Football Lifts Off with Win Against Bates

Author: Sally Hartman

Homecoming Weekend will be an event not to be missed given the Middlebury College football team's performance at Bates last Saturday. The Panthers traveled to Lewiston, Maine, to face off with the Bobcats, who shied away from some characteristically fierce and persistent competition to lose the game 21-13.

After slipping between the Middlebury defense on its opening drive and completing the extra-point conversion, Bates would go on to kick two field goals later in the game. However, their luck eventually began to run out just as the Panthers caught fire.

With 6:54 left in the second quarter, quarterback Mike Keenan '05 delivered a two-yard completion to Charley Howe '04 to put the Panthers on the board. Scrambling to match their competition, Bates attempted to one-up Middlebury before the half concluded. With characteristic skill and agility, Cam Brooks '04 intercepted a pass at the Middlebury 30 yard line, shifting the momentum in his team's favor.

Halftime found the Panthers trailing by three. But Keenan, Brooks and their teammates were just getting started. When the game resumed, Middlebury answered the bell by racking up 66 yards in five plays. With three flawless passes by Keenan totaling over 15 yards, he connected with Mike Murray '05 for another 28 and a second Panther touchdown. The extra point confirmed a shift in power as the Panthers rose to 14 with Bates trailing at 10.

Early in the third quarter, the Bobcats mustered a bit of fading strength to kick a field goal and sneak to within one of Middlebury. Inspired again by their competitor's challenge, Keenan and Matt Wolf '04 joined forces in a spectacular series of three pass-completions to gain over 36 yards. The rest of the team followed suit and drove an additional 30 yards into the end-zone to score a third touchdown, crippling any hope Bates might have held out for recovery.

At the end of the day, there were many unsung heroes that made the 21-13 victory possible. Richard Decembrele '05 and Phil Reiff '05 tallied 10 and 11 tackles, respectively. Brooks added another interception to his first, and Tom Cleaver '04 made five catches for a total of 99 yards. Quarterback Keenan connected 17 times out of 33 attempts and teammate Eric Shanley '05 rushed 17 times for a total of 76 yards.

With this triumph under their belts, the Panthers prepare to face Trinity Saturday at 12:30 for the annual Homecoming game. In light of recent performance, the competition should be an exciting affair bolstered by alumni and student support as well as the ever-important home-field advantage.