AMHERST, Mass. — Host Amherst on Saturday dealt the Middlebury College football team its first loss of the season, 24-7. The Jeffs improved to 3-0 by holding the Panthers (2-1) to 270 yards, 21 yards on the ground.
The Panthers return to action next Saturday when they host Williams at 12:30 p.m.
Amherst took a 3-0 lead on its first possession on a 29-yard field goal.
Middlebury answered with a 76-yard drive on seven plays in just 1:58. Quarterback Matt Milano hit Diego Meritus out of the backfield for 13 yards before a 35-yard toss to tight end Trevor Miletich to the Amherst 25. Two plays later, Milano found Matthew Minno in the end zone for the 7-3 lead.
The Jeffs took a 10-7 lead with 33 seconds left in the half after a 10-play, 70-yard scoring drive. Quarterback Reece Foy (22 for 39 passing for 249 yards) connected with four receivers on the drive before Kenny Adinkra scored on a three-yard rush.
Amherst made it 17-7 early in the fourth quarter after the Panthers fumbled a punt on their own 3-yard line. Foy found Jackson McGonagle for a three-yard strike with 12:07 remaining.
Amherst made it 24-7 with a 30-yard touchdown run from Jack Hickey on its next possession.
Milano finished 26 for 46 passing for 249 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Minno (76 yards, TD), Conrado Banky (70 yards) and Meritus (35 yards) each caught five passes, while Miletich (49 yards) and Ryan Rizzo (10 yards) caught four apiece. Panther Gil Araujo had a team-high 11 tackles to go along with a forced fumble and two pass break-ups. Tim Patricia, Addison Pierce and Wesley Becton each had nine stops on the afternoon.