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RoccoStola22Williams
Will Costello
Stola led all players with a career-best eight solo tackles and had the game-winning interception.
17
Colby COL 4-3 , 4-3
20
Winner Middlebury MID 6-1 , 6-1
Colby COL
4-3 , 4-3
17
Final
20
Middlebury MID
6-1 , 6-1
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
COL Colby 0 10 0 7 17
MID Middlebury 0 3 3 14 20

Game Recap: Football |

Last-Minute Touchdown & Stola Interception Lifts Middlebury Past Colby 20-17

The Middlebury football team came from behind to edge Colby 20-17 with two critical plays in the final minute. The Panthers scored a touchdown with 41 seconds left on the clock, before Rocco Stola picked off a pass on the Mules' next drive to secure the comeback victory. 
 
HIGHLIGHTS
  • The first quarter was a tight defensive battle, with both teams keeping each other off the scoreboard.
  • Colby began a scoring drive at the end of the opening stanza, before Lowell Carr converted a 23-yard field goal for the 3-0 edge with 1:01 expired in the second quarter.
  • The Mules made it 10-0 on their next possession. Matt Hersch started the drive with a 54-yard lob to Jack Sawyer to put Colby in scoring position. Donovan Ganges rushed up the middle for a four-yard touchdown, and Lowell converted the extra point for the double-digit lead.
  • Andrew Haas brought Middlebury back within a touchdown with a 24-yard field goal later in the quarter, making it 10-3 heading into the halftime break. 
  • On the Panthers' first possession of the third stanza, Haas split the uprights with a 26-yarder to cut the deficit to four (10-6).
  • Colby marched down the field on its next drive, hoping to extend the lead, but a strong Middlebury defensive stand turned the Mules over on downs just shy of the red zone after a nearly 10-minute possession.
  • With 7:10 remaining in the fourth quarter, Middlebury took over at midfield and slowly made its way toward the endzone. Cole Kennon connected with Greg Livingston for a 17-yard touchdown pass, before a PAT from Haas gave the Panthers their first advantage of the game (13-10). 
  • Colby responded, with Hersch finding Cormac Wright for a 27-yard pass, before launching a 37-yard scoring strike to Keon Smart for the touchdown. Lowell converted the extra point, giving the Mules a 17-13 edge with just 4:01 to go.
  • Both teams doubled down on defense, forcing punts on each of the next possessions.
  • Middlebury took over on offense at its own 25-yard line, with 2:01 showing on the clock.
  • Kennon connected with Donovan Wood on three-straight passes, setting the Panthers up at the Colby 45. Kennon found Anson Clough for an 18-yard hookup, before connecting again with Clough on a 14-yard scoring strike. Haas converted the PAT to give the Panthers a 20-17 edge with 41 ticks left on the clock.
  • The Mules took over at midfield, and Hersh looked to launch the ball towards the 22-yard line, but Stola was there to pick off the pass and secure the victory for Middlebury. 
NOTES
  • The Panthers have won 10 of the last 11 meetings between the teams and own a 36-22 record in the all-time series.
  • Stola led all players with a career-best eight solo tackles, a game-high three pass breakups and the game-winning interception.
  • For the first time in his career, Nolan Tibball recorded double-digit tackles (10) and had a career-best seven solo. He also had a pair of pass breakups and an interception.
  • Tomas Kenary and Dave Filias each had a trio of quarterback hurries, while Filias had a sack for a loss of seven yards. 
  • Haas kept Middlebury in the game, going a perfect 2-2 in both field goals and extra points. 
  • Kennon had a career-high 20 rushing yards and tallied a pair of touchdowns through the air. 
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