Football stumbles in heartbreaking opener Panthers 22-21 defeat is the first loss to the Polar Bears of Bowdoin since 1991

Author: Jonathan Brand

On a promisingly clear fall afternoon in Maine last weekend, the Panthers seemed to have the game won late in the fourth quarter. Their second win in as many years over Bowdoin was almost final. The headline was all but written: Unproven running back leads team to victory to open NESCAC season.

However, Bowdoin receiver Jeff Nolin ran 12 yards for the game winning score with 2:37 left and handed Middlebury a 22-21 loss. The Panthers (0-1) squandered a brilliant running performance by junior running back Stefan Hrdina, who rushed for 238 yards and scored two touchdowns, but the Polar Bears (1-0) still managed to capture their first win against Middlebury since 1991.

The run game established by Hrdina was important to the Panthers' success early. "Hrdina was inspiring as he accounted for the majority of our offense," said Head Coach Bob Ritter, "and he came up with some big plays when we needed them."

The dominating running performance allowed junior quarterback Tiger Lyon to ease into the first start of his career, although he showed some nerves on the first series of the game. Lyon rolled right and floated his first of two interceptions on the day into the awaiting arms of Bowdoin defensive back Brendan Murphy. He settled down on the next series, however, and tossed his first career touchdown - a 10-yard pass to Hrdina that put the Panthers up 7-0. Lyon finished the day having completed 17 of 27 passes for 169 yards and two interceptions. "Tiger over all settled down and played well after the opening drive," said Ritter.

Bowdoin responded on the ensuing possession when quarterback Ricky LeClerc heaved a 46-yard strike to Jeff Nolin for the score. Middlebury's defense stepped up its intensity on the extra point attempt as sophomore linebacker Eric Woodring blocked the point after attempt. The ball deflected off Woodring up into the air and fell into the hands of sophomore David Randolph, who ran the ball the length of the field for a defensive point after attempt.

Bowdoin's Steve Corwen recovered a Dom DiDominico '06 fumble and ran 25 yards for the touchdown later in the first quarter, but Woodring blocked another point after attempt so Bowdoin had to settle for a 12-9 lead after one quarter.

Both teams failed to produce for most of the second quarter, until Hrdina broke away from the Polar Bear defense and ran 65 yards into the end zone to give the Panthers an 18-12 lead going into the locker room.

The second half was decidedly different, as the Panther offense became sluggish over the last 30 minutes. After a field goal from junior kicker Steve Hauschka in the third quarter, the Panthers were unable to put any more points on the board.

Middlebury relinquished the ball with 7:14 left in the game, and Bowdoin took over at their own 12-yard line to start what would be the game-winning drive.

LeClerc, who finished the day with 22 of 37 passes completed for 303 yards, led the Polar Bears all the way down to the Panther 12-yard line and set up the winning play. Nolin then took the ball on a reverse, ran down the sideline and snuck across the goal line with 2:37 left, knotting the game at 21-21. Place kicker Nolan McNair, who had been blocked twice, would not be denied again and booted the extra point through the uprights to give Bowdoin a one-point lead.

The Panthers found themselves with one last chance on fourth down in Bowdoin territory with 1:06 to play, but a pass intended for junior tight end Jamie Staples fell incomplete and Bowdoin ran out the clock for the victory. "We had a chance to put the game away and didn't take advantage of it," said Ritter of the last drive, who nonetheless noted that the "offense played well."

Middlebury's defense looked stellar throughout the game and kept great pressure on the Polar Bears in the loss. They blocked two extra point attempts and sacked LeClerc four times. Senior co-captain Coleman Hutzler led the defense with 13 tackles and junior Neiman Groce forced a fumble and had two sacks.

The Panthers face their next test this Saturday when the team hosts Colby in the home opener at Alumni Stadium. Colby, who defeated Williams last weekend 35-9, has won the last two meetings with the Panthers. Despite the loss, the goal of a successful season is still within reach.

The team will need to rely on the defense to keep them in games the rest of the season, but if Hrdina can stay healthy and the passing game can develop some chemistry, Middlebury may surprise some teams in the NESCAC.