Bowdoin football falls on last-minute touchdown
Brunswick, Maine – In a dramatic finish that kept fans on the edge of their seats, Tufts edged out Bowdoin 20‑13 on Saturday night. With just ten seconds left on the clock, quarterback Nate Johnson broke loose around left end and sprinted 17 yards for the go‑ahead touchdown, capping a 57‑yard drive that began after a pivotal special teams play.
Earlier in the fourth quarter, Bowdoin appeared to have seized control when kicker Caden Perry nailed a 41‑yard field goal to push the Polar Bears ahead 13‑10 with 10:47 remaining. Tufts answered with a missed 44‑yard attempt, but the Jumbos’ defense struck back by blocking a Bowdoin punt. The ball rolled out of the back of the end zone for a safety, narrowing the gap to 13‑12 and giving Tufts possession at its own 43‑yard line with 3:36 left.
The turning point came after the free kick. Tufts methodically moved downfield, mixing runs and short passes, before Johnson’s decisive burst sealed the victory. Bowdoin had built an early lead thanks to a 3‑yard touchdown pass from Soren Hummel to Peter Macaulay late in the first quarter and a 36‑yard field goal by Perry in the second. Tufts answered in the third period when Caden McCallum punched in a 2‑yard rush to tie the game. Hummel finished the contest 19‑of‑27 for 125 yards, while Bowdoin was outgained 402‑193.
Elsewhere in the NESCAC slate, Wesleyan remained unbeaten with a 21‑7 triumph over Colby in Middletown, Connecticut. The Cardinals built a 14‑point halftime lead and never looked back. Although Colby narrowed the margin to seven when Jagger Matera found Sean Trinder on a 4‑yard touchdown pass with 5:19 left, Wesleyan responded swiftly. Less than two minutes later, Matt Fitzsimons launched a 69‑yard strike to Blake Newcomb to restore the two‑score cushion. Fitzsimons also contributed on the ground, scoring on 1‑yard runs in the first and second quarters, and finished 22‑of‑28 passing with one touchdown and three interceptions. Colby managed only 155 yards and nine first downs.
In Williamstown, Massachusetts, Williams continued its strong start with a shutout victory over Bates, 34‑0. The Ephs held the Bobcats to a mere 84 yards and seven first downs. A trio of rushing touchdowns—by Drew Weiler, Brady Stahelski and Aiden Clark—gave Williams a 21‑0 advantage by halftime. Leonardo Maiuolo added field goals of 34 and 21 yards in the second half, and Quinn Rucker capped the scoring with a 4‑yard run.
Finally, in Castine, Norwich bounced back with a 28‑7 win over Maine Maritime Academy. Jahmir Dixon was the standout offensive weapon, hauling in 11 receptions for 228 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Harris Stone of the Mariners completed 21 of 37 passes for 214 yards, throwing one touchdown and one interception. Norwich’s rushing attack was led by Will Patenaude, who burst for scores of 6, 8 and 57 yards.
The Saturday results left Tufts at 3‑1, Bowdoin winless at 0‑4, Wesleyan perfect at 4‑0, Colby still winless, Williams at 3‑1, Bates at 0‑4, Norwich at 2‑3 and Maine Maritime Academy at 0‑5.
