Panther offense stalls in 15-0 loss

Author: Sarah Brand

The performance of this year's Middlebury football squad could be summed up by Yogi Berra in his famous quote, "It's like déjà vu all over again." Berra was referring to watching Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle hitting home runs, but he could have been having a premonition about the Panthers' season thus far. Each game this season has had the same storyline: the offense stalls while defense keeps the game within reach. On a wet, chilly afternoon at Amherst, the Panthers followed an all too-familiar script as they lost their third straight game of the 2005 campaign, falling to the Lord Jeffs 15-0.

The Middlebury offense turned in another paltry performance, accumulating just 106 total yards, albeit in sloppy conditions. Middlebury (0-3) was unable to score a point for their second straight game and have not scored on offense since junior Steve Hauschka kicked a field goal in the third quarter of the season opener at Bowdoin.

The rainy, muddy field conditions and the Amherst defense combined to limit their chief offensive weapon, junior running back Stefan Hrdina, to just 51 yards on the ground. Hrdina got off to a strong start, breaking a few tackles for a 26-yard run early on the second offensive series of the game. But the NESCAC rushing leader was unable to capitalize on his early success, and Amherst (2-1) forced the offense to the air early in the second quarter.

The pressure was placed on junior quarterback Tiger Lyon, but he delivered another inauspicious outing, completing six of 24 passes for 66 yards. The Panthers struggled to move the chains throughout the entire game, managing only six first downs and successfully converting just three of 17 third down opportunities.

Much like in the last two games, Middlebury's defense kept victory within reach despite the sputtering offense. While Amherst running back Ngai Otieno rushed for 104 yards in his third straight game, quarterback Nick Kehoe was limited to just six passing yards and one interception. Senior Co-captain Coleman Hutzler, who was injured in the fourth quarter, led the team with 15 tackles and sophomore Eric Woodring continued his remarkable play with 13 tackles and a sack.

The defense allowed Amherst to take a 3-0 lead on a Justin Roemer field goal in the first quarter, but found its bearings on a key goal line stand towards the end of the first half.

After junior Steve Hauschka's punt landed at the line of scrimmage, Amherst's offense took over at the Middlebury 34-yard line. Amherst then pounded their running back Dom Cama through the Middlebury defense on eight plays all the way down to the one-yard line, but was unable to get him through on fourth-and-goal.

As Cama tried to run right towards the goal line, senior Alejandro Miranda and Francis Cave '09, the 350-pound short-yardage specialist, felled him at the line of scrimmage.

Both teams played inconsistently in the third quarter, but Amherst was able to put up a field goal at the end of the period, making the score 6-0 to start the final quarter.

Middlebury was stymied in the fourth quarter, unable to get the ball out of their territory once, but were afforded an opportunity to score with 4:30 minutes remaining in the game.

After Amherst punter Mark Hannon booted a perfect punt to the Middlebury one-yard line, Lyon stepped under center to attempt to orchestrate one last drive. But Coach Bob Ritter called for an intentional safety, placing all the hopes on the Middlebury defense to get the ball back with better field position.

The defense held up their end of the bargain, stopping Amherst on three plays, thereby placing the burden of winning on the offense.

But the offense crumbled under pressure as Lyon threw four straight incomplete passes and Amherst promptly took over at the Middlebury 17-yard line. Five plays later Amherst back Ngai Otieno rushed for his third touchdown of the season and the Lord Jeffs extended their lead to 15-0.

Despite the poor showing at Amherst, the Panthers still have a chance to hoist themselves out of the cellar over the next two weeks in games against Williams and Bates. Williams comes to Alumni Stadium this Saturday for a battle of anemic offenses. Although Williams has won the past four meetings, the Ephs collected just their first win of the season last weekend against Bates and have averaged merely 7.7 points per game. If the Panthers can break their scoring drought and have a good defensive game, they should be victorious for the first time this season.