The Panthers got on the scoreboard early, scoring a touchdown on their first offensive play of the game. Tailback Bill Lazzaro, last week's NESCAC Offensive Player of the Week, took a pitch outside 55 yards to the end zone. After giving up an uncharacteristically long scoring run, Mills changed his coverage scheme to provide more safety support in the run game. Mills' tactical move paid off handsomely as the Panthers only managed three points in the remaining 57 plus minutes of play.
Amherst managed its first score of the game late in the first quarter when a string of Marsh Moseley '05 completions allowed David Bodner '05 to convert a 37-yard field goal attempt.
Middlebury threatened to erase Bodner's contribution with a 37-yard field goal attempt of their own early in the second quarter, but co-captain Pat Hayes '03 blocked the Panther kick to preserve the Jeffs' four point deficit. A few minutes later, the Jeffs took possession of the lead following a lightning-quick 3-play 76-yard drive, highlighted by a 50-yard touchdown reception by wide receiver J.P. Zito '03. The touchdown play began innocently enough, as Zito received the Moseley offering only 5 yards from the line of scrimmage. Two separate blocks by wide receiver Jason Wagstaff '05 combined with the nimble running of Zito produced the big play Amherst needed to take command of the football game.
The Lord Jeffs squandered their momentum however when their next offensive possession ended abruptly with a Moseley interception. The Panthers returned the pick all the way to the Jeff 10-yard line and seem poised to reclaim the lead. But Middlebury was forced to settle for a field goal, and the two teams ended the first half tied at 10 points apiece. The second half was marked by the gritty play of the "bend but don't break" Amherst defense which prevented the Panthers five times from scoring any points off of drives into Jeff territory. The opportunistic defense of Mills registered two interceptions and one fumble recovery to stall menacing Middlebury drives.
Indeed, it was one of senior free safety Jeremy Carroll's two interceptions on the afternoon that led to the lone score of the second half. Carroll intercepted Panther quarterback Mike Keenan's throw at the Amherst 11-year-line and alertly sprinted 54 yards downfield to the Panther 35-yard line.
Sensing their opportunity, the Jeffs wisely put the drive in the hands of their workhorse, tailback Ladd. Ladd carried the ball four times for 21 yards on the drive before finally reaching the end zone on what proved to be a game-winning 7-yard run late in the third quarter.
This marks the second consecutive year that a Ladd touchdown run has provided Amherst with its margin of victory over Middlebury.
The Panthers still had a whole a quarter of play to try and level the score, however, and the home team was unwilling to surrender without a valiant fight. Middlebury's first serious threat of the fourth quarter came with about five minutes to play. Lazzaro led his team 71 yards down field to the Jeff 13-yard line. But on third-and-four, defensive lineman Mike Harrison '04 pried the football away from Keenan, and the Jeffs promptly pounced on the loose football.
Middlebury made one last effort to tie up the score at the end of the game, marching all the way down to the Amherst 31-yard line, but a sack by Harrison and B.J. Gaddour '05 and a pair of Panther penalties forced the home team to confront a daunting fourth-and-27. The Panthers were unable to convert and Amherst regained possession of the football to finalize its 17-10 victory.
For Amherst, the star of the game was clearly NESCAC Defensive Player of the Week Carroll. "Jeremy Carroll had a phenomenal game," said Mills. "He obviously helped us with his two picks, but he was also really solid in run support." Carroll recorded nine tackles to accompany his two interceptions. While the defense allowed a 100-yard rusher for the second consecutive game, they were effective in keeping Middlebury from putting a lot of points on the board.
On offense, Ladd tallied 94 yards rushing on 29 carries, snapping his streak of five-straight games with at least 100 yards on the ground. But the Panther defense was stacking the line of scrimmage all day in an effort to force the Jeffs to abandon their running game. "We knew coming into the game that we would have to be very physical up front and throw the ball a little more," said Zito. "We moved the ball better than we have in the past against a defense that usually gives us trouble."
Moseley responded to the challenge with a characteristically solid performance, going 16-27 for 178 yards and a touchdown. He did contribute a pair of interceptions as well, including a particularly costly one, but these blemishes were overshadowed by the leadership he displayed in his second start of the season.
The aggressive nature of Middlebury's defense forced the Amherst offense to audible many of their plays at the line of scrimmage. "We probably put more pressure on Marsh [Saturday] than any time before, and he really responded well," said Mills. Indeed, Moseley's 50-yard scoring strike to Zito was called at the line of scrimmage. Zito, who is quietly emerging as the playmaker on offense, led all receivers with a career-high eight catches for 105 yards.
This week, Amherst returns to Pratt Field to play host to the 1-2 Colby College White Mules. Colby defeated Wesleyan University, 27-19, this past weekend.