CLINTON, N.Y. – Middlebury College's Cole Kennon threw for 308 yards and three touchdowns in the Panthers' 41-7 win against the Hamilton College Continentals at Hamilton's Steuben Field on a cloudy and calm Saturday, Nov. 4.
Season Update
- The Continentals (2-6 NESCAC) were trying to extend their win streak to three games but came up short.
- Middlebury (6-1) is still tied for first place with Trinity College after a rare bye last weekend. The Panthers have won five in a row.
How It Happened
- Middlebury led 10-0 after one quarter. The Panthers took the opening kickoff and marched 75 yards in nine plays. Carter Stockwell ran it in from the 2 and Zach Levy added the extra point 3:22 into the quarter.
- On Middlebury's next possession, a 73-yard drive ended on a 24-yard field goal by Levy with 13.7 seconds left in the first.
- The Panthers made it three scores in three possessions early in the second quarter. After a short punt gave Middlebury the ball at their own 46, Kennon threw an eight-yard touchdown pass to Mike Ahonen with 10:55 remaining.
- Trailing 17-0, Hamilton responded with their lone touchdown. Luke Kurzum '27, who was named the NESCAC Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 30, completed all five of his passes for 72 yards during the drive. On second-and-goal from the 2, defensive lineman Chase White '25 was one of three players lined up behind Kurzum. The quarterback faked the handoff and threw to White who was wide open on the right side at the goal line. He romped into the end zone, and the PAT by Ben Waterman '27 made it 17-7 with 7:28 to go.
- The Panthers' next drive stalled and they were forced to punt for the first time. The punt was partially blocked and traveled just five yards, which gave the Continentals the ball in Middlebury territory. Hamilton made it to the red zone, but Kurzum was sacked and fumbled, and the Panthers recovered.
- The Continentals got the ball back again at their own 30 with 1:03 left and they quickly went three-and-out and had to punt with less than 19 seconds remaining. The snap bounced on the turf on its way back to Carmelo Velardo '27 and he nearly whiffed on the punt attempt as Middlebury players closed in. The ball didn't even get back to the line of scrimmage and the Panthers took over at the Hamilton 32. Two plays later, Levy nailed a 41-yard field goal with 2.6 seconds to go, and Middlebury took a 20-7 lead into the locker room.
- The second half was all Panthers as the Continentals' six drives ended with five punts and a lost fumble.
- Kennon completed a 19-yard pass to Donovan Wood for a touchdown with 6:43 left in the third quarter, and he added a 17-yard scoring toss to Carter Stockwell with 2:39 remaining. Walker Coleman's 11-yard touchdown run with 9:16 to go in the fourth quarter ended a 12-play drive that took nearly seven minutes off the clock and finished the scoring.
Notes
- This was the 43rd playing of The Old Rocking Chair Classic.
- Kurzum was 12 of 21 for 141 yards and his seventh touchdown pass.
- White scored his first career touchdown with the Continentals.
- Ezra Lombardi '24 set career highs with six catches and 72 yards receiving.
- Cole Rivell '24 and Nick Hoff '25 led the defense with eight tackles apiece.
- Nico Obregon '27 recorded his first interception for Hamilton.
- The Panthers' Patrick Jamin led all receivers with 121 yards on eight catches.
- Finn Muldoon topped Middlebury with eight stops and a pass breakup.
- Kieran Sheridan and Owen Halter forced fumbles and Tomas Kenary and Owen Thornton had fumble recoveries.
- The Panthers racked up 27 first downs and 502 yards of offense.
- Middlebury scored on all six of its trips into the red zone.
- The Continentals were 2 of 12 on third down conversions and ended up with 199 yards.
- Hamilton honored its 19 seniors prior to the start of the game.
Next Game
The Continentals wrap up the 2023 season at winless Bates College (0-7) on Saturday, Nov. 11 at noon.
