The Mules(1-2) took their second loss of the year to (2-1) Middlebury in a nail-biting, 27-17 home game this Saturday. The mules fought hard, leading at halftime and again midway through the fourth quarter, but a late Panther touchdown run and defensive score sealed the game for the visitors.
The first half of the game was defined by the mules, which quickly went up a touchdown in the first quarter when quarterback Miles Drake connected on a 45-yard pass to Eli Soehren to stark a 75-yard drive. Antone Moreis capped the possession with a 1-yard touchdown run for a 7–0 lead. Once up, the pace for the rest of the half was set by the Mules defense. The defense managed to shut Middlebury out of the first half due to big plays like Joshua Iyonsi's sack to halt a Middlebury drive and a blocked punt by Jack Mullen that gave Colby a short field. And although a penalty called back Drake's rushing touchdown late in the second quarter, Will Schneider drilled a 37-yard field goal to send the Mules into halftime ahead 10–0.
While the defense managed to have a dominant first half, they did not have an answer for running back Connor McClellan, who finished with 152 yards and two rushing touchdowns. The Panthers scored back to back to take a 14–10 advantage before Colby's offense answered with its longest drive of the day. Ryan Singhal's 28-yard scamper set up first-and-goal, and Drake punched it in from two yards out to reclaim the lead, 17–14, with 8:24 to play. The Panthers did not wait long to respond. Three plays later, McClellan ran a 66-yard touchdown to put Middlebury up. Colby's final drive reached the Panther 23, but a 40-yard field goal attempt was blocked with seven seconds left.
Drake finished 16-of-22 passing for 180 yards while adding a rushing score. Nye led all receivers with eight catches for 85 yards, and Singhal led Colby's rushing with 75 yards on 11 carries. Defensively, Drew Ramos, Trevor Smith, and Sebastien Romain each contributed key stops to keep the Mules within striking distance throughout the afternoon.
Colby looks to build on its strong first half when it travels to face Bates, Saturday, October 4th.
