MIDDLEBURY, Vermont – The Wesleyan football team fell to Middlebury 24-10 Saturday afternoon at Alumni Stadium in Middlebury, Vermont. The Cardinals drop to 1-1 on the young season, now alternating wins and loses with the Panthers over the last five meetings. The Panthers have now taken the last three home games against Wesleyan, improving to an overall record of 2-0 in 2022.

Despite the two-touchdown difference, the Cardinals offense outgained the Panthers 403 to 346 in total yards. The Cardinals leaned on Ashton Scott '22 throwing the ball, as he registered 41 total pass attempts in Saturday's contest, the most he has thrown in his four plus seasons with the Cards. Scott threw for 253 yards on 19-41 passing, throwing two interceptions. He was also the team's leading rusher, contributing 10 rushes for 25 yards. David Estevez '22 also took snaps under center, going 8-14 for 73 yards and an interception while rushing for 10 yards as well.

The Wesleyan quarterbacks combined to throw the ball 55 times at Alumni Stadium, however it was wideout Logan Tomlinson '23 who recorded the only touchdown throw of the afternoon for the Cardinals. Midway through the 2^nd quarter with the Panthers in control 14-0, Wesleyan began to find some success driving down the field, getting to the Middlebury 46-yard line. From there Tomlinson took over. First, he made a crucial 24-yard catch over the deep middle of the field on 3^rd and 11 to keep the chains moving. Then, the next play the Cardinals went to some trickery with Scott throwing a backwards pass to Tomlinson who let one go into the endzone to find an open Ezra Jenifer '23 to get the Cardinals on the board.

The receiving core was one of the bright spots for the Cardinals all day. Tomlinson was special, reeling in nine catches for 146 yards. The Manchester native had his second-highest receiving-yards day of his career, going over 100 yards receiving for the 3^rd time in a Cardinals jersey. TE Ezra Jenifer only caught one ball on the day, but it was an important one as he scored his 2^nd touchdown of 2022. Jenifer has caught one pass in each of the first two games, both resulting in touchdowns. The most recent catch was a 22-yarder delivered by fellow wide receiver Logan Tomlinson. Matt Simco '22 was also in on the action, setting career highs in receptions with four and receiving yards with 66 including a 34-yard catch midway through the 3^rd quarter.

On defense, it was DL Nick Helbig '23 making big plays again for the Cardinals again. Helbig recorded his 3^rd forced fumble in two games giving the Cardinals an extra possession late in the 3^rd quarter. He was also able to get into the Middlebury backfield, sacking the Panther's QB two times. The defensive lineman now has five sacks in two games. Helbig topped off his impressive day with his first pass breakup of the season.

There were many other contributors on defense for the Cardinals as well Saturday. Cornerback, Danny Banks '23 (2 tackles, 1 pass breakup) and LB Kade Doverspike '24 (3 tackles) both recorded an interception for the Cards. While LB Ben Carbeau '25 (1 TFL, 1 pass breakup) and LB Jake Edwards '24 (1 QBH) led the team in tackles with 13 and 12 respectfully.

It wasn't the start of the game that the Cardinals wanted, as Estevez dropped back and looked deep down the field but was picked off at midfield to give the Panthers good opening drive field position. The Cardinals' defense was able to hold however, forcing a Panthers punt. The next drive looked promising for Wesleyan, driving down deep into Middlebury territory before being stopped at the 12-yard line. The Daniel Yoon '24 29-yard field goal was blocked through the end zone for a touchback and the Cards were unable to cap off a good early drive.

The teams traded two punts each to end the 1^st, moving into the 2^nd quarter locked at zero. Middlebury broke through on their first drive of the quarter however, putting together a 9-play 54-yard drive that was capped off by a 5-yard touchdown connection from QB Ben Tauber to WR Donovan Wood to get the Panthers on the board, 7-0.

After another Wesleyan punt, Middlebury drove right down the field again. They did it again through the air, driving 52 yards in just over two minutes to give themselves a two-touchdown advantage. The big play of the drive was the touchdown pass, a 31-yard Tauber throw across the middle that found the hands of Anson Clough, 14-0 Middlebury.

Wesleyan came right back with their best drive of the day, a 92-yard march that took over five and a half minutes leading to a Cardinals score. A solid mix of running and passing found the Cardinals on the Panthers side of the 50 a few plays into the drive, where they turned to their best receiver in Tomlinson to make some plays. First, Tomlinson flashed his hands with a 24-yard catch across the middle of the field on 3^rd down to set up a golden opportunity for the Cardinals from just outside the redzone. Then, the next play Scott dropped back and quickly snapped a backwards pass to Tomlinson who then threw a 22-yard pass to Jenifer streaking into the endzone for the Cardinals first score of the game. The Cardinals would go into the half down 14-7.

The Wesleyan defense forced two turnovers and a punt in the 3^rd quarter giving their offense multiple chances to cut into the Panthers lead. The offense was able to put together a good opening drive to the 2^nd half, moving the ball 80 yards to the Middlebury 12-yard line before Middlebury stuffed them on a 4^th-and-5 attempt that forced a turnover. A Nick Helbig forced fumble once again gave the Cardinals prime field position, however they went 4-and-out, leading to a Daniel Yoon 41-yard field goal attempt which he put through, 14-10 Middlebury.

It was a story of missed opportunities for the Cardinals all night, as a Kade Doverspike interception once again gave Wesleyan a starting drive in Panther's territory. They would stall out at the 8-yard line, settling for a Yoon field goal attempt which sailed outside the uprights. Middlebury's defense held in the 4^th quarter, forcing two turnovers on downs and one interception while adding an insurance touchdown to secure the 24-10 victory.

Wesleyan's next test will be next Saturday October 1^st, where they will travel to face the Hamilton Continentals who have started the season 1-1, coming off a home win against Amherst 24-10. A game with big implications in the NESCAC standing with both teams starting out the year .500.