Amherst College (0-0) vs. Bates College (0-0)
Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018
Garcelon Field
Lewiston, Maine * 1 p.m.

LIVE COVERAGE

Amherst's season opener will be broadcast live on the Mammoth Sports Network, accessible by going to Amherstmammoths.tv.

Live Stats will also be available here.

THE SERIES

Amherst and Bates have met 31­ times since 1901, with Amherst holding a 25-4-2 series lead, including a 5-0 victory over the Bobcats in the inaugural meeting. Since 2002, the Mammoths have won nine straight matchups, outscoring its NESCAC rival 264-50 during that span and logging four shutouts. Bates' last win against Amherst came in 1999 when the Bobcats captured a 19-7 victory at home.


LAST MEETING (Box Score/Recap)

Amherst quarterback Ollie Eberth passed for 210 total yards and four touchdowns on only nine completions to lead the Mammoths past Bates 41-17 in Amherst on Sept. 16, 2017, in the season opener.

Jack Hickey and Andrew Dorogi each ran for a touchdown, while four different receivers found the end zone. James O'Regan got the scoring started with a 49-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter. Beau Santero, Bo Berluti and Craig Carmilani all caught touchdowns as well, with Carmilani scampering 75 yards on his pass from Eberth to make the score 27-3 on the opening drive of the third quarter.

 Andrew Sommer led the Mammoths with 10 tackles and an interception. Andrew Yamin had 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss, while John Rak recovered a fumble.

Bates trailed 6-0 after the first quarter but the Mammoths outscored the Bobcats 14-3 and 21-7 in the second and third quarters of action, respectively.

Tyler Baum and Jaason Lopez both scored the first touchdowns of their careers in the game for Bates. Baum carried the ball four times for a team-high 44 yards and a score. 

Sandy Plashkes started at quarterback for Bates and completed 7 of 19 passes for 44 yards with one interception. 

Bobby Dee led the Bobcats with eight tackles. Conner Suraci pitched in with seven, and Chase Fulton and Max Breschi had six tackles apiece.

AMHERST LAST TIME OUT

With a chance to win the NESCAC against their archrivals, Amherst suffered a devastating 31-24 overtime defeat at Williams in the "Biggest Little Game in America." 

Despite falling behind 24-3 in the third quarter, Amherst came back to tie the game, scoring 21 unanswered points, including a 28-yard interception return and two-point conversion. 

Unfortunately, Bobby Maimaron's 11-yard touchdown run in overtime gave Williams the lead, and the Mammoths were stopped on fourth down to end hopes of a second comeback.

BATES LAST TIME OUT

Finishing the season with a 2-7 record, the Bates football team earned wins over Colby and Bowdoin before falling in their 2017 finale at Hamilton. 

The teams were tied at seven at halftime, but an 87-yard return of the second half kickoff by Sam Robinson sparked a 21-0 third quarter for the Continentals, which proved to be the difference in the game. 

Brendan Costa threw for 186 yards and a touchdown for the Bobcats, who gained 336 yards total, split evenly between passing and rushing. Kyle Flaherty averaged 5.2 yards per carry and scored a touchdown, while Costa gained 40 yards on nine attempts.

PROBABLE STARTERS

2017 STATISTICAL LEADERS

2017 STATISICAL COMPARISON