The Middlebury football team mounted a second-half comeback attempt on Saturday from Youngman Field at Alumni Stadium, but Wesleyan held on for a 35-13 victory in the season opener for both programs.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Following a scoreless first quarter which featured punts from both teams, the Cardinals struck with 2:52 expired in the second stanza. Matt Diaz muscled his way in from three yards out to cap a 13-play, 81-yard drive that spanned 7:59 of action. Gage Hammond converted the extra point to give the Cardinals a 7-0 lead.
- The visitors increased their advantage 4:55 later. Quarterback Matt Fitzsimons connected with Blake Newcomb on the right sideline for a 33-yard scoring strike. Hammond knocked the PAT through the uprights with 7:13 left before halftime.
- Following a Panther punt, Wesleyan traversed the field with an eight-play drive that covered 4:35 as Fitzsimons and Newcomb hooked up from 20 yards for a 21-0 edge at the break.
- The Middlebury defense forced a Cardinal punt to start the third quarter and the hosts methodically moved down the field before a one-yard plunge by Connor McClellan. Yaseen Mousa banged through the extra point to pull the navy and white within 14 (21-7) with 4:11 left.
- The Cardinals regained the 21-point advantage with 11:00 left in the contest. Tommy Kilroy stepped in front of a pass at the Panther 33-yard line and took it to the end zone.
- Following a nifty 15-yard kickoff return from Charlie Grant that positioned the Panthers at their own 32, Middlebury responded with a six-play march spanning 2:06 of action. Aidan Moss connected with Jeremy Keifer for 37 yards on the second play from scrimmage, before Jordan Angstreich was the recipient of a 14-yard scoring strike from Moss to cut the deficit to 28-13.
- On its next possession, Wesleyan answered with a 22-yard touchdown catch by Keith Capuano to conclude a drive that encompassed 5:05 of game time. Hammond kicked the PAT for a 35-13 lead with 3:43 left.
- Middlebury looked for a final conversion, but the Cardinal defense forced a turnover on downs for the 35-13 triumph.
NOTES
- Angstreich finished with career-high totals of 10 catches and 130 yards with a touchdown. His yardage total is the most by a Panther in a season opener since 2003 when Tom Cleaver '03 posted 137 yards.
- Moss concluded his initial career start going 23-of-39 for 262 yards with a touchdown to go alongside a team-high 38 rushing yards.
- Matt Shaw paced the defensive unit with 13 tackles, four solo stops and a pair of quarterback hurries. Charlie Ozolin matched his career best with 10 tackles, while Cutler Hobin narrowly missed double figures with eight.
- Middlebury and Wesleyan squared off for the 56th time, with the Cardinals taking a narrow 8-7 edge over the last 15 meetings.
The Panthers return to action next weekend, traveling to Bowdoin on Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff.
