Football Looks Ahead

The Panther football team is vying to capture the top NESCAC spot during the 2018 season. After an impressive 7-2 run last fall, the team is relying on key returning players to place first.

 In keeping with last season, the Panthers will begin their 2018 season against Wesleyan College. This year, however, the Panthers will lose their home field advantage and travel to Connecticut to play Saturday, September 15. 

 Last year, Middlebury closed its season with a second place conference finish. After graduated senior quarterback Jared Lebowitz ’18 suffered a mid-season injury, the 2017 team pushed through with Jack Meservy ’19. This fall, Meservy will lead the team as 1st-string QB.

 Some highlights from the 2017 season include a hard-earned win at home against a strong Wesleyan team to start off the season. The three-point win gave the Panthers momentum, setting them up for a winning record from the beginning. At the end of the season, Middlebury closed with a victory over Tufts. The Jumbos were a force to be reckoned with, making the last win of the season a meaningful one.

  Last year, the team totaled 419.1 yards, 113.1 of those yards from the ground, while the passing game recorded 306 of the total yardage. Meservy will take to the field to ensure the team continues its strong and vital passing game, alongside senior receivers Jimmy Martinez and Conrado Banky. On defense, senior linebacker Kevin Maxwell will work with his teammates to keep the opposing teams behind their line of scrimmage while the defensive line applies pressure.

 The Panthers are looking beyond this weekend to make their presence in the NESCAC known. The team’s first home game will be September 22, where the team will take on the Bowdoin Polar Bears and begin their journey to the coveted NESCAC title.