Matson '09 rights the ship

Author: Nick Martell

Although opening with a shaky start for the second straight week, the Middlebury football team fought through Saturday's home matchup against Amherst College, beating the Lord Jeffs 31-14 and avenging last week's debilitating loss to Colby.

As in the previous two games, the Panthers failed to score first, as Amherst opened up a 7-0 lead. Eric Rostad '10 responded eight minutes after the Lord Jeffs' touchdown on a 27-yard reception from Donald McKillop '11 that tied up the game midway through the second quarter.

Momentum fully shifted right after Amherst followed with a failed drive. A sprawling Andrew Matson '09 blocked the Lord Jeffs' ensuing punt that was snagged by Matt Rayner '11, who dove into the end zone with minutes left in the first half.

"Not only did that change the game, but it simply made me proud - I love watching hard work pay off in real time," said an emotional Tim Monaghan '10 following the victory.

After a series of turnovers, one of which was recovered by Mike Quinn '09 in the third, Middlebury added two touchdowns early in the second half.

Spurred on by a large Youngman Stadium crowd, an overwhelming entourage of families and the strong smell of tailgate wafting from the parking lot, the Panthers defense pounced on the tired Lord Jeffs, mercilessly driving their offense into the ground by not allowing a single point in the second half.

"We were strong on defensive play the whole game," said linebacker Eric Kamback '10, adding that "we really unleashed a beast in the end of the game - that's how you win the big games."

Middlebury led an exhausting 16-play drive that took over nine minutes off the clock in the final quarter and culminated in Anthony Kuchan's '11 first career field goal, which put the final nail in Amherst's coffin.

Holding the Lord Jeffs to a mere 22 yards rushing, combined with McKillop's 200-plus yards passing, Middlebury's offensive and defensive fundamentals continue to look strong as the team heads into the fourth week of its 2008 campaign.

But with a 2-1 record, the change in momentum for the Panthers from a big home win could not come at a better time, as they prepare for what should be a challenging away game next weekend at Williams College in the dark heart of western Massachusetts.

In light of Saturday's impressive play, the Panthers have proven that they can rise to the challenge when the situation presents itself - but it will take even more to put back-to-back wins together for the first time this season.