Football tops Tufts, takes NESCAC

Author: Benji Thurber

Middlebury claimed its first outright NESCAC football championship on Saturday, Nov. 10, defeating Tufts on the road, 21-19. The Panthers ended their season with a 7-1 record, finishing a game ahead of both Trinity and Williams

Middlebury used a balanced performance by its offense, defense and special teams to attain the victory against the Jumbos and complete its best season since 2000, when the Panthers shared the NESCAC title with Amherst and Colby by posting a similar 7-1 mark. The Jumbos, who entered the game with a chance to force a first-place tie, concluded their year at 5-3. After falling behind 21-6, Tufts forged a late comeback that came up just short.

According to head coach Bob Ritter, the players were able to achieve their goal of winning the title by staying focused on each individual game but also "enjoying the moment."

The Panthers wasted no time in putting points on the board. On the opening kickoff, Middlebury's Dan Haluska '10 forced a fumble, which Andrew Poulin '11 recovered at the Tufts 33-yard line. Six plays later, quarterback Donald McKillop '11, who completed 17 of 29 passes for 150 yards and two scores, found tight end Charles Holm '09 with a two-yard touchdown pass.

The Jumbos responded promptly. They used a 55-yard return on the ensuing kickoff to gain great field position, and capitalized when quarterback Matt Russo, who threw for 250 yards and three touchdowns, hit Stephen Black for a nine-yard score. Tufts missed the extra point attempt, however, the first of two failed extra point kicks that would prove to be the difference in the game.

Middlebury added to its lead midway through the second quarter, as David Randolph '08, who finished with 74 rushing yards, capped an 11-play, 67-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown rush for a 14-6 lead that they would take into the half.

The Panthers opened the second half the same way they did the first - with a scoring drive on their first possession. McKillop threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Holm, who led Middlebury with six receptions for 68 yards, to increase the lead to 21-6.

Tufts answered on its next drive. Russo completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to Black to cut the Panthers' lead to 21-12 with 6:47 remaining in the quarter. The Jumbos again failed to convert the extra point, though, thanks to a block by the Panthers' Bill Greven '10.

Middlebury did not score again, but controlled the rest of the game with effective running by Randolph and McKillop. The Panthers dominated the second half time of possession 20:25 to 9:35.

Tufts sustained a successful drive late, as Russo found Black for their third touchdown connection of the game. After the extra point, the Jumbos found themselves down two with 0:55 remaining. They attempted an onside kick, but the Panthers recovered and ran out the clock.

Middlebury was able to hold onto the lead in large part because of a defense that had two sacks and forced four turnovers. Erik Woodring '08 paced the Panthers with 18 tackles and also forced and recovered a fumble. Nathan Clancy '08 added nine tackles and an interception. Safety Frank Granara '08 led the secondary with three pass breakups and an interception.

Woodring believes that the team was able to improve over the course of the season by building off of its success.

"The win over Trinity in Week Six was a huge confidence boost for our team," he said. "We knew from that point forward that we were capable of playing at a championship level."

Woodring also set a Middlebury career record for tackles in the game, finishing with 307, but tried to deflect attention away from this individual achievement.

"It felt great to break the tackles record, but it felt much better to win the NESCAC championship with the other 13 seniors, in our final game together," said Woodring.