LEWISTON – Bates College has the experienced elements in place, particularly on defense, to be a royal pain this season for even the traditional top-shelf teams in New England Small College Athletic Conference football.

All things being equal, that is. If the Bobcats commit four turnovers and force next to none of their own, as they did Saturday afternoon at Garcelon Field, forget it.

Bates’ generosity abetted Amherst in a 24-0 season-opening victory that was effectively sealed at halftime.

Aaron Rauh rushed for three first-half touchdowns to lead the Lord Jeffs, whose only miscue was a tip-drill interception off the fingers of Bates defensive lineman Bill Arria and into the mitts of Todd Wilcox with 10 seconds remaining in the first half.

“It doesn’t help when you turn the ball over, but we need to create some turnovers,” said Bates outside linebacker Ron DiGravio, a senior from Farmington. “Last week we created a few turnovers when we played Colby in a scrimmage, so we definitely need to get back to that and just hang tough.”

Amherst was forced to punt on six of its seven possessions in the second half. Matt Eberhart’s 41-yard field goal – a weighty boot that would have been good from well beyond 50 – provided the only points nine seconds into the fourth quarter.

But the Bobcats’ offense couldn’t keep up with the Lord Jeffs’ early outburst of three touchdowns on its first four series, a pace enhanced by a muffed punt and a personal foul that led to two scores.

Brandon Colon (12-for-24, one interception, 106 yards) was sacked once each by M.J. Smith, Jon Attridge and Guy Matisis. Amherst outgained Bates 302 yards to 131.

“Our defense is great,” said Rauh, a sophomore who combined with junior Eric NeSmith (17 carries, 85 yards) to inflict most of the ground damage for Amherst while the game was in doubt. “They were one of the best in the nation last year, and they’re looking like it this year again.”

Attridge forced a fumble that was recovered by Greg Smith to snuff out Bates’ third unsuccessful foray into Lord Jeffs’ territory in the first half.

M.J. Smith pounced on a loose ball and intercepted a pass for Amherst.

“We got into the quarterback’s head early, put a rush on him,” M.J. Smith said. “We established our run defense. People came up with big plays. I got lucky myself. Everybody did great things.”

Special teams delivered the most devastating blow for Amherst after Kevin Reyes bobbled his attempt to corral a punt near midfield. Chris Mottau eventually smothered the wayward ball for Amherst at the Bates 29.

The turnover extended a drive that started at the Amherst 1, by virtue of Coleman Peeke’s brilliant job of stopping Chris Hertz’s punt from rolling into the end zone.

Sophomore quarterback Lucas Loeffler found Andre Gary for gains of 10 and 14 yards to set up a 2-yard plunge by Rauh. Eberhart’s extra point made it 14-0 with 26 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

“The first half we just let up a lot of big plays and big penalties that they capitalized on,” said Bates senior defensive end Anthony Begon.

Begon was whistled for a retaliatory late hit that negated a tackle for loss by Peeke on a reverse and moved the ball to the Bates 17. Three plays later, Loeffler located Brandon Bullock for 15 yards along the left sideline. Rauh barreled in from 3 yards out on the next play.

Rauh also capped an 11-play, 57-yard march with a 1-yard dive on Amherst’s opening series. Loeffler’s 26-yard strike to Chris Gillyard was the key play.

“We just need to hang together and not make the few mistakes we’ve been making,” DiGravio said. “We played well in the second half, so if we can build on that hopefully we’ll carry it out through the rest of the season.”