Middlebury College

The Middlebury football team pulled within a possession three minutes into Saturday's fourth quarter, but Trinity answered on its ensuing drive and earned a 26-23 triumph from a sun-soaked Youngman Field at Alumni Stadium. In the contest, Connor McClellan became the program's career rushing touchdown leader with 30.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• The Panther defense forced a turnover on the opening possession of the contest. Brady Phillips punched the ball loose on a reception and Matthew Piechota jumped on the football at the Middlebury 39-yard line.
• The teams traded punts over the next few drives before the hosts took over at the Bantam 38. On 4th-and-4, Aidan Moss found Tommy Hetherington on a slant pass down the seam and the Panther wideout scampered 32 yards for the touchdown. Yaseen Mousa booted through the extra point for a 7-0 lead with 7:50 on the first-quarter clock.
• Trinity leveled the score with a nine-play, 76-yard drive that culminated with a Jaxon Carroll strike to Darison Hooper from seven yards in the left corner of the end zone. Max Wallace converted the PAT to make it 7-7 with 9:12 left before halftime.
• The Bantams capitalized on a turnover with 1:25 on the clock deep in Panther territory. Carroll found Hooper four plays later for a two-yard touchdown pass for a 13-7 contest at the half. 
• Trinity extended its lead to 20-7 during its initial drive of the third. Hooper tiptoed down the left sideline, securing a 35-yard pass from Carroll to cap a seven-play, 72-yard drive. 
• The Panthers answered with a methodical 17-play possession that covered 75 yards. McClellan was the key contributor during the drive, rushing 11 times for 61 yards that ended in a scamper from four yards out to find paydirt. Mousa kicked the PAT, pulling the hosts to within six (20-14) with 11:40 left.
• The visitors responded with a lengthy possession that spanned 12 snaps, ending with a two-yard rushing touchdown from Jack Tosone. Following a pair of penalties, the 50-yard extra point came up short to keep it a 12-point contest.
• Middlebury didn't give up, as the defense earned a quick three-and-out deep in Bantam territory with 1:28 remaining and added a safety to make it 26-16.
• The Panthers promptly took the ensuing kickoff, racing down the field in just over a minute. Hetherington took a short pass on the right sideline, broke a tackle and hustled into the end zone from 28 yards out. Mousa calmly converted the extra point to bring the deficit to three (26-23).
• Middlebury had an onside kick opportunity, as Mousa squibbed the ball into a group of Bantams, but Hooper recovered the bouncing ball to secure the thrilling 26-23 decision.

NOTES

• With his rushing touchdown in the third quarter, McClellan tallied his 30th score to become the all-time leader on the career list, breaking a tie with Tom O'Connor '74. He racked up 88 yards on 23 totes, ascending to fourth place in the program's laurels with 1,925 yards.
• Moss tallied a personal-best 33 completions for 319 yards and two passing touchdowns. His 319 passing yards are the most in a contest since Cole Kennon '24 had 353 against Bates in 2023. 
• Jordan Angstreich racked up 13 catches for 100 yards, marking the fourth time this fall with more than 100 yards in a game and the third occasion with 10 or more receptions.
• Michael Votta, Jackson McGuffin and Phillips each finished with seven tackles. Votta tacked on two quarterback hurries and a pass break-up, while Phillips added a batted-down pass.
• The programs squared off for the 50th time since 1912.

The Panthers close out the home portion of their schedule on Saturday when they host Hamilton at 12:30 p.m. in The Old Rocking Chair Classic. The contest will also serve as the program's Senior Day.