A week after picking up their first win of the season, senior tri-captains Nick Kmetz ’12 and Connor Walsh ’12 sparked an offensive explosion, leading the Colby football team to a 37-13 victory over rival Bates College.

The second consecutive win brings the Mules one step closer to the coveted CBB (Colby-Bates-Bowdoin) championship.

Walsh’s versatility was on display throughout the game, contributing a rushing, passing and receiving touchdown, finishing with nearly 200 all-purpose yards on the day. Kmetz was equally impressive, completing 23-30 passes for 293 yards and three touchdowns.

Not to be ignored, the defense was stellar once again, stifling the dangerous Bates offense (third in New England Small College Athletic Conference [NESCAC]). The Bobcats were held to over a hundred fewer yards than their season average. The Mules have allowed a mere 20 points in their last two games. Henry Nelson ’15 led the resurgent Colby defense with nine tackles and the lone interception late in the game to bar any hope of a comeback.

After the first quarter, it appeared that a defensive battle was in store with neither team managing to put up any points.

Colby jumped out in front early in the second quarter, when first-year Louw Scheepers’ first career field goal put the Mules up 3-0. They wouldn’t relinquish the lead the rest of the game. Kmetz hit Walsh for a big 64-yard touchdown one play after the Colby defense forced a three and out.

Bates responded quickly with a touchdown of its own. Quarterback Trevor Smith threw the first of his two touchdown passes to John Squires, cutting the Colby lead to 10-6.

The Colby offense, now in full swing, marched down the field on the ensuing drive and dug into its bag of tricks to pick up its second touchdown. Walsh ran the option and found Nick Joseph ’14 in the endzone with a 26-yard pass, Walsh’s second passing touchdown of the season.

The Smith-Squires connection opened the scoring for Bates in the second half, a three-yard pass that trimmed the Colby lead to three points midway through the third quarter.

Colby broke open the game for good when Walsh’s third touchdown of the day, a one-yard run, extended the Mules’ lead to 23-13. Joseph caught his second touchdown of the day, this one from Kmetz, with 10:53 left in the game, a 16-yard reception and his third touchdown in two weeks. Nelson’s interception sealed the game for the Mules, who added an insurance touchdown to make it 37-13. The 19-yard pass from Kmetz to Spencer Merwin ’12 was his third of the day.

Kmetz also led Colby with 56 rushing yards. Walsh finished with four catches for 104 yards. Brian Mellett was second to Nelson with eight tackles defensively.

Colby takes on Tufts University next week before traveling to Bowdoin College in its season and CBB finale.