Football Suffers Heartbreaker

Author: Andreas Apostolatos

Despite a strong overall performance, the Middlebury football team fell to 0-2 on the season with a 15-13 loss to Colby on Saturday Sept. 27. In what can only be called a game that could have gone either way, a Colby player managed to deflect a 34-yard field goal attempt by Andy Bohlin '05 with 23 seconds remaining in the final quarter, and therein thwart the Panthers' hopes of a pulling out a victory.

Middlebury's level of play was solid throughout the game, which was characterized by heavy gusts of wind that presented a unique set of obstacles for both teams. Neither squad managed to break through on the scoreboard in the first quarter, and it was Colby that managed to deliver the initial strike on a touchdown with 5:03 remaining in the second quarter. After Colby failed to convert on the extra point, Middlebury returned the favor just before the close of first half play when quarterback Mike Keenan '05 found Ryan Armstrong '06 for a 14-yard touchdown conversion. The Panthers made good on their additional point opportunity, and went into the half with a 7-6 advantage.

After the intermission, Colby made the most of a Middlebury fumble, which it returned for a 20-yard touchdown run with 9:02 to play in the third quarter. The Mules then added to their 12-7 lead with two seconds left in the interval, when they converted on a 49-yard field goal that well took advantage of the blustery day.

In the fourth quarter, Middlebury started its comeback hopes with a 15-yard touchdown run by Eric Shanley '05 with 13:36 remaining in the game. The scoring drive, which brought the Panthers within two points at 15-13, set the stage for Middlebury's final field goal attempt.

While Bohlin's kick was deflected, the Panthers were pleased with their overall level of play, which had them in a position to win all along. Middlebury gained 17 total first downs, compared to Colby's five, and more than doubled the Mules' total net yards at 277-128 (152-88 rushing, 125-40 passing).

"We definitely played a solid game, and did well enough to put ourselves in a position to win," commented team tri-captain Craig Pittman '04. "We had a very decisive edge on the total number of first downs, which shows that the kind of ball position we maintained was consistently better than theirs. One thing that went overlooked was the effect of the wind on the game. Most of the touchdowns scored were going with the wind, and we often found ourselves punting with the wind against us which gave them the ball closer to their end zone."

The Panthers travel to Amherst this weekend for a Saturday afternoon affair.