Quarterback Will Jernigan combined for 403 yards (203 rushing/200 passing) and five touchdowns in a 42-35 win over Bowdoin (1-6) Saturday on Youngman Field at Alumni Stadium. The Panthers (2-5) return to action next Saturday with a 12:30 p.m. game at Hamilton, while the Polar Bears entertain Bates at 5:30 p.m.

Middlebury scored on its opening possession of the game on an 11-yard keeper up the middle by Jernigan.

The Panthers went up 10-0 early in the second quarter on a 37-yard field goal from Zach Levy. The lead grew to 17-0 at the 9:37 mark of the second quarter with keeper to the right by Jernigan from eight yards out.

Bowdoin answered when Colton Fahey pulled in a five-yard pass over the middle from Andrew Boel for the touchdown with 2:54 on the clock. The extra point was blocked by Anson Clough, as Finn Muldoon recovered the ball and ran 98 yards for the two-point conversion, making it a 19-6 game at the half.

The Polar Bears scored on their opening drive of the second half as running back Andre Eden took a direct snap and ran 64 yards for a touchdown, cutting the lead to 19-13.

Levy answered with his second field goal of the contest, this one from 34 yards out, extending the lead to 22-13.

A blocked punt by Bowdoin's Fran Rose led to a short drive, capped by a 10-yard rush from Eden, cutting the Panther lead to 22-20 at the 14:55 mark of the fourth quarter.

Middlebury made it a 28-20 game on its next play, as Jernigan ran 75 yards down the left side for the touchdown. Following an interception by Jack Pistorius, the Panthers increased the lead to 35-20 when Jernigan found Greg Livingston down the middle for a nine-yard sliding catch in the end zone.

Middlebury's Tomas Kenary forced a Bowdoin fumble on the ensuing play, as Ryan Whitney came up with the recovery. Two plays later, Jernigan scored his fifth touchdown of the afternoon from just a yard away.

The lead appeared comfortable at 42-20 with 10:17 remaining, but Bowdoin did not go away. The guests drove 75 yards, ending with the third touchdown of the afternoon from Eden on a three-yard run, cutting the margin to 42-28. Following a punt, the
Polar Bears again moved the chains, cashing in on a 15-yard scoring strike from Boel to Fahey with 1:04 remaining, making it a 42-35 game.

Bowdoin recovered the onside kick at the Middlebury 45, but Boel's first pass of the drive was picked off by Muldoon at the one-yard line. The Panthers were pinned deep in their own territory with 1:04 remaining, but Peter Scibilia broke through with a 59-yard rush to give them some breathing room and seal the 42-35 victory.

Middlebury racked up 611 yards of total offense in the game, setting a new school record with 384 yards on the ground. Muldoon also broke a school mark by breaking up four passes in the game.

Jernigan finished the day 13-26 for 200 yards with a touchdown pass, while rushing for a career-high 203 yards on 23 carries with four trips to the end zone. Scibilia gained 127 yards on the ground on just 16 carries, while Donovan Wood caught six passes for 159 yards. Kwesi Adu-Diawuo made nine tackles in the game to go along with a sack, while Pistorius also made nine stops and picked off a pass.

Boel completed 22 of 42 passes for 243 yards with two touchdown and two interceptions. Eden gained 160 yards on the ground with three touchdowns on 23 carries, while Fahey finished with seven catches for 135 yards and a pair of scores. Dan Fiore paced the Polar Bear defense with 12 stops, 1.5 for lost yardage, while Koy Price broke up three passes.