LEWISTON, ME. --
Jack Cox led the Amherst College football team to touchdown drives on its first two possessions of the third quarter Saturday at Garcelon Field to lead the Mammoths to a 17-14 road victory over Bates College.
The win evened the Mammoths record at 2-2 while the Bobcats fell to 0-4 on the season.
Amherst plays host to Colby Saturday, October 14th at 1 p.m.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
* Amherst emerged from a defensive battle in the first half with a 3-0 halftime lead. The Mammoths' defense held Bates to 87 yards over the first 30 minutes and forced 3 turnovers.
* In the first quarter,
Anthony Kelly had a big sack that thwarted one Bates drive. On Bates's next possession, the Bobcats drove into Amherst territory only to have
Luke Harmon pick off a pass and return it 34 yards to the Bates' 33 yard line. The Mammoths turned the ball over on downs, but
Trey Doyle forced a fumble on Bates's first play and
Kevin Agnew recovered, setting the Mammoths up with the ball back at the Bates 33.
Matthew Kelley booted a 35-yard field goal with 7:10 left in the half to give Amherst the lead.
* On the Bobcats next possession, they drove to the Amherst 38 before Agnew came up big again, intercepting a pass at the Amherst 19 to stuff out another opportunity for the home team.
* Amherst got the ball to start the third quarter. The Mammoths faced a 3rd-and-6 at their own 47 when Cox found
Gabe dos Santos for a 12-yard gain and the first down. On the next play from the Bates 41, dos Santos slipped behind the Bates' secondary where Cox found him for a 41-yard touchdown strike. Kelley's point after made it 10-0 Amherst.
* Amherst forced a Bates punt on the ensuing possession, thanks in part to a pass break-up from
Matthew Monteleone on 3rd and 10. The Mammoths took over at their 39 and drove 61 yards for their second touchdown of the day. They converted four third-down plays on the scoring drive. Facing a fourth and goal at the Bates 1-yard line, Cox snuck in for the score and Kelley's kick made it a 17-0 Amherst lead with 4:13 remaining in the quarter.
* Bates scored its touchdown with 8:06 left in the game on a deflected pass at the goal line, but could not muster another first down on its final two possessions.
BY THE NUMBERS:
* Cox, who replaced
John Collier at quarterback for Amherst after the first two possessions of the game, finished 17 of 26 passing for 167 yards and a touchdown. He did not turn the ball over and ran for 11 yards on 5 carries. Senior captain
Louie Eckelkamp was the Mammoths' leading rusher, gaining 58 yards on 12 carries.
Tariq Muhammad had 41 yards on 12 carries.
* dos Santos led Amherst with 4 catches for 66 yards and a TD catch.
Owen Gaydos had 4 receptions for 35 yards,
Sam Gerber 6 for 28 and
Carter Jung 5 for 32.
*
Luke Harmon led the defense with 7 tackles, 5 solo, with an interception and two pass break-up. Agnew had a fumble recovery and an interception. Doyle had 7 tackles, 3 solo, and a forced fumble.
Solomon Christopher made 6 tackles, all solo, and
Matthew Monteleone had 5.
* Amherst had 16 first downs to Bates 14 and outgained the Bobcats in total yards,310-221.
