For Release: October 29, 2011

MIDDLEBURY FALLS TO TRINITY

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – Trinity scored 35 first half points on its way to a 42-7 win over Middlebury to spoil the Panthers' homecoming weekend. The Bantams (6-0) rushed for 197 yards and returned two interceptions for touchdowns on their way to victory. The Panthers (2-4) were playing without the nation's leading passer McCallum Foote, who was sitting out with an injury.

            Middlebury drove to the Trinity 38 on the game's opening possession, before Stephen Goniprow picked off a pass and ran 71 yards for a touchdown.

            A 32-yard kick-off return by Matt Rea gave Middlebury the ball at the Trinity 48 on its ensuing possession. Quarterback Andy Dittrich hit Zach Driscoll and Nick Resor for 11 yards apiece, before Remi Ashkar scored from one yard out to tie the game at 7-7.

            The following drive saw Trinity go three and out before Dittrich was picked off by Rae Haynes, who ran 29-yards for a touchdown to give the Bantams a 14-7 lead at the 6:57 mark of the second quarter.

The Bantams came up with another big play in the second quarter, as a Middlebury defensive back fell down, allowing Ryan Burgess to find A.J. Jones for a 67-yard touchdown pass.

Following a Panther punt, the Bantams used 17 yards on the ground from Evan Bunker before Hedley Jennings found Jones for a 34-yard scoring strike to make it a 28-7 game with 3:25 remaining in the half.

After a punt from Middlebury deep in its own territory, Trinity drove 49 yards on eight plays, take a 35-7 lead into the break when Burgess connected with Jones from 15 yards out.

Middlebury's Michael Bilodeau recovered a fumble on the opening kick-off of the second half, but the Panthers could not take advantage, driving to the Trinity 20 before turning the ball over on downs.

Early in the fourth quarter, a Panther fumble on a punt was recovered by Mark Snyder at the Middlebury 21. The Bantams scored the only points on the second half on the next play, as Andrew Grombala scored on a double reverse from 21 yards out.

Dittrich went 18 of 41 for 144 yards with two interceptions in his first career start. Ashkar finished with 38 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, while Driscoll (46 yds.) and Resor (39 yds.) each caught five passes. Zachary Faber and Michael Bilodeau each had 10 tackles, while Daniel Kenerson added nine.

Danta Astheimer earned 64 yards to lead the Trinity ground game, followed by Bunker with 55. Burgess completed 5 of 16 passes for 117 yards with a touchdown, hitting Jones five times for 135 yards. Mark Snyder finished with 10 tackles and a fumble recovery, while Walter Fallas added eight stops.

Box Score: http://cat.middlebury.edu/~sports/fall_sports/football/archive/2011-12/TRINITY.HTM