Middlebury quarterback Matt Milano accounted for all seven touchdowns as the Panthers closed their season with a 48-13 win over Tufts (4-4) on Youngman Field at Alumni Stadium. Middlebury finishes the season with five-consecutive victories to earn a 6-2 record, good for third place in the NESCAC. The Jumbos enjoyed their best season since 2008, finishing with an even 4-4 mark. Middlebury has now won 20 of 24 games over the past three seasons.

Middlebury took a 7-0 lead with a 13-play, 78-yard drive that ended in the first career touchdown reception (10 yards) for tight end Daniel Fulham. A fourth-down conversion kept the drive alive, before Milano threw the first of his six touchdown passes at the 5:49 mark of the first quarter.

Tufts answered on its ensuing drive, marching 80 yards on just seven plays. A 21-yard strike from Alex Snyder to Mike Rando set up the drive, before Snyder found Zach Trause for a 33-yard touchdown. Trause made several nice moves on his way to the end zone, eluding Panther defenders to knot the score at 7-7.

Middlebury regained the lead on its next possession, as Andrew Miller gained 43 yards before Milano found Fulham for the second time in the game for a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter.

The Panthers took a 21-7 advantage with 5:51 to go in the half when Milano found Matthew Minno for a 57-yard touchdown, as he streaked down the right sideline into the end zone.

The Jumbos battled back and took advantage of a Panther fumble to cut the lead to 21-13. A trick play that saw Mike Rando gain 20 yards set up the one-yard connection from Snyder to Greg Lanzillo.

Late in the half, Milano found Brendan Rankowitz for gains of 18 and 34 yards before scoring himself on a quarterback draw from three yards out. The touchdown gave the Panthers a 27-13 heading into the halftime break.

The lead increased midway through the third quarter when Milano hit Ryan Rizzo for 13 and 20 yards, before Rankowitz cut across the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown reception.

Following a Tufts punt, Milano connected with Rizzo over the middle at the 50-yard line. The speedy receiver pulled away from the secondary to give his team a 41-13 lead with a 72-yard touchdown catch with 4:04 left in the third quarter.

An interception by Dan Pierce set up Middlebury's final touchdown of the game. Rankowitz made a great catch on a 33-yard pass in the right corner of the end zone for his second touchdown of the contest, this one with 1:01 left in the third quarter. Following the extra point, the Panthers held a comfortable 48-13 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Milano's day saw him complete 29-43 passes for a career-high 442 yards and six touchdown passes. Rankowitz caught 10 passes for a career-best 161 yards with a pair of touchdowns, while Fulham finished with seven catches for 54 yards with a pair of TDs. Rizzo finished the afternoon with five receptions for a career-high 116 yards and a touchdown, while Minno earned four catches for 81 yards with a scoring strike. Miller carried the ball 17 times for 60 yards on the ground.

The Middlebury defense earned 11 tackles for lost yardage on the day, including five sacks. Tim Patricia led the way with nine tackles, D. Pierce made seven with an interception, while Addison Pierce made five stops with two tackles for lost yardage and a sack.

Snyder connected on 21-46 passes for 218 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Trause caught 10 passes for 74 yards, Lanzillo finished with four catches for 58 yards, as each player had a touchdown. Matt McCormack led all tacklers with 17 on the afternoon.

Middlebury outgained Tufts 585-289 on the day and punted the ball just twice.

WCAX HIGHLIGHTS