Middlebury, Vt. - The Colby College Football team traveled to Vermont to take on the Middlebury Panthers Saturday in NESCAC action.  Despite holding a 10-3 halftime lead, as well as a 17-13 lead with one minute to play, the hosts took the victory 20-17.  Colby falls to 4-3 while Middlebury improves to 6-1.  

While 37 combined points doesn't equate to a defensive battle, this one was.  The two opponents combined for 15 punts in the contest, as well as four turnovers, one turnover on downs, and one missed field goal.  Unfortunately for the Mules, they fell on the short end of the turnover Colby got the scoring started at the beginning of the second quarter when Lowell Carr connected on his fifth field goal of the season, and pushed the lead to 10 when Donovan Ganges plunged in from four yards out.  The Panthers were able to get on the board before the break when they connected on a field goal following a Colby fumble deep in their end.  

The two defenses remained elite in the third quarter, with the only points on the board coming from Andrew's Haas's second field goal of the contest, narrowing Colby's lead to 10-6.  The Panthers took their first lead of the contest with five minutes remaining, but Colby answered right back.  The Mules collected 75 yards on three plays, with the help of a pass interference penalty, and jumped back in front when quarterback Matt Hersch connected with running back Keon Smart for a 37 yard scoring strike.  

After both teams traded punts, Middlebury's game-winning drive began with two minutes on the clock, driving 75 yards in seven plays to take the lead for good.  

Ganges collected a career-high 19 carries in the contest for 69 yards and one score.  Wide receiver Jack Sawyer also hit career marks with 10 receptions for 139 yards.  Hersch tallied his second consecutive 200-yard passing performance, posting 249 yards in the air to go with 27 on the ground.  Julian Young led the Colby defense with his fifth double-digit tackle performance of the season, collecting 13 tackles and registering his first sack of the season.  Marc Dougherty and Luke D'Aloia had nine tackles apiece.  Nick Donatio recorded his third interception of the season, second in the NESCAC.  

Colby is back in action Saturday for their final home game of the season, taking on the Jumbos (4-3) of Tufts University.