Panther Pigskin Falls to Ephs in Final Minutes

Author: Neil Onsdorff

Every year, the Williams game is the biggest game of the season and is truly a telltale of what kind of season Middlebury football is going through.
The outcome of this year's Williams game was, in one word, painful: Painful to listen to, painful to watch and most definitely painful to be a part of. The Panthers were looking to hand the Williams College Ephs their first loss in 11 games—a winning streak that spans almost two years. During a deluge of a day and with a rain-soaked field, the Middlebury Panthers could feel the euphoria of victory in their grasps and then had to face the gut-wrenching feeling of defeat as they saw their 10-point lead slip away in the games final minutes as they fell to Williams 24-27.
The contest started, like the majority of the games this year, with a feverish pitch. The first drive of the game saw defensive back Pat Allen '03 make a superb play and recover a Williams loose ball, giving the Middlebury offense great field position deep in the Ephs territory.
Six plays later, the Panthers found their way onto the scoreboard when quarterback Michael Keenan '05, while showing great poise in the pocket, knifed a pass to wide-out Denver Smith '03, in the end zone for a 7-0 lead.
When Williams then received the ball, it eliminated all chances of a Middlebury shut-out as it successfully marched down the field for a touchdown to tie the game at seven.
On the Ephs' next drive, they were mere puppets to Middlebury's defense as linebacker Andy Angoff '03 picked off the Williams supposedly infallible quarterback, giving the Panthers a first and 10 in enemy territory. Using the run and pass at will, the Panthers found themselves on the Williams two yard-line. Billy Lazzaro '03 answered the call of "goal-line go to" and pounded the ball into the end zone giving the Panthers a 14-7 lead.
On the ensuing kickoff, Middlebury was filled with adrenaline as it raced down the field like knights charging into battle. With hits that could be heard echoing throughout the venue, Middlebury was able to strip the ball from the kick-returner, and special-teams guru, Greg Kraczkowski '03, jumped on the ball, giving the Panthers possession.
Middlebury kicker Mike Frissora '03 ended the first half scoring and the drive as he blasted a 19-yard field goal through the uprights. The Panthers went into halftime leading by 10. Ross Carbone '05, who was filling in for injured starting center Mike Pepperman '03, said, "Going into this game, Williams had the reputation of being an unbeatable team with a defense that was unmovable. In the first half, I felt that on both sides of the ball we were able to push them around and show them our much underrated physical supremacy."
Sensing the possibility of losing for the second time in as many meetings at home to the Panthers, the Ephs stormed out of the gates during their first drive of the second half, easily scoring and thus closing the gap to 17- 14. On William's next offensive drive, it brought the Middlebury defense close to the point of sheer distress, until a loose ball in the end zone was smothered once again by defensive back Allen.
Middlebury was able to avoid a strong Williams offensive right hook and then was able to deliver a seemingly knockout punch of its own. Starting a drive on its own 23-yard line, Middlebury tailback Lazzaro, behind blockers resembling "World's Strongest Man" contestants, darted, juked and jived, 76-yards to the Williams one yard line. A Keenan quarterback sneak one play later brought with it cheers from a large traveling crowd and a Middlebury 10-point lead.
Williams, needing to get in the offensive groove, shot itself in the foot one more time deep in the Panthers' zone. Facing a second and goal from the Middlebury 12-yard line, the Ephs looked for a strike through the air, as their quarterback seemed to toss a "jump-ball" to the sidelines. Once again Allen showed how deceptively tall he really is, as he leapt into the air and snatched the ball right out of a wide-eyed and confused Williams receiver's hands. This was Allen's third defensive take-away of the day, and it capped a remarkable individual performance.
Unfortunately for the Panthers, their defensive strategy of bend-but-don't-break dried up like the wet field and Williams, not staying down for the knockout count, found the end zone on the next two drives giving them a three-point lead with under two minutes to play.
Showing great heart and determination, the Panthers drove all the way to the Williams 25-yard line. But, as bad luck would have it, with only precious seconds remaining, and trying to get closer for place-kicker Frissora, a Middlebury pass was tipped and fell into the hands of a Williams defender — sealing the fate and the loss for the Panthers. This game was much more a loss than a defeat for Middlebury, as it played well enough to achieve victory. But at the end of the game the Panther players felt only sadness, having suffered through heartbreaking circumstances which resulted in a 1-3 record.
In reflecting on the game Middlebury Coach Bob Ritter said, "It was a devastating feeling to lose such an emotional, physical, football game. I feel for the players, who worked so hard this fall, and have only a 1-3 record to show for it. If anything, we have shown that we are a talented football team that can compete with anyone in the league. While we are all disappointed with the first half of our season, I am confident that we will have success during the second half of our year."
Ritter and the Panthers certainly still have plenty to look forward to in the upcoming games. Led by a veteran heavy and determined squad, moments of brilliance continue to shine in each game. The key, of course, will be making those moments last for all four quarters. But Ritter is sure that the Panthers are capable of doing just that. He knows that three early season losses can be forgotten in the second half of a season.
"We have an incredible group of seniors who I will look to carry us past the adversity of our first four games. We are all looking forward to turning things around at home on Saturday in a homecoming match-up against the Bates College Bobcats," said Ritter.On Saturday a hungry pack of Panthers will look to electrify an alumni-packed stadium during its homecoming matchup against a vulnerable 0-4 Bobcat squad. The game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.