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Date: October 26, 2002
Contact: Bill Sodoma

 

Colby football falls to Bates

LEWISTON, Maine --

Despite a huge statistical advantage and another huge day from sophomore running back Aaron Stepka (Farmington/Farmington, Conn.), the Colby College football team fell 19-14 to Bates College on Saturday.

Stepka rushed for a collegiate-high 230 yards on 43 carries and scored two touchdowns for the Mules (2-4). He has 994 yards this season and has been a workhorse with 202 carries. Stepka, who ranked seventh in NCAA Division III in rushing yards per game heading into Saturday's game, has 789 yards in Colby's last four games (197.25 per game).

Colby had the edge in total yards (360 to 208) and first downs (21 to 14), but the Mules hurt their own cause with 13 penalties for 108 yards.

After a scoreless first quarter, Stepka scored on a 13-yard touchdown run to cap an eight-play, 90-yard drive with 14:48 left in the second quarter. Bates (1-5) tied the game with 12:29 left to halftime when Sean Atkins rushed in from 1 yard out.

Colby led 14-7 at halftime when Stepka scored from 2 yards out for his eighth touchdown of the season with 7:48 remaining.

Bates had all the scoring in the second half. Owen Miehe caught a 36-yard touchdown pass from Kane Jankoski with just five seconds left in the third quarter, but Bobcat kicker Nat Carr missed the extra point and Colby still led 14-13.

Bates got the game-winning touchdown when Jankoski scored from 1 yard out on a quarterback sneak with 6:54 left in the game. The Bobcats missed the two-point conversion attempt, but the Mules were unable to take advantage in the final seven minutes.

Pat Conley (Morse, Deerfield Academy/Bath, Maine) threw for 130 yards for Colby and senior wide receiver Lee Carlson (Braintree/Braintree, Mass.) caught five balls for 71 yards.

Senior linebacker Luke Webster (Manchester/Manchester, N.H.) led the Colby defense with eight tackles, including a sack.

Colby plays at Tufts University next Saturday at 1 p.m.