirgan completed 13 of 27 passes for 187 yards and a TD (24 yards to Jason Coulie) and also rushed 15 times for 84 yards. Bates tailback P.J. McGrail led all rushers with 103 yards on 24 attempts, including a one-yard TD plunge.
Wesleyan QB Jake Fay completed 14 of 25 attempts for 219 yards and a pair of TDs. He connected with Perceval on a 28-yarder in the first quarter for a 7-0 Wesleyan lead. Perceval finished the game with four catches for 82 yards.
SCORING SUMMARYÂ
|
1st Qtr |
2nd Qtr |
3rd Qtr |
4th Qtr |
- |
Total |
| Bates (0-4) |
6 |
0 |
8 |
0 |
- |
14 |
| Wesleyan (4-0) |
7 |
3 |
0 |
7 |
- |
28 |
1st QuarterÂ
Wesleyan - Matt Perceval 28 pass from Jake Fay (Ben Kozik kick) 12:13 (6-play, 56-yard drive)
Bates - P.J. McGrail 1 run (kick failed) 6:15 (12-play, 65-yard drive)
2nd QuarterÂ
Wesleyan - Ben Kozik 29 field goal 0:30 (12-play, 56-yard drive)
3rd Quarter
Bates - Jason Coulie 24 pass from Matt Bazirgan (Matt Bazirgan run) 4:54 (9-play, 76-yard drive)
4th Quarter
Wesleyan - Matt Perceval 35 pass from Jake Fay (Ben Kozik kick) 13:38 (2-play, 32-yard drive)
TEAM STATISTICSÂ
|
|
WESLEYAN |
BATES |
| First Downs (Run-Pass-Penalty) |
|
17 (8-9-0) |
25 (18-7-0) |
| Rushing Attempts |
|
36 |
52 |
| Positive Yards Rushing |
|
133 |
269 |
| Negative Yards Rushing |
|
24 |
26 |
| Net Total Yards Rushing |
|
110 |
243 |
| Net Total Yards Passing |
|
221 |
187 |
| Passes Attempted-Completed-Intercepted |
|
26-15-1 |
27-13-0 |
| Total Offensive Plays |
|
62 |
79 |
| Total Net Yards |
|
331 |
430 |
| Average Gain Per Play |
|
5.3 |
5.4 |
| Penalties: Number-Yards |
|
8-60 |
7-75 |
| Fumbles: Number-Lost |
|
1-1 |
1-1 |
| Interceptions By: Number-Yards |
|
0-0 |
1-2 |
| Punts: Number-Yards-Average |
|
4-150-37.5 |
5-127-25.4 |
| Punt Returns: Number-Yards |
|
0-0 |
1-1 |
| Kickoff Returns: Number-Yards |
|
1-26 |
4-65 |
| Fumble Returns: Number-Yards |
|
0-0 |
0-0 |
| Time of Possession |
|
27:34 |
32:26 |
| Third-Down Conversions |
|
6 of 12 |
6 of 15 |
| Fourth-Down Conversions |
|
0 of 1 |
2 of 4 |
| Sacks by: Number-Yards |
|
4-18 |
3-23 |
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Bates - P.J. McGrail, 24-103, 1 TD; Matt Bazirgan, 15-84; Shawn Nee, 7-24; Alexi Whitney, 5-22; Jason Coulie, 1-10. Wesleyan - Tom Themistocles, 14-63; John Pasucci, 15-42; Matt Perceval, 2-29; Jake Fay, 5-(-23).
PASSING: Bates - Matt Bazirgan, 27-13-0, 187 yards, 1 TD. Wesleyan - Jake Fay, 24-15-1, 219 yards, 2 TDs; Mark Schofield, 1-1-0, 2 yards.
RECEIVING: Bates - Paul Fantasia, 6-80; Jason Coulie, 3-68, 1 TD; Ryan MacDonald, 3-34; Shawn Nee, 1-5. Wesleyan - John Pascucci, 5-55; Matt Perceval, 4-82, 2 TDs; Mike Hakim, 4-51; Tom Themistocles, 2-33.
PUNTING: Bates - Chris Snow, 5-127, 25.4 average. Wesleyan - Rob Stager, 4-150, 37.5 average.
Attendance: 2,500
