Author: Peter Baumann
The Campus highlights a Middlebury athlete whose contribution was vital to the game but did not necessarily show up in the box score. "Bullpen Catcher of the Week" honors those whose efforts go unnoticed to all except their teammates and coaches.
The inaugural recipient of the award is Ryan Bohling '10. With a little over five minutes left in the first half of the football game this weekend, Middlebury found itself tied with the Lord Jeffs of Amherst 7-7.
Having just been forced into a three-and-out, the Lord Jeffs lined up to punt from their own 14-yard line. Captain and wide-receiver Andrew Matson '09 lined up on the left side of the line with Matt Rayner '12 directly to his right and Bohling inside of him. At the snap, Bohling took off up field and, rather than trying to block the kick, occupied two of the Amherst blockers. Free of his blockers, Matson flew free around the edge and stuffed the punt before it even left the kicker's shoe. Rayner picked up the ball and ran untouched for a Panther touchdown to make the score 14-7.
Middlebury never looked back, outscoring the Lord Jeffs 17-7 the rest of the contest. While Matson and Rayner received the accolades they deserved for the block and score, without Bohling tying up two Lord Jeffs, the stage never would have been set for this game-changing play.
Bullpen catcher of the week Ryan Bohling '10
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