Colby, Bates, PSC in victories

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Colby remained on the comeback trail with a big win at Middlebury, and Bates threw the CBB race into confusion with a victory over rival Bowdoin, highlighting Maine small college football action Saturday.

Maine Maritime Academy ended its season on a down note, losing to powerful Plymouth State College.

Colby downed Middlebury 20-17. Bates edged Bowdoin 19-14, setting up the deciding CBB game between Colby and Bowdoin Saturday. If Colby wins, the White Mules repeat as champions for the third time. If Bowdoin wins, it’s a three-way tie.

Plymouth State defeated MMA 21-10.

Colby 20, Middlebury 17

At Middlebury, Vt., Len Baker’s 28-yard touchdown run with 3:26 remaining gave Colby its second win of the season.

Quarterback James Dionizio’s 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter gave Colby a 7-0 lead at the half.

Late in the third quarter, though, Middlebury (3-4) tied the game when it fumbled and split end Doug Clarner fell on the ball after it rolled 7 yards into the end zone. Eric Sevigny added another touchdown two minutes later on a 6-yard run.

Colby (2-5) trimmed Middlebury’s lead to 14-13 with a 3-yard touchdown run by Baker in the fourth. The point-after kick failed.

A 28-yard field goal by Middlebury’s Eric Bachman gave his team a 4-point lead before Baker’s game-winning touchdown. The sophomore fullback led Colby with 123 yards on 22 carries.

Bates 19, Bowdoin 14

At Lewiston, Mike Bucci threw two touchdown passes and tailback Jay Yuskis ran for 100 yards and a touchdown as Bates defeated Bowdoin.

Bates withstood a fourth-quarter comeback by Bowdoin to earn its first home win in more than two years. The Bobcats improved to 2-5 overall, while Bowdoin fell to 1-6.

After a scoreless first quarter, Bates got on the scoreboard with a 28-yard run by Yuskis. After the half, the Bobcats added two third-quarter touchdowns on Bucci passes of 2 yards to Scott Higgins and 69 yards to Chris Plante.

The Polar Bears rallied in the fourth quarter with Mike Lewis’ 13-yard scoring pass to Jeff Lewis and Eric LaPlaca’s 4-yard TD run. Bowdoin’s comeback was cut short, though, when a final drive ended on downs and Bates ran out the clock.

Bucci completed 10 of 16 passes for 155 yards, while Kirch was 12 of 27 for 184 yards and two interceptions.

Plymouth State 21, MMA 10

At Plymouth, N.H., Plymouth State fumbled five times and trailed 10-0 at halftime, but stormed back to beat Maine Maritime.

Quarterback Matt Jozokos threw three second-half touchdown passes to lead the Panthers (8-1). Jozokos, second overall in Division III history with 92 career touchdown passes, completed 17 of 26 passes for 170 yards.

Maine Maritime’s Kirk Matthieu ran for 88 yards and scored a touchdown on a 15-yard run in the first quarter. James Merrifield kicked a 22-yard field goal midway through the second quarter to put Maine Maritime (5-4) up 10-0.

Plymouth State stormed back in the third quarter as Jozokos hit Bill Dalton with an 8-yard scoring pass and then hooked up with Doug Cantrell on a 1-yard touchdown pass to put the Panthers up 14-10.

Jozokos hit Scott Berube with a 43-yard scoring strike with 3:34 left to put the game away.

Plymouth State, which has won the New England Football Conference North Division title for the ninth time in 10 years, will play southern division champion Bridgewater State on Saturday for the overall conference title.

Colleges

Colby, 20-17

Colby 0 7 0 13-20 Middlebury 0 0 14 3-17

C – Dionezio 1 run (Sandblom kick)

M – Clarner falls on fumble for TD (Bachman kick)

M – Sevigny 6 run (Bachman kick)

C – Baker 3 run (kick failed)

M – FG Bachman 28

C – Baker 28 run (Conety kick)

Bates, 19-14

Bowdoin 0 0 0 14-14 Bates 0 7 12 0-19

BA – Yuskis 28 rush (St. Peter kick)

BA – Higgins 2 pass from Bucci (kick blocked)

BA – Plante 69 pass from Bucci (pass failed)

BO – Lewis 13 pass from Kirch (Jim Carenzo kick)

BO – LaPlaca 4 rush (Carenzo kick)

Plymouth St., 21-10

Maine Maritime 7 3 0 0-10 Plymouth State 0 0 14 7-21

M – Mathieu 15 run (Merrifeld kick))

M – Merrifield FG 22

P – Dalton 8 pass from Jozokos (Chabot kick)

P – Contrell 1 pass from Jozokos (Chabot kick)

P – Berube 43 pass from Jozokos (Chabot kick)