Middlebury College

The Middlebury football team found the end zone on its first two drives and held the visitors to 165 total yards during Saturday's 32-2 victory over Colby from Youngman Field at Alumni Stadium.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• On the opening play of the contest, Gianluca Saracino forced a cough up and James Woodward pounced on the loose ball at the Mule 37-yard line.
• The hosts took advantage seven plays later when quarterback Aidan Moss connected with Luis Kuehberger from 13 yards out for a 6-0 advantage.
• After forcing a turnover on downs, the Panthers increased their advantage when Connor McClellan scampered in from 34 yards down the left sideline. Highlighting the drive was a Moss-to-Kuehberger connection for 25 yards. Yaseen Mousa booted through the extra point for a 13-0 edge with 3:09 left.
• A few possessions later, punter Ty Brinkmann flipped the field with a 62-yard blast that pinned Colby deep in its own territory at the 10. Matt Shaw stepped in front of a pass on the second play from scrimmage and McClellan struck paydirt again, muscling his way into the end zone on the initial snap from 11 yards for a 19-0 advantage with 9:06 showing on the second-quarter clock.
• The Middlebury defense stood tall once again, granting the navy and white possession with 1:40 left at the Mule 39. The Panthers quickly marched down the field, with McClellan recording his third score from two yards for a 25-0 halftime lead. 
• Following the break, the Colby defense mounted a stand and recorded a safety when an errant snap went out of the back of the end zone for a 25-2 score.
• The score held until 12:44 of the fourth quarter. A Charlie Grant punt return set Middlebury up at the Mule 14, before McClellan found space on the left side for a nine-yard touchdown. Mousa cashed in the extra point, giving the hosts a 32-2 advantage.
• Neither side was able to sustain a drive over the final minutes, as the Panthers cruised to the victory. 

NOTES

• McClellan's four rushing touchdowns tie a single-game program record with Tom O'Connor in 1974 (Union) and Mark Conroy in 1981 (Colby). The junior finished with 121 yards on the ground, marking the first time this fall and the sixth in his career surpassing the century mark.
• Shaw secured his third career interception, while Woodward collected his second pick. 
• Michael Votta concluded his contest with seven tackles, five solo, a fumble recovery and a pass break up, while Calvin Szoradi earned five stops, a sack and a forced fumble. 
• The programs played for the 62nd time with the Panthers claiming their 40th triumph in a series that began in 1936. Middlebury has won the last five meetings and 14 of the last 15.

The Panthers return to competition on Saturday when they travel south to Amherst for a 2:00 p.m. kickoff.