Waterville, Maine - It's been a roller coaster of a season for the Colby College Football team. Four quarterback changes, injuries on both ends, blowouts, big wins: it's been a ride. However there was one constant tonight as the Panthers came to town, which was the desire to win on both ends of the ball. The Mules matched the level of the 2023 NESCAC champs, a team who was expected to win by a gracious margin but tonight found their opponents to be tougher than expected. In the end Colby lost 35-28, taking the Mules to 3-6 to end the season.

Colby started out with the momentum, recovering a punt by Daniel Gerlach that hung in the air just long enough for the defense to get down the field and force a fumble. Gamble Reed punched the ball out and Payton Reid picked it up giving Colby the ball inside the Panthers' 30 yard line. From there, senior quarterback Thomas Keeling only needed one play to find the end zone, connecting with Jack Sawyer to open up the scoring. Middlebury bounced back early in the second, canceling out the cycle of punts and tying the game up. However Colby responded, needing only three plays to go 75 yards. Locksley Burke rushed twice but it was Keon Smart who connected with Keeling to go 69 yards for the touchdown, giving Colby the lead. With the ball back later in the half and on their own 1 yard line, the Mules fumbled, leading to a Middlebury touchdown as they pounced on it to convert for seven. Nothing separated the two teams heading into the break.

Coming out of half the Panthers received and made quick work of their first drive as they led for the first time in the game. A resulting 3 and out for Colby followed by a short punt gave Middlebury the ball inside Colby's 35 yard line. The Mules couldn't contain their offense as in no time Colby trailed 14-28. The Mules got the ball back but not for the better as Keeling was intercepted, leading to yet another touchdown off an error. But the comeback was on, starting late in the third quarter as Keeling led the Mules 84 yards down the field, finding Jack Sawyer for a 39 yard touchdown to bring Colby within two possessions. The momentum remained on Colby's side as Julian Young forced and recovered a fumble on the next drive. With the ball back at the Middlebury 35, an 18 yard rush from Smart set the Mules up inside the red zone but three incomplete passes and a gutsy fourth down caused a turnover on downs as Colby brought the defense out to contain the Panthers. Although Middlebury got down the field, a missed field goal kept Colby's hopes alive. Another quick touchdown from the Mules brought the game within seven, but it was too little too late as Colby couldn't get the job done.

In the end the scoreline didn't do justice to how well Colby played today. Keeling threw for a record 362 yards and attempted a NESCEC all-time record 54 throws, breaking the previous record from 2010 which was held by Tufts with 53. In the air, Smart and Sawyer had 143 and 99 yards respectively while on the defensive end, Julian Young capped out a phenomenal season with another game of double digit tackles. The 2023 season came to an end in style and with the adversity that Colby has faced and roadbumps overcome, next year is promising for this budding team.