The Tripod

Media Credit: trincoll.edu/athletics Junior Bobby Jackson takes the hand-off from senior quarterback Eric McGrath in their first victory of the season. Jackson rushed for 80 yards in the game [Click to enlarge]

In their 132nd season opener, the Bantams rolled to a hard fought 17-7 victory over the Bates College Bobcats. The Bantams, coming off a 6-2 campaign in 2007, were looking to continue their strong NESCAC play while Bates, coming off a meager 1-7 season, was looking to shock the Bantams and become this week's Cinderella. Unfortunately for Bates, midnight came very early as the Bantams defense overpowered them from the start.

The Bobcats received the opening kickoff, but couldn't get anything started as Trinity forced them to punt after three quick downs. The Bantams defense continued this trend by forcing three straight three and outs to start the game. On the other side of the ball, the Bantams offense scored on their first drive of the season, with a 33-yard field goal by Adam Cox '09. The Bantams topped this on their next offensive procession with a masterful nine play, 61-yard drive which resulted in a 2-yard touchdown run by Bobby Jackson '10 and a 10-0 Bantam lead.

This score held for the remainder of the first half, as the Bantam defense continued to smother the Bobcats offense. However, during the last few minutes of the first and second quarters, the Bantam offense slowed down and a few miscues were made. The Trinity offensive line was guilty of three false starts and a few poor snaps, but the mistake that could have been extremely costly was the fumble by Jackson on the Trinity 35-yard line with 0:50 remaining in the half. But on the ensuing play, an interception by Harryl Smith '09 ended the Bates threat.

The Bantams offense started the second half by rushing the ball seven straight times, which worked well, as they moved the ball to the Bates' 41-yard line. However, on their first passing play of the half, a throw by Eric McGrath '09 was picked off and the Bantam momentum was snapped. The offensive stalemate continued through out the third quarter, as neither team could pull together a strong drive. Bates threatened with a strong 11-play drive in the closing minutes of the third quarter, but as the fourth quarter began, Bates kicker Gavin Segall-Abrams '11 missed a 36-yard field goal.

The stalemate finally broke in the fourth quarter as the Bantams scored on a 36-yard touchdown pass from McGrath to Chris Hunt '11 with 6:50 remaining, giving the Bantams a 17-0 lead. The Trinity defense's stranglehold on the Bates offense broke as a 20-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Katon '12 to Sean Wirth '10 with 3:16 remaining cut the Bantam lead to 10. However this proved to be too little too late, as the Bantams were able to hold on to a 17-7 win.

McGrath led the Bantam offense with 13 completions on 24 attempts for 167 yards and a touchdown. The one-two punch of Jackson and Ollie Starnes '10 combined for 181 yards on 38 rushes. Senior Connor Wells lead the receiving squad with 5 receptions for 55 yards, and Sophomore Michael Galligan chimed in with 3 receptions for 55 yards. However, the most impressive statistics belonged to the Trinity defense, which held Bates to only 35 yards on the ground and 165 in the air. Tyler Berry '09 lead the Bantams with nine tackles and a sack, and Conor Quinn '09 contributed with seven tackles of his own.

While this was by no means the most dominating performance by the Bantams in recent memory, it was still a hard earned and well-fought victory. The offense used this game as an opportunity to iron out the wrinkles and to get everyone on the same page, while the new look defense proved that it was just as dominating as the "Broad Street Bullies" of prior years. The Bantams will be looking to take this momentum in Williamstown on Saturday for what many are calling the game of year against perennial NESCAC powerhouse Williams College.

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