CLINTON, N.Y. – Hamilton College's Lucas Perez-Segnini '25 caught three touchdown passes and the Continentals posted a 24-21 NESCAC win against the Bates College Bobcats at Hamilton's Steuben Field on a sunny and chilly Saturday afternoon, Nov. 9.
 

Season Update

• The Continentals (1-8 NESCAC) ended the season with their first victory since Nov. 11, 2023 when they defeated Bates 21-7.
• The Bobcats (2-7) gave up 20 or more points in each of their last six games.

 

How It Happened

• Hamilton took the lead with 8:55 left in the fourth quarter with an 11-play drive that took up the first six-plus minutes of the quarter. On first down at the Bates 24, quarterback Luke Kurzum '27 found Perez-Segnini for a leaping grab in the middle of the end zone. Carmelo Velardo '27 added the extra point for a 21-14 advantage.
• Continentals cornerback Joe Cairns '25 intercepted Colton Bosselait at the Bobcats' own 22-yard line on the next possession, and Hamilton was back in business. Four plays later, Velardo booted a 30-yard field goal into the wind for a 10-point cushion at 24-14 with 4:42 remaining.
• Bosselait was 5-of-7 for 67 yards on the next drive as Bates, which mostly had a run-oriented offense, was forced to shift into high gear. He found Ryan Gleason in the back of the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown with 2:11 to go. The PAT by Marcos Ruiz pulled the Bobcats within three points.
• Ruiz's onside kick was recovered by the Continentals' Chester Boynton '27, and Hamilton ran out the clock after Nate Wildman '27 picked up the first down on third-and-one.
• Things didn't look good early for the Continentals as Bates went 87 yards in just seven plays on its opening drive. Bosselait ended the drive with a 26-yard scoring toss to Jake Walters 3:59 into the first quarter.
• Hamilton's first drive ended in the Bobcats' territory but the Continentals were forced to punt. A low snap to Tighe Hoey '25 bounced past him and he was tackled at the Hamilton 28. Bates took advantage of the great field position and Ryan Lynskey ran it in from the one-yard line on the first play of the second quarter. Ruiz's extra point made it 14-0.
• Kyle Bratcher '26 set up the Continentals' first touchdown with 56 seconds left in the first half when he intercepted Bosselait at the Hamilton 45. Kurzum was 5-of-7 for 42 yards and added a 10-yard scramble on third-and-10 as the Continentals quickly moved into the red zone. Hamilton called a timeout with three seconds remaining on first-and-goal at the three-yard line. Kurzum faked the handoff and passed to Perez-Segnini on the left side. He caught it at the three and ran to the left pylon as time ran out. Velardo's PAT cut the Continentals' deficit in half, 14-7.
• Hamilton tied the score on the opening drive of the second half. Kurzum found Perez-Segnini for 30 yards down the left sideline and into Bobcat territory on the second play. On third-and-five at the Bates 24, Kurzum pump-faked and lofted a pass to the right side of the end zone. Perez-Segnini caught the ball with his right hand and got a foot inbounds before he fell out of the end zone for a spectacular touchdown reception. Velardo's extra point tied the score at 14-14 with 9:37 to go in the third quarter.
• The teams traded punts on their next three possessions before the Continentals drove for the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter.

 

Notes

• Perez-Segnini finished his career with 10 touchdown receptions, including four this year. He set career highs with nine catches for 126 yards receiving.
• The last time a Hamilton receiver caught three touchdown passes in a game was Oct. 13, 2018 when Will Budington '21 finished with the same number against Bowdoin College.
• Kurzum accounted for 305 yards of total offense. He was 25-of-32 for 248 yards passing and ran for 57 more.
• Cairns, Kevin Lyons '25 and Aidan Held '25 were credited with seven tackles each for the Continentals.
• Cairns recorded his first career interception.
• Bratcher recovered a fumble and registered his sixth career interception.
• Grant Blackburn '26 forced a fumble.
• Velardo was 5-for-6 on field goals and 12-for-12 on extra points this year.
• Bosselait was 10-of-14 for 129 yards passing with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
• The Bobcats' Ryan Rozich led all players with 14 stops including 10 solo. Marquez Narvaez and Kyle Hamilton finished with one sack apiece.
• Hamilton boasted a plus-3 turnover differential and had the ball for nearly 36 minutes.
• The Continentals were 11-for-18 on third down and Bates was 6-for-8.  
• Hamilton honored its 20 seniors before the game.