BRUNSWICK — The CBB football title belongs to Bates. Next up, the quest for that elusive winning season.

Bates completed a season sweep of its in-state rivals, beating Bowdoin, 14-6, Saturday at Whittier Field.

Coupled with its previous win over Colby, Bates (4-3) captured the CBB crown outright for the first time since 2002.

The Bobcats will host Hamilton next Saturday. With a win, Bates would finish above .500 for the first time since a 6-2 campaign in 1981.

Kevin Davis caught a career-high nine passes for 87 yards and a touchdown to lead balanced Bates, which churned out 160 yards on the ground.

Trevor Smith hit 11 of 18 passes for 100 yards. Patrick George rushed for a second-half touchdown to keep the Polar Bears (1-6) at bay.

Bowdoin had won at least a share of the CBB trophy for five straight seasons.

Bates forced four turnovers, outnumbering its opponent in that category for the sixth time this season.

Jimmy Garvey gave Bowdoin an early 3-0 lead with a 22-yard field goal.

The Bobcats’ saw two drives end in punts, one on a turnover and another on downs before finally breaking through with the help of safety Andrew Kukesh’s fumble recovery at the Bowdoin 15.

That set the table for Smith’s fifth touchdown pass of the season. Charlie Donahue nailed the PAT at the 9:47 mark of the second quarter, good for a 7-3 lead that held up until the half.

Kukesh and Bowdoin’s Joey Cleary swapped interceptions early in the third quarter. Garvey cashed in Cleary’s pick with another field goal, this one from 24 yards.

Bates answered by covering 65 yards in 10 plays for its second score. Smith completed two passes to Davis and another to Harrison Murphy, leading to a 2-yard George TD.

George finished with 12 carries for 40 yards. Mac Jackson led the Bobcats’ ground game with 61 yards.

Bates stopped two more Bowdoin drives at its 34 and its 14 to seal the victory, holding Bowdoin without a touchdown for the second straight year. Ted Durkin made two big tackles to stifle the latter series.

Matt Comstock recovered a Mac Caputi fumble in the final minute to apply the exclamation point.

Zach Donnarumma rushed 25 times for 70 yards to lead Bowdoin. Griffin Cardew matched the school record with 17 tackles for the Polar Bears.

koakes@sunjournal.com