After a three-game win streak brought them within a game of a .500 record, the Colby football team suffered a hard-fought loss against rival Bowdoin College on Saturday, Nov. 12, falling in its final game of the season, 20-10.

Going into the game, Colby would have clinched the outright title of the Colby-Bates-Bowdoin (CBB) Championship with a win. Instead, Colby settles for a share of the title for the second time in three years.

Bowdoin opened the scoring on a special teams mistake by the Mules when a high snap went out of the back of the endzone on an attempted punt, giving the Polar Bears a safety and a 2-0 lead. The ensuing Colby drive ate up over eight minutes of clock time. A 16-play, 75-yard drive resulted in a 22-yard field goal by David Bendit ’13 that made the score 3-2 in the Mules’ favor.

A score late in the first half gave Bowdoin a 10-3 lead before the break. Bowdoin’s Marc Caputi found Pat Noone for 23- and 30-yard receptions after the Polar Bears took over with just 55 seconds remaining in the half.

Bowdoin kicker Jimmy Garvey made it a two-possession game following a Colby fumble. The 21-yard field goal proved to be all the Polar Bears needed, but they added an insurance touchdown on their following possession, which brought the score to 20-3.

First-year Luke Duncklee capped off a strong season with a consolation touchdown with three minutes remaining in the game, bringing the score to 20-10. The run completed a 62-yard drive and was Duncklee’s third touchdown of the season.

Connor Sullivan ’12 picked up 102 yards passing and 23 yards rushing. Senior tri-captain Connor Walsh contributed 58 yards receiving. Christian Romano ’14 led the Mules defensively with 11 tackles. Derrick Beasely ’13 had eight tackles, while Henry Nelson ’15 and Kalu Kalu ’14 both made seven. Nelson was another first-year with a stellar season, as he led the Colby defense with 59 tackles.

The Mules finished their season with an overall record of 3-5, tying Bates College, Hamilton College and Wesleyan University for sixth place in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC). Amherst College finished the season undefeated for its second NESCAC title in three years, edging out Trinity College.