LEWISTON — Following a disastrous first quarter, the Bates defense showed some heart over the next two, forcing Williams to punt on six straight possessions, before Williams earned two breakaway runs in the fourth quarter for a 31-7 triumph in college football action Saturday afternoon.

With the Bobcats (0-4) trailing 17-0 in the second quarter, Liam Spillane blocked Jake Mohan’s punt and Christian Sanfilippo recovered at the Williams 32 with 1:17 left in the half.

Williams committed a pass interference on the next play that brought the Bobcats to the 15. Quarterback Brendan Costa ran it to the seven, and Sanfilippo was given three straight carries to eventually punch it in from the one.

With the Bobcats in possession at the one-yard line and the score at 17-7 in the third quarter, the Ephs (4-0) stopped the 17-play, 74-yard drive by stuffing Sanfilippo at the line of scrimmage.

TJ Dozier had 12 carries for 151 yards and a pair of rushing touchdowns for Williams.

Costa rushed 10 times for 59 yards, and completed 12 of 29 passes for 99 yards and two interceptions for Bates.