BRUNSWICK, Maine — The Middlebury College football team on Saturday bolted to a 27-0 first-half lead on the way to a 41-14 victory over host Bowdoin. The Panthers improved to 2-0 and will host Colby at 1 p.m. this Saturday.
Middlebury took a 7-0 lead on a four-yard touchdown run by Matt Cardew with 3:28 remaining in the first quarter. Quarterback Jared Lebowitz set up the score with a 24-yard scamper.
Lebowitz next connected with Maxwell Rye for an eight-yard scoring strike at 13:43 of the second quarter; it was the first touchdown catch of Rye’s career. On its next possession, Middlebury went up 21-0 when Lebowitz found Maxim Bochman for a 13-yard touchdown. Lebowitz hooked up with tight end Frank Cosolito twice for a total of 31 yards on the drive.
The Panthers increased their lead to 27-0 when Lebowitz found Conrado Banky for his third touchdown pass of the first half, this one a 48-yard strike.
The Panthers made it 34-0 on their second possession of the third quarter, as Lebowitz hit Jimmy Connell for his first career reception, a 25-yard touchdown pass.
The lead grew to 41-0 at 2:27 mark of the third quarter, when Charlie Ferguson scored his first career touchdown with a five-yard run.
Bowdoin scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to create the 41-14 final.
Middlebury racked up 528 yards of total offense, including 192 on the ground.
Lebowitz connected on 20 of 26 passes to 11 receivers for 316 yards, adding 54 yards on the ground to his four touchdown passes and 54 yards rushing. Cardew finished with 74 yards on the ground, while Ferguson gained 44 yards on seven carries. Banky caught five passes for 101 yards. Aaron Slodowitz led the defense with seven tackles, while Kevin Hopsicker had six solo stops.
Burr & Burton Academy Griff Stalcup went 12 for 21 for Bowdoin, throwing for 105 yards and rushing for 54 and a score. Nate Richman paced the Polar Bear rushers with 67 yards on 14 carries with a touchdown.