The "Old Rocking Chair" will stay at Middlebury for another year, as the football team downed Hamilton 48-34 for the 26th-straight season. The tradition of the Old Rocking Chair Classic dates back to 1980 and the Panthers have maintained possession of the chair since 1994. 
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• On Middlebury's second possession of the game, Cole Kennon connected with Greg Livingston for a 38-yard pass to setup a red-zone scoring strike. LeeCharles McNeil scored a two-yard rushing touchdown, before an extra point by Andrew Haas gave the Panthers a 7-0 early edge.
• Rocco Stola intercepted a pass on the next Continentals' drive, but a strong Hamilton defense held Middlebury at bay during its possession. 
• With 2:09 left in the opening quarter, Kennon launched a 42-yard touchdown pass to Donovan Wood, and the PAT by Haas gave the Panthers a 14-0 lead.
• Kennon hooked up with Patrick Jamin for a 17-yard scoring strike early in the second quarter, before Haas' extra point extended the Panther advantage to 21-0. 
• Starting at its own 25-yard line, Hamilton marched down the field to cut into the Middlebury lead. Matt Banbury fired a 14-yard pass to Colin Kelter, but Stola was there at the one-yard line to tackle Kelter and halt the touchdown attempt. Banbury rushed into the endzone on the next play, and Evan Reed split the uprights to make it 21-7.
• With 1:58 remaining in the half, the Panthers increased their lead. Kennon found Jamin over the middle for a 20-yard pass, before launching a 10-yard strike to Wood in the right side of the end zone. Haas converted his fourth-straight PAT to make it 28-7 at the break.
• The Continentals came out of the intermission strong, stringing together a five-minute scoring drive. Banbury hooked up with Mark Howrigan on a nine-yard pass, but Middlebury's Liam Roy denied the touchdown at the one-yard line. Banbury pushed through the defense on the next play, before Reed's extra point cut the deficit to 28-14.
• Middlebury responded immediately on its ensuing possession. Adam Harrington had a 25-yard kickoff return to put the Panthers in a good position to score. Kennon launched a 43-yard pass to Livingston on the left, before finding Cole Crider for a 17-yard touchdown. Tony Wang converted his first career PAT to give Middlebury the 35-14 advantage. 
• Hamilton wouldn't go away, scoring with 1:38 left in the third frame when Banbury flicked a nine-yard pass into the hands of Joseph Campanella in the endzone. Reed converted the extra point to make it 35-21. 
• Jamin caught a seven-yard touchdown pass from Kennon on the opening drive of the fourth quarter, extending the Panther lead to 41-21. 
• Wang had a 56-yard kickoff that was muffed by Hamilton and recovered by Stola at the Continental four-yard line.
• The Panther offense took advantage of the field position, as Kennon flicked the four-yard touchdown pass to Jamin and Wang split the uprights to make it 48-21. 
• The Continentals marched down the field and scored twice more, but that was as close as they would get with Middlebury secured the rocking chair 48-34.

NOTES

• Prior to the start of the game, the Panthers honored seniors Livingston, Grant Yocam, Ben Tauber, Roy, Jordan Ramos, Alec Brownlee, LeeCharles McNeil, Austin Gill, Coleman Brown, Nicholas Kartsounis, Charles Farrell, Dan Thompson, Anson Clough, Joe Rubio, Ryan Whitney, student assistant Denzel Annan and Logan Tonini. 
• Today's contest marked the final home game for head coach Bob Ritter '82, who will step down from the helm of the program at the conclusion of the season. Ritter will remain in the athletic department and transition into a role on the administrative leadership team. 
• Kennon nearly broke the school single-game record for yards (462), recording a career-high 431. His six passing touchdowns tied for second in Middlebury's record book. 
• Jamin had a career-best 126 receiving yards with a trio of touchdowns.
• Livingston hauled in a career-high 42-yard reception.
• Stola recorded nine tackles (six solo) and an interception, while Finn Muldoon had a game-high eight solo stops (nine total).
• Tomas Kenary had a pair of sacks for a loss of 23 yards, one pass breakup and a pair of quarterback hurries.