The Middlebury football team closed its 2024 campaign with a 17-7 loss to Tufts on Saturday. The Panthers end their season with a 6-3 record.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• After the majority of the opening quarter was a back-and-forth affair, Middlebury looked to break the scoreless contest. Zach Levy lifted a field goal attempt from 32 yards out, but the wind carried the ball wide to keep the Panthers off the board.
• The Jumbos took the lead on the first drive of the second stanza. Following a few short rushing plays from Michael Berluti, the quarterback found Keller Rogers for a 34-yard touchdown reception. Vaughn Seelicke split the uprights to give Tufts a 7-0 edge.
• On the following drive, Ty Richardson intercepted a pass by Brian Moran. The Jumbos took advantage of the outcome as Vaughn converted a 26-yard field goal to increase the advantage to 10-0.
• The Panthers looked to cut the deficit down with six ticks left on the first-half clock, but Levy's 43-yard chance fell short as the Jumbos went into the break up 10-0.
• With exactly six minutes left in the third quarter, Tufts looked to increase the lead, but Vaughn's low 33-yard bid did not make it through the sticks.
• Middlebury broke through on a 13-play, 80-yard drive that spanned 6:04 of action. Just four seconds into the final stanza, Connor McClellan rushed 30 yards into the end zone and Levy tallied the PAT to cut the Tufts' lead down to three (10-7).
• The Jumbos had a change under center with Luke Leongas coming in for Berluti. The senior came in and orchestrated a 12-play, 75-yard drive capped off by Leongas finding Cade Moore for a seven-yard touchdown strike to make it 17-7 with 7:17 remaining.
• Middlebury looked to answer on its next drive, working the ball to its 42-yard line after a pass interference by Tufts. The momentum stalled, as Ty Brinkmann boomed a 58-yard punt to the Jumbos 20-yard line.
• Both teams traded possessions until the Panthers had their final chance with 2:14 left at its 41 yard line. Moran was sacked for a five-yard loss on the first play from scrimmage by Javier Rios, pushing the game to the two-minute timeout.
• Middlebury had three more cracks moving the ball, but a fourth-down pass from Moran to Jeremy Kiefer came up four yards short, forcing a turnover on downs. Tufts kneeled three times to clinch the 17-7 victory.

NOTES

• Patrick Jamin moved into fifth place all-time in career receiving yards with 1,995.
• McClellan tallied a career-best 126 rushing yards.
• Teddy Daniel had one pass breakup and a career-high 11 tackles.
• Tomás Kenary passed the 100 career solo tackle mark with five against Tufts. He also extended his school record in tackles for loss (50) and yardage (267).

Middlebury and the Jumbos have played in every season finale since 1992 except the 2023 season. Saturday's battle was the 66th all-time meeting with both programs having 33 victories.