Middlebury outgained Bates 355-201 en route to a 24-0 win over the Bobcats (0-2) in the home opener on Youngman Field at Alumni Stadium. The Panthers (1-1) return to action next Saturday at Trinity, while Bates will host Wesleyan.

Middlebury cruised down the field on its opening drive, going 72 yards on eight plays in just 2:32. Peter Scibilia had a 12-yard rush, while quarterback Will Jernigan found Donovan Wood for an 18-yard connection as key plays on the drive. Jernigan later rushed for 18 yards on a pair of carries before connecting with Greg Livingston for an 11-yard touchdown strike.

The Panthers made it a 10-0 game at the 12:25 mark of the second quarter with a 20-yard field goal from Andrew Hass.

Late in the quarter, Jernigan connected with Scibilia for 12 yards and Livingston for 38, setting up his own three-yard keeper for the 17-0 advantage.

The Panthers gave themselves a healthy 24-0 lead on their first possession of the third quarter. An interception by Gordon Pollock left the hosts at midfield. Scibilia ground out 14 yards rushing, before Jernigan broke free on an option play for a 20-yard touchdown run.

Bates threatened several times in the fourth quarter, but the Panther defense stood strong. Kieran Sheridan broke up a pass on a fourth and eight play from the Middlebury 10 to end one drive, before picking off a pass at the Panther 10 on the next series. Nate Stewart earned his second interception of the day late in the game.

Jernigan completed 11-24 passes for 149 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for a pair of scores on 14 carries for 67 yards. Scibilia finished with 83 yards on 18 attempts, while LeeCharles McNeil aided the ground game with 40 yards. Livingston (57 yards) and Donovan Wood (48 yards) led the receivers with three catches apiece.

Defensively, Kwesi Adu-Diawuo, Pollock, Jack Pistorius and Charles Roselle each made seven stops for the Panthers. Pollick added an interception, Stewart had a pair, while Sheridan had one pick with three passes broken up. The Panther defense kept Bates outside the Middlebury 40-yard line until late in the third quarter of the game.

Brendan Costa went 14-30 for Bates, throwing for 115 yards with three interceptions. He also led the ground game with 35 yards on 14 carries. Sean Bryant paced the receivers with three catches for 32 yards. Tony Hooks led all tackles with 12 stops, while Tyler Hamilton had 11.

The win was the 32nd straight for Middlebury over Bates, dating back to 1988.