There’s no shortage of senior leadership for Bates College football this season. 

Eighteen seniors fill the roster and all of them have played a role in the Bobcats’ success over the past two seasons.

Following a 3-5 campaign as freshmen, the senior class helped guide Bates to consecutive seasons at .500 or better for the first time since 1981-82. Now, in their final season in a Bates uniform, those seniors have formed a special bond that they believe will carry them to new heights this year. 

“We’re as competitive as ever,” senior quarterback Matt Cannone said. “We have our own expectations and everyone else has their expectations about us, but the number one thing about having that many seniors is it’s a brotherhood out here and we take care of each other and have each other’s back. That’s something that’s going to carry us into week one and through week eight.”

Cannone is one of six seniors on the offensive side of the ball. Two of his targets this season, slot receiver Luke Combs and wideout Mike Tomaino, are also part of the largest senior class under coach Mark Harriman. Tomanio is one of three captains. Linebacker Gilbert Brown and offensive lineman Larry Guinee, also seniors, are the others. 

“We have a great group of seniors that have been an important part of this program going on four years,” Harriman said. “They’ve had a lot of success. They’ve set the tone with the entire team of the expectations and making sure we do the little things right.” 

 The Bobcats have 11 seniors on defense, five of which are linebackers. Brown anchors the linebacking corp as the defensive captain. But he believes he isn’t the only one worthy of captaincy. 

“Every senior on this defense could have been a captain,” Brown said. “You could have picked it out of a hat. Every guy out there is playing for the brother next to him. For me, I’m just relying on my brothers and having fun.” 

This year’s seniors accounted for 261 tackles last season, along with seven sacks, five interceptions, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and 15 passes defended. 

Even the special teams department has a senior presence as punter David Kurey enters his final season at Bates. Kurey averaged 38 yards per punt, pinning opponents inside their own 20 on 10 occasions. 

Bates’ senior class is tied for third-most in the NESCAC. Wesleyan leads the way with 27, followed by Middlebury with 20. Bowdoin, Colby and Williams each have 18. Tufts has the smallest senior class with eight. 

The leadership and experience, coupled with a successful past two seasons, has the senior class ready to make a statement in their final year. 

“This is the most I’ve been excited for a season,” Brown said. “I can tell all the other seniors are excited, too. We all have bought into the system since freshman year and we’re ready to let it rock and roll.”

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