Football set for CBB opener against Bates

LEWISTON, Maine --- Colby College head football coach Jonathan Michaeles will be back at Bates College for homecoming this Saturday, but he will be the opponent for the Bobcats this year.
 
Michaeles, a 1992 graduate of Bates, and Colby will play in Lewiston on Saturday in the first Colby-Bates-Bowdoin (CBB) game of the season at 1 p.m. Bowdoin College and Bates will play in Brunswick next Saturday at 12:30 p.m., while the Mules will face the Polar Bears at home at 12:30 on Saturday, Nov. 10. Saturday's game will be Webcast at http://www.bates.edu/football/live/
 
After Colby took a 37-13 win over the Bobcats a year ago at Harold Alfond Stadium, Bates will likely be ready to play Saturday in front of a big homecoming crowd.
 
Colby has won 10 of the past 11 meetings between the teams, including the last three meetings. The Bobcats appear to be a dangerous team at home, taking a stunning 33-6 win over Williams College just two weeks after Colby fell 41-7 to the Ephs in Williamstown.

How well Colby (1-4 overall) defends the run might be the key to the game Saturday. The Mules are second in the NESCAC in rushing defense, allowing just 100.4 yards per game. However, Bates (2-3 overall) is second in the league in rushing offense at 212.4 yards per contest and has 10 rushing touchdowns this year.

While the Mules rank fifth in the conference in pass offense (182.6), Bates is 10th and last in that category at 118.8 yards per game. The Bobcats are ninth in pass defense (238.8) and Colby ranks last at 254 yards.

Colby middle linebacker Henry Nelson was the NESCAC Defensive Player of the Week after recording 17 tackles in the Mules' 32-29 comeback win over Hamilton College last Saturday at home. Nelson ranks fourth in the conference and first on the Mules in tackles (53) and tackles per game (10.6).

Colby defensive end Ryan Veillette is first in the league in sacks with three in four games this year. Sophomore defensive back/wide receiver Jason Buco is tied for the conference lead in interceptions (4).

Colby quarterback Justin Ciero is sixth in the NESCAC in total offense (176.6 yards per game), sixth in pass efficiency (115.3), and seventh in passing yards per game (137.2). He had three touchdown passes and ran for a score in Colby's win last Saturday. Ciero also leads the Mules in rushing with 197 yards.

Bates also has a 31-23 win against Tufts University this season and losses to Trinity College (37-16), Wesleyan University (24-22), and Middlebury College (38-23). The Bobcats' three losses are against teams with a combined 14-1 record.

Bates quarterback Trevor Smith ranks fifth in the NESCAC in rushing (66.6), fifth in total offense (178.2), and ninth in passing yards per game (111.6). Patrick George is seventh in the league in rushing at 61.4 yards a contest.

Colby heads to Tufts next Saturday for a 12:30 p.m. start.