The Middlebury football team held off a late surge by Bates to claim a 40-28 victory. The Bobcats tallied a pair of unanswered touchdowns to cut the deficit to five (33-28), but the Panthers scored in the final minutes of the fourth quarter to secure the triumph. 
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• Middlebury got out to a strong start, turning Bates over on downs during the first drive of the game and capitalizing on its first possession. Cole Kennon found Donovan Wood for a 26-yard touchdown pass before Andrew Haas drilled the extra point to give the Panthers a 7-0 early lead.
• The Bobcats responded with a nine-play, 70-yard scoring drive. Colton Bosselait hooked up with Mohamed Diawara for a one-yard touchdown, before the PAT by Archie Green made it 7-7.
• Panther Liam High intercepted a pass by Bosselait on the first drive of the second stanza to set up a scoring drive for Middlebury. Kennon launched a 46-yard pass to Patrick Jamin who carried the ball to the six-yard line. Two plays later, Kennon found Charles Armstrong on a one-yard toss to make it 13-7.
• On the ensuing kickoff, Panther Teddy Daniels forced a fumble on the return and John Greenburg scooped up the ball and returned it to the Bates' 18-yard line to put Middlebury in the perfect position to score again. Kennon found Anson Clough for the 18-yard touchdown, extending the Panther advantage to 19-7.
• The Bobcats responded on their next drive with Bosselait finding Jackson Hayes on a 14-yard touchdown pass, before Green converted the extra point to cut the deficit to 19-14. 
• With 1:28 remaining in the half, Greg Livingston hauled in a one-yard touchdown pass from Kennon and Haas converted the extra point to give the Panthers a 26-14 lead.
• Bates nearly scored again in the final minute, making its way down the field to the Middlebury eight-yard line. A strong Panther defense forced the Bobcats to attempt a field goal on fourth down, but Tomas Kenary blocked the chance and kept the difference at 26-14 heading into intermission.
• The Panthers scored on their opening drive of the second half when LeeCharles McNeil found an opening and rushed down the field for a 38-yard touchdown. Haas converted the PAT for the 33-14 advantage.
• A pair of quick touchdowns by the Bobcats cut the deficit to just five points (33-28). 
• Middlebury had a chance to extend the lead with under 10 minutes remaining. The Panthers marched down the field, setting up a fourth-and-goal attempt from the Bates' 18-yard line. Kennon connected with Wood for what looked like a touchdown, but the officials ruled the catch just inches shy of the goal line.
• The Panther defense clamped down, forcing the Bobcats to punt at the one-yard line. Rocco Stola returned the punt for 15 yards, positioning Middlebury just five yards shy of the red zone with 5:03 to go.
• Kennon found Jamin for a 13-yard reception, before connecting with Carter Stockwell on a 12-yard touchdown scoring strike. Haas split the uprights, giving Middlebury some breathing room to make it 40-28.
• Bates continued its pressure in the final 3:28 of the game, but a holding penalty on fourth down gave the ball back to the Panthers as they hung on for the victory.

NOTES

• Middlebury has won 33-straight contests against the Bobcats, dating back to 1989. The Panthers own a 48-14-3 overall mark in the series. 
• McNeil led all players with a career-best 115 yards rushing, including a touchdown.
• Kennon had a personal-best five touchdowns, including 326 yards in the air. 
• Cole Wiseman had a sack for a loss of 10 yards.