AMHERST, MA - Sophomore wide receiver Michael Murray (Larchmont, NY) recovered his own blocked punt for a touchdown in the first half and caught a game-winning scoring strike from junior quarterback Mike Keenan (Rutland, VT) with 1:12 left in regulation to lead visiting Middlebury College (1-2/1-2 NESCAC) to its first win of the season - a 17-14 come-from-behind victory at previously undefeated Amherst College (2-1/2-1 NESCAC) - in NESCAC football action on Saturday.
Amherst entered the game with shutout wins over Bates and Bowdoin Colleges under its belt, but missed field goal attempts of 45, 27 and 26 yards and coughed up a pair of turnovers on interceptions by Middlebury rookie strong safety Scott Secor (Lake Odessa, MI) and senior cornerback Craig Pittman (Atlanta, GA). Middlebury also held the Jeffs to a season-low 115 rushing yards on 39 carries.
After a scoreless opening period, Amherst took advantage of favorable field position and drove 48 yards for the game's opening score - a two-yard touchdown dash by sophomore tailback Ngai Otieno (Gloucester, MA) - for an early 7-0 lead. Junior Matt Monteith (Madison, CT) keyed the drive with a juggling 18-yard reception from Amherst quarterback Marsh Moseley (New Orleans, LA).
The Jeffs forced Middlebury to punt on the ensuing possession and advanced the ball to the Middlebury 28, thanks to a 24-yard pass play from Moseley to junior wideout Jay Wagstaff (Tewksbury, MA), but missed the first of three errant field goal attempts, this time from 45 yards out.
Yet another Middlebury four-and-out and a 50-yard punt return by Wagstaff produced another key second-quarter scoring opportunity, but the Jeffs missed yet again on a 27-yard field goal try. Two possessions later, Murray victimized Amherst with a blocked punt and rumbled 36 yards to pay-dirt for a 7-7 stalemate at the half.
Middlebury came out firing after the break and took a 10-7 lead on its opening drive as Keenan found senior wide receiver Tom Cleaver (Severna Park, MD) twice for a combined 46 yards, setting up a 27-yard field goal by junior place-kicker Andrew Bohlin (Waterville Valley, NH). Amherst tried to answer immediately, driving all the way to the Middlebury nine-yard line on a 32-yard kick return by Wagstaff and a pair of long gains by senior tailback Fletcher Ladd (Amherst, NH), but a third field goal attempt sailed wide left.
Amherst reclaimed the lead just before the end of the third quarter on a one-year touchdown plunge by Otieno. Wagstaff was once again huge during the drive with a 14-yard punt return and a 17-yard completion from Moseley.
The score remained 14-10 until late in the fourth quarter when Middlebury won the game with a meticulous 13-play, 86-yard march that gobbled nearly five minutes off the clock. Keenan was locked in during the stretch, completing six of seven passes for 61 yards, including a game-sealing five-yard strike to Murray.
The Jeffs had a chance for retribution with 1:08 remaining, but Pittman intercepted a Mosely pass at the Amherst 46. Keenan was content to run out the remaining 1:01, handing off to junior Eric Shanley (Plymouth, MA) and then kneeling the last few ticks off the clock.
Secor was dominant on defense with a game-high 17 tackles, including two for loss, an interception and a pair of pass deflections. Pittman added 11 tackles, an interception and a pair of pass breakups. Keenan paced Middlebury's offense with 18 completions for 197 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions. Sophomore Ryan Armstrong (Whitman, MA) was the main beneficiary with six catches for 39 yards, while Cleaver pitched in with five catches for 95 yards. Shanley led the ground attack with 25 carries for 81 yards.
For Amherst, Wagstaff led the offense with seven catches for 66 yards. He also returned five punts for 77 yards and two kickoffs for 52 yards. Mosley finished 18-for-33 passing for 141 yards and two interceptions. Ladd rushed for 72 yards on 17 carries. Junior linebacker Dave Borgonzi (Everett, MA) paced the defense with 15 tackles and three pass breakups.
BOX SCORE/PLAY-BY-PLAY
