The Middlebury football team shut out Hamilton 35-0 in the Old Rocking Chair Classic on Saturday at Alumni Stadium. The Panthers retain possession of the chair for the 28th-straight year as the defense limited the Continentals to just one first down in the first half.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• Middlebury opened the game with a 13-play, 75-yard drive spanning 5:16 of action. Brian Moran hooked up with Jeremy Kiefer for the 11-yard scoring strike, before Zach Levy split the uprights for the 7-0 edge.
• The Panthers started the second quarter on Hamilton's 13-yard line. Back-to-back rushes by Connor McClellan and Carter Stockwell put Middlebury within inches of the endzone, before McClellan darted in for the one-yard score. Levy converted the extra point for the 14-0 advantage.
• As the clock wound down in the half, the Panthers would not be denied a chance to increase their lead to 21-0. Moran found Kiefer for a one-yard touchdown with just one tick left and Levy booted his third PAT to give the Panthers a solid advantage heading into the break.
• With 10:54 remaining in the third stanza, Dave Filias came up with a big tackle on fourth-and-two to turn Hamilton over on downs.
• On their next possession, the Continentals marched down the field determined to get on the scoreboard. Henry Rubey rushed the ball into the endzone, but the touchdown was nullified as Hamilton was called back on a holding penalty. Middlebury took advantage of the miscue, as Teddy Daniel broke up a pass and Carmelo Velardo's field goal attempt from 33 yards sailed right. 
• At the end of the third quarter, Moran connected with Partick Jamin for a 44-yard reception to put the Panthers on the six-yardline to start the final frame. Moran found Mike Ahonen for the touchdown and Levy converted the extra point to extend the advantage to 28-0.
• The Panthers made it 35-0 on their next possession, covering 61 yards on 13 plays over 6:21 of action. Isaiah Izzo Lizardi carried the ball on several plays, before scoring a two-yard rushing touchdown. Levy remained perfect through the uprights for the final score.

NOTES

• With one breakup today, Teddy Daniel ties the Panther single-season record with 11 on the year. The program mark was set back in 1996.
• The Old Rocking Chair Classic originated in 1980 by Hamilton's Mac Bristol '43 and Middlebury's John Kirk '39, two friends who were interested in heating up the rivalry between the two schools. Following the game each year, the winning team takes possession of a rocking chair and displays it in their athletic department for the year. The school then brings the chair to the game with the victor taking it home each year. Middlebury leads the series 36-8 and has retained possession of the chair since 1996.
• The programs met for the 66th time overall with the Panthers owning a 51-15 mark.

Middlebury concludes the season at Tufts on Saturday with a 12:30 p.m. kickoff.