Middlebury, Vt. - The Colby College Football team entered their week three challenge in Vermont up against one of the top teams in the NESCAC in each of the past two seasons with a combined record of 16-4 in 2022, 2023, and 2024.  After a 10-10 first half, Middlebury slipped away in the second half outscoring the Mules 14-6 for a 24-16 final.  The Panthers improve to 2-1 while Colby falls to 0-3 for the first time since 2019. 

Scoring in the first quarter was done in threes as the two teams traded field goals in the opening frame.  Middlebury scored first, but a Christos Tzoumakas 35-yard kick knotted the score at three apiece with less than a minute to play in the first.  The hosts jumped back in front early in the second quarter only to have Colby close the frame strong with a Declan McNamara 12-yard scamper to tie the game at 10.  The Mules missed an opportunity when Brody Rice intercepted an errant Middlebury throw at midfield with 24 seconds remaining in the half, but the Panthers returned the favor two plays later with an interception of their own to head into the break.  

In a battle of field position for the final 30 minutes (the two teams combined for eight punts in the third quarter alone), the Panthers broke through twice with scoring strikes of 40 and 65 yards to jump out to a two-score lead.  Colby's final two drives led to scoring opportunities as they scratched to erase the deficit.  On the second to last drive that began at Colby's three-yard line, the Mules mounted a 17-play drive that ended with a sack fumble on 4th down at Middlebury's 16-yard line.  On Colby's final drive, quarterback Miles Drake found John Ogletree in the back of the end zone as the clock ran out, capping a 13-play drive that covered 69 yards.  

Drake captured his third consecutive 200-yard game passing to begin the season, going 24-45 for 214 yards with one touchdown and one interception. The junior also collected 37 yards on the ground.  Wide receiver Duke Ferrara recorded his first career double digit reception game, converting 10 catches for 79 yards.  Keon Smart led the ground game with 44 yards rushing, and hauled in six catches for 82 yards.  Defensively Sebastien Romain and Julian Young continued their stellar play at linebacker, collecting nine and eight tackles respectively.  Drew Ramos and Andrew Hart each had seven stops, and Jack Mullen was a menace in the Panther backfield with 2.5 sacks for a loss of 18 yards.  

Colby is back in action next weekend when they open the CBB against Bates in Waterville.  Saturday night lights will kick off at 7:00pm sharp.