The Middlebury College football team will have a shot at its sixth-consecutive season at .500 or better after a 29-13 win over Hamilton. In the game, Middlebury's Mike Keenan became the school's all-time leader in passing yards with 4,338, surpassing Brian Coates' total of 4,135 from '95-'98. He also broke his own single-season completion record of 136 last season, with 137 through seven games in '04. With his two touchdown passes, Keenan tied the school's all-time record of 37 held by Peter Mackey from '71-'73. Wide receiver Tom Cleaver became the school's all-time leader in receiving yards with 1,846. He surpasses Denver Smith who accumulated 1,760 from '99-'02.
Middlebury wasted no time getting on the board as a Hamilton fumble left them the ball on their opponent's 20-yard line. Four plays later, Keenan found Cleaver for a 10-yard scoring strike to make it a 7-0 game. Eric Shanley capped off a five-play, 64-yard drive with a one-yard plunge at 4:37 of the first quarter to make it a 14-0 contest.
Midway through the second quarter, Keenan and Cleaver hooked up again, this time from 33 yards out to increase the lead to 21-0. A 22-yard rush by Stefan Hrdina set up the 70-yard drive.
Middlebury opened the second half with a 5:29 drive that ended in a 25-yard field goal from Steve Hauschka. The game remained at 24-0 until Hamilton got on the board with 4:38 left in the third quarter with a two-yard run.
After a Middlebury punt pinned the Continentals on their own three, Coleman Hutlzer blocked a punt out of the end zone for the safety and a 26-7 lead. Hauschka split the uprights for his second field goal of the game, this one from 36-yards out with 11:23 left to play.
Hamilton earned the game's final points with a touchdown at the 8:27 mark of the fourth quarter to make it a 29-13 final.
Keenan ended the game 15 of 31 for 203 yards with a pair of touchdowns and an interception. Mike Murray led Middlebury receivers with eight receptions for 81 yards, while Cleaver caught seven balls for 128 yards, including a pair of touchdowns. Hutzler had a huge day on defense with 19 tackles, three for lost yardage, including a sack and a blocked punt for a safety.
