MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury College football team dropped its season finale on Saturday, falling to visiting Tufts (4-5) by a score of 34-27. The Panthers closed out their campaign with a 3-6 record after seeing a two-game winning streak snapped.

Tufts jumped on the scoreboard first, 6-0, with a 10-play, 82-yard drive finished off with a three-yard Mike Pedrini run.

In the second quarter, Tufts took advantage of an interception at its own 24. On the next play, Michael Berluti tossed a TD pass to Jackson Butler to make it 13-0.

PANTHER PUNTER COLE Crider stiff-arms a Tufts tackler during his 37-yard run on a second-quarter fake punt during Middlebury’s home football game on Saturday. Crider’s run came on a fourth-and-four play in Panther territory and helped set up the Panthers’ second touchdown, which tied the score at 13-13.
Independent photo/Steve James

On the ensuing possession, Panther QB Will Jernigan capped off an eight-play, 75-yard drive with a 13-yard scoring run to make it 13-7. With 7:19 left in the first half, Peter Scibilia punched for a score that knotted the game at 13-13. Punter Cole Crider’s 37-yard run on a fake punt helped set up that touchdown.

On their next possession another Jernigan run gave the Panthers their first lead at 20-13. The Jumbos responded with a 26-yard TD pass from Berluti to Billy Dunn, and it was 20-20 at the half.

Tufts scored on its first two possessions of the second half, Jumbo back Tyler Johnson ran for nine- and six-yard scores as Tufts established a 34-20 advantage.

The Panthers answered with 14:55 remaining in the fourth quarter by going 75 yards in 11 plays over 3:17 to score with a Jernigan pass to Donovan Wood from nine yards out. But the Panthers could not mount another serious threat.

Jernigan completed 13 of 34 passes for 149 yards, but tossed two interceptions. Jernigan also rushed for 132 yards on 20 attempts, topping 100 yards for the third straight game. Wood caught six passes for 84 yards. Jack Pistorius topped the Panthers with 11 tackles, while Nate Stewart posted 10 stops and a pass breakup.

Berluti went 18 for 31 passing for the Jumbos for 217 yards. Tyler Johnson carried the ball 19 times for 120 yards. Philip Lutz made seven catches for 70 yards. Defensively, Matty Drouillard recorded 12 tackles, while Brandyn Jones had five tackles, three pass breakups and an interception.