LEWISTON — Wesleyan University charged out to a 14-0 halftime lead and preserved it with some big plays in the second half to stay undefeated with a 24-22  win over Bates College on Saturday at Garcelon Field.
Backup running back Kyle Gibson rushed 32 times for 141 yards for the Cardinals in relief of starting tailback LaDarius Drew, who ran seven times for 29 yards on Wesleyan’s first series before leaving the game with an injury. Wesleyan QB Jesse Warren completed 14 of 22 passes for 163 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions.
In contrast to their run-heavy attack of the past two weeks, when they cleared 300 yards on the ground in wins over Tufts and Williams, the Bobcats were held to 126 yards on 42 rushing attempts.
Quarterback Trevor Smith had half of those carries for a team-high net of 47 yards. Smith put the ball in the air a season-high 38 times, completing 19 passes for 233 yards and two interceptions.
Wesleyan (4-0) drove 72 yards on 11 plays in its opening possession, capped by Warren’s 10-yard scoring strike to Josh Hurwitz and Sebastian Aguirre’s extra point.
Bates (2-2) moved the ball on its first possession to the Wesleyan 24 before turning the ball over on downs for the first of three times in the game.
Bates’ defense, which entered the game third in the country in interceptions per game and first in turnover differential, got its first of three more pickoffs on Wesleyan’s second possessios, when Warren’s pass went to waiting Bates linebacker Josh Chronopoulos, who returned the ball eight yards to set up Bates’ offense at the Wesleyan 33. A bungled snap, however, led to a three-and-out for the Bobcats.
Bates was driving again as the first quarter drifted into the second, but again the Bobcats couldn’t make it past the Wesleyan 24, where the ball was turned over on downs again. The Cardinals took over the ball and kept it for the next 8:39, driving 76 yards on 16 plays, capped by Warren’s 7-yard touchdown toss to Teddy Baker for a 14-0 Wesleyan lead.
Bates received the ball to start the second half and moved from its own 39 into the Wesleyan red zone. On third and goal from the 2, Shawn Doherty took a handoff and sprinted to the outside, beating Wesleyan’s defense to the left-side pylon to put Bates on the scoreboard. Charlie Donahue’s point-after attempt went wide left, keeping the difference at 14-6.
Wesleyan answered with a 45-yard TD pass from Warren to Jay Fabien, but the Bobcats’ defense quickly got them back in the game.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, with Wesleyan in a 3rd and 4 from the Bates 43, Warren’s pass toward the right sideline was picked off by Bates senior Kyle Starr, who never broke stride for a 59-yard scoring return that pulled Bates back within 21-12.
Bates’ defense came up big again shortly after, forcing a punt.
A 27-yard field goal by Donahue closed th gap to 21-15 with 9:46 left in the game,  But Wesleyan responded with a 21-yard field goal by Aguiree to put the lead back to nine with just 3:38 left in the game.
Bates drove the field quickly and pulled within two points on Ryan Curit’s one-yard TD run with 2:08 left.
The defense forced a three-and-out and a 17-tyard punt gave the Bobcats the ball at their own 19 with 1:21 to go at the Bates 19. The Bobcats’ last-ditch drive got as far as the Wesleyan 31. On the game’s final snap, Smith threw to Doherty on the right side of the field, close to the goal line. Doherty appeared to be knocked down while attempting the catch, but no penalties were called, ending the game in frustrating fashion for the home team.
Bates junior wide receiver Kevin Davis finished with career highs of eight catches and 144 yards for Bates
Chronopoulos had a game- and career-high 13 tackles (11 solo), including three for a loss, to go with a forced fumble and an interception. Andrew Kukesh made nine tackles, and John Durkin made seven, including three for a loss.