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OwenHalter23Bowdoin_23
Will C Images,LLC
Owen Halter had six tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss against Wesleyan.
17
Middlebury MID 0-1 , 0-1
31
Winner Wesleyan (CT) WES 1-0 , 1-0
Middlebury MID
0-1 , 0-1
17
Final
31
Wesleyan (CT) WES
1-0 , 1-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
MID Middlebury 3 0 7 7 17
WES Wesleyan (CT) 0 10 14 7 31

Game Recap: Football |

Football Falls To Wesleyan In Season Opener

The Middlebury football team dropped a 31-17 decision to Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon in the season-opener for both programs. 
 
HIGHLIGHTS
  • On their initial drive of the contest, the Panthers marched down the field on an eight-play, 74-yard drive, highlighted by a 33-yard pass from quarterback Brian Moran to Mike Ahonen. Middlebury concluded the surge with an 18-yard field goal from Tony Wang at the 10:19 mark of the opening quarter.
  • Both defenses forced a pair of punts before the Cardinals took possession on their own 35 with 1:52 showing on the clock. Working methodically down the field, Donte Kelly caught a short pass from Matt Fitzsimons and found the endzone from 11 yards out. Gage Hammond converted the extra point for the 7-3 edge with 11:18 remaining in the stanza.
  • Wesleyan added to its advantage on its final drive of the first half which began at its own 45. Kelly secured a toss from Fitzsimons and hustled 51 yards to the Middlebury four. The Panther defense stuffed a pair of rushing attempts before Hammond booted a 20-yard field goal as time expired for a 10-3 lead.
  • The Cardinals continued to ride the wave of momentum after the break, finding the endzone twice in a span of 1:46. Matt Diaz dove in from one yard out on Wesleyan's first possession and AJ Morris ran back a 60-yard interception for a score to make it a 24-3 contest at the 8:11 mark.
  • Middlebury responded with a nine-play, 75-yard drive, spanning 3:51 of action. Moran connected with Jeremy Kiefer for 26 yards on the first play from scrimmage, before Connor McClellan scurried in from one yard out. Wang converted the extra point to cut the deficit to 24-10.
  • On its next possession, Wesleyan answered with a six-yard touchdown catch by Keith Capuano to conclude a drive that encompassed 7:23 of gametime. Hammond kicked the PAT for a 31-10 lead with 11:49 left.
  • The Panthers pulled to within 31-17 nine minutes later when Moran connected with Ollie Orvis on a one-yard scoring catch and Wang converted the extra point with 2:15 remaining in the contest.
  • The Cardinals ran out the clock and secured the 31-17 triumph.
NOTES
  • Moran accounted for 284 total yards, going 22-of-37 with 261 yards through the air and a touchdown. He moves into a tie for eighth place in career passing touchdowns (18) and ninth in yards (2,416).
  • Ahonen eclipsed the 100-yard receiving plateau for the third time in his career, tallying 108 on seven catches. 
  • Owen Thornton and Casy Adjei had a team-best seven tackles, while Matt Shaw had three stops and a pair of quarterback hurries.
  • Wang ended the game recording a career-high five points with a field goal and a pair of PATs.
  • Middlebury and Wesleyan squared off for the 55th time, with the sides splitting the last 14 meetings. 
The Panthers return to action next weekend, squaring off with Bowdoin on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. from Youngman Field at Alumni Stadium.
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