(photo by Kevin Bennett)

AMHERST, Mass. – The Amherst College football team used 28-unanswered points to defeat Bates College, 37-14, in its 2015 season opener at Garcelon Field Saturday afternoon.

RECORDS
Amherst: 1-0 (0-0 home, 1-0 away)
Bowdoin: 0-1 (0-1 home, 0-0 away)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Bates scored on its very first play of the game, an 80-yard touchdown run by Shaun Carroll, but Amherst retaliated with 28-straight first half points en route to the decisive 23-point victory. 
• The Purple & White totaled 556 yards of offense (286 passing, 270 rushing), and were led by Reece Foy '18 who went 22-for-33 with 286 yards (1 TD, 1 INT) in his second collegiate start. Kenny Adinkra '16 rushed for 104 yards on 20 carries and Devin Boehm '17 caught 10 passes for a game-high 125 yards. Chris Gow '16 and Evan Boynton '17 led the team with seven tackles each, and Parker Chapman '17 forced and recovered a fumble.
• Bates was held to 316 yards of total offense (117 passing, 199 rushing). Carroll posted a game-high 107 yards on 13 carries, Mark Riley made seven catches for 87 yards, and Patrick Dugan threw for 117 yards on 11-of-16 attempts. Three Bobcats recorded 10 tackles each and Trevor Lyons recorded an interception.

FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTS

• Carroll took the hand-off on Bates' first play from scrimmage and sprinted down the left sideline, narrowly staying in bounds, en route to an 80-yard touchdown run in the first 1:31 to play.
• Amherst responded quickly and drove 73 yards in 1:34. Foy threw an excellent pass over Nick Widen's '17 left shoulder as the 6-6 wide receiver leaped above two Bates defenders for the 11-yard touchdown score.
• The visitor's started at their own 10-yard line three drives later. Foy led a well-balanced attack down the field as Nick Kelly '17 capped off the impressive drive with a powerful five-yard rush into the end zone. Amherst used 13 plays in 3:43 to take a 14-7 lead with 1:09 remaining in the first.
• Early in the second quarter, Jackson McGonagle '16 finished a 5-play drive with a 23-yard rushing touchdown. 
• After forcing a Bates punt, Amherst regained possession and for the third-consecutive drive found the end zone. The Purple & White's longest drive (18 plays, 80 yards, 6:33) resulted in a quarterback sneak by Foy who dove forward past the goal line for a 1-yard touchdown score.

SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTS

• After a scoreless third quarter that featured two punts, an Amherst missed field goal, and one turnover on downs, Bates eventually found the endzone for the first time since its first play of the game. Starting at its own 20-yardline, the Bobcats marched their way down the field and capped off a 14-play, 80-yard drive with a three-yard run up the middle by Ivan Reese.
• Bates received the ball after forcing an Amherst three-and-out, but were unable to capitalize against the visitor's stingy defense.
• Charlie Wall '18 made his first field goal of his collegiate career from 31 yards out in the closing minutes.
• Following a Bates fumble on its next drive, Amherst regained possession and increased its lead after a 33-yard touchdown run down the left sideline by first-year Jack Hickey.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Boehm recorded career-highs in catches (10) and receiving yards (125). Adinkra recorded a career-high in rushing yards (104).
• In the last matchup between Amherst and Bates, the Purple & White escaped with a 14-6 win in the 2014 season-opener. 
• Amherst has a decisive 24-4-2 record over Bates in 30 meetings dating back to 1901. The Purple & White have won eight straight.

UP NEXT

• Amherst returns to Pratt Field next Saturday, Oct. 3 for its 2015 home-opener against Bowdoin. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
• Bates remains at home next weekend and hosts Tufts (Oct. 3) at 1:30 p.m.