AMHERST, Mass. --  Middlebury scored 17 second-half points Saturday on Pratt Field at Lehrman Stadium, spoiling the 2022 season opener for the Amherst College Mammoths, 17-6. 

Amherst (0-1) takes to the road on Saturday, September 24th for a 1 p.m. kick-off at Hamilton College (0-1). 

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

* Amherst had an impressive first drive of the season, driving from its own 23 to the Middlebury 10-yard line as quarterback Mike Piazza connected on 4 of 5 attempts for 43 yards, but an interception by Panther Colby Burke at the 6-yard line ended the red-zone opportunity. 

* Much of the first-half each team was kept at bay by the punters, Mike Mitchell for Amherst and Cole Crider for Middlebury. A second Panther interception set up a 35-yard field goal try that was missed, and the Panthers' attempted a 51-yard on the final play of the first half that also went awry. 

* Middlebury came out of the halftime locker room throwing as quarterback Ben Tauber constructed an 83-yard scoring drive, going 4 for 4 for 73 yards. He connected with Donovan Wood on back-to-back 27-yard receptions, the second one resulting in a touchdown and a 7-0 lead. Tauber finished 21 of 33 for 290 yards in the air. 

* Amherst couldn't get much going offensively in the third, and the Panthers took over late in the quarter at their own 44, driving 56 yards for a second score, this one coming on a 3-yard run from Alex Maldjian. That TD run gave Middlebury a 14-0 lead with 3:54 left in the third. 

* The Amherst offensive highlight came late in the third. Tim Swope forced a fumble deep in Amherst territory and Anthony Leneghan pounced on the loose pigskin, giving Amherst the ball at its own 20. Piazza ran for five yards on first down, and then on second down connected with junior wideout Carson Ochsenhirt for a 75-yard TD strike down the left sideline. Middlebury blocked the point after, but the Mammoths were on the board and trailed only 14-6 with 1:16 left in the third. 

BY THE NUMBERS:

* The Panthers defense held Amherst to 35 yards rushing and 242 yards of total offense while compiling 348 yards themselves. 

* Ochsenhirt notched 7 receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown in the loss for Amherst. Piazza led the team in rushing (16 yards) and passing (207 yards).

* Andy Shirzenski led the Mammoths with 10 tackles, nine solo. Swope had nine tackles and Ryan Monteleone eight (seven solo). Will Harmon had an interception for the Mammoths.