Jeremy Kiefer caught a 14-yard touchdown catch in Saturday's overtime, lifting the Middlebury football team to a thrilling 33-30 win over Tufts on Senior Day. In the victory, Tony Wang became the program's single-season leader in field goals made with 11. 
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• The Panthers got on the scoreboard near the midway point of the first quarter when Wang converted a 37-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead with 7:26 left.
• The Jumbos answered on their ensuing possession. Christian Shapiro tallied a rushing touchdown from 15 yards out, capping a 10-play drive that spanned 5:46 of action. Vaughn Seelicke added the extra point for a 7-3 advantage. 
• The visitors increased their lead three minutes into the second stanza. Quarterback Hudson Weidman connected with Henry Fleckner over the middle, who sprinted into the endzone for a 15-yard scoring strike with 11:45 on the clock.
• After a Middlebury three-and-out, Tufts produced a long drive spanning 7:00, as Seelicke booted a kick that split the uprights for a 14-point lead (17-3) at the 2:44 mark.
• Each side had quick possessions before Middlebury forced a short punt and took over at its 47-yard line with 39 ticks left. Back-to-back passes from quarterback Brian Moran to Jordan Angstreich and Luis Kuehberger set up a Wang field goal from 35 yards for a 17-6 halftime score.
• The tide turned in the Panthers' favor with 8:36 remaining in the third stanza when the Jumbos attempted a trick play on fourth down, but Carson Stewart tackled punter Andrew Leigh for a 10-yard loss and took over at the Jumbo 41.
• Middlebury pulled to within 17-13 five plays later, as Connor McClellan muscled the ball over the goal line from a yard out at the 6:32 mark.
• The Panthers took a 20-17 lead on the second play of the fourth frame via a 17-yard scoring strike from Moran to Angstreich.
• The hosts continued that momentum on their next offensive drive. McClellan found a hole in the middle of the line and scored from three yards on a drive highlighted by a 26-yard completion to Kuehberger for a 10-point lead (27-17) with 8:57 showing in regulation.
• Tufts sliced the deficit to 27-24 on its next offensive possession when Weidman connected with Keller Rogers on a 70-yard touchdown pass.
• After a Panther three-and-out and a Ty Brinkmann punt, the Jumbos took over at their own 39-yard line and 2:32 on the clock. Tufts worked the ball down the field, setting up a 25-yard boot by Seelicke as time expired to send the contest to overtime.
• In the extra session, the Jumbos went on offense first and Seelicke connected from 37 yards out for a 30-27 edge.
• Middlebury had its shot at the 25-yard line, as a pair of rushes from McClellan sandwiched around a Moran run put the ball at the 14. Moran threw a beautiful fade pass to Kiefer in the right corner of the end zone, who made a one-handed catch for the thrilling 33-30 triumph.

NOTES

• Wang's 11 field goals surpass three others who had 10, including Middlebury Hall of Famer Stephen Hauschka (2006), Anthony Kuchan (2010) and Zach Levy (2023). He also ascended into a tie for third in the program ranks with 31 extra points.
• McClellan's two rushing scores place him second in a single season with 13, while his 199 carries and 959 yards are third. 
• Matt Shaw led the defensive charge with 12 tackles and an interception, while Tommy Schwartz was also in double digits with 10 stops and a sack.
• Carson Eutsay tallied his first career interception and Charlie Grant posted his third this fall and the fourth of his career. 
• The program finished with a 5-4 record with the triumph, marking the fourth-straight season with a winning record and its 11th in the last 12 seasons. 
• Before the game, the program honored seniors Ryan McKay, Jake Checchio, George Clough, Ben Manuelian, Seth Cobb, Owen Thornton, Ollie Orvis and Wang. Also being honored will be Yusuf Mousa, Shane Johnson, Charlie Adams, Owen Halter, Phineas Hunt, Moran, Devan King, Mike Ahonen and William Zambito. The senior class helped Middlebury to a 26-10 record and the 2023 NESCAC Championship.

The Panthers and the Jumbos have played in every season finale since 1992, except the 2023 season. Saturday's battle was the 67th all-time meeting with Middlebury grabbing a narrow 34-33 edge.