Football Narrowly Defeats Bates

The Middlebury football team took on the Bates Bobcats in front of the Homecoming crowd this past Saturday. After a thrilling fourth quarter, the Panthers finished with the win, 35-34.

The previous week started off a new sense of momentum for the Panthers. On Saturday, Oct. 13, the team traveled to Williams College, where they snapped Williams’ undefeated streak this season with a score of 21-10. 

Two Middlebury players received NESCAC Player of the Week awards, senior Bobby Ritter (Defensive Player of the Week) and junior punter Maxwell Rye (Special Teams Player of the Week). A total-team effort propelled the Panthers over the Ephs, an attempt to come back from their loss to Williams in the 2017 season.

This week’s matchup was a little too close for comfort, but the Panthers held on for the win — this being their 30th straight win over Bates.

Three consecutive touchdowns in the second quarter on the part of the Panthers included 92-yard and 17-yard touchdown passes from quarterback Will Jernigan ’21, as well as a drive into the end zone for Drew Jacobs ’18. By halftime, the Panthers were up 28-13.

The third quarter kept the momentum going for awhile, as a matched score for each side put the teams up 35-20. Soon, however, Bates began capitalizing on Middlebury turnovers and driving down the field. Another Bobcat score in the late third quarter put them just a touchdown away from the Panthers, and the intensity increased. The next Bobcat possession also led to a touchdown, making the score 35-34 during the fourth quarter.

At the 2:20 mark, Bates had one last chance to take the lead. With less than a minute left, senior Clay Hunt picked off the Bobcat pass, allowing the Panthers to take home the victory, 35-34.

Jernigan led the offense in the game, completing 17 of 26 passes for 266 yards. On the defensive end, Hunt led the team with nine tackles and the game-sealing interception.

Next weekend, the Panthers will go on to face the Trinity Bantams, who are 5-1 on the season.