Box Score MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – The Trinity College Football team allowed 10 points in the fourth quarter as host Middlebury College defeated the Bantams, 24-21, in a New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) battle at Youngman Field Saturday afternoon. Both squads move to 5-1 on the season and 5-1 in the NESCAC. Middlebury is the first team to post wins over Trinity in back-to-back seasons since Williams in 2019 & 2021.
 
Trailing 21-17 with 29 seconds to play, Middlebury junior Brian Moran connected with classmate Mike Ahonen on a fade to the back corner of the endzone to cap a game-winning 11-play, 71-yard drive over the final two minutes to send the Panthers to the 24-21 win over Trinity.
 
The Bantams generated 351 yards on offense with 130 yards rushing and 221 yards passing. Trinity graduate Zander Zebrowski completed 19-of-37 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns, and added 52 yards rushing with a score. Junior Tyler DiNapoli rushed for 93 yards, while junior Nolan O'Brien and graduate Max Roche each pulled in a receiving touchdown. O'Brien logged a team-high seven receptions for a team-high 92 yards, while senior Sean Clapp tallied 46 yards on five catches. Defensively, sophomore Ethan Krauss racked up a career-high 13 tackles and sophomore Bryce Ferrell recorded his first career interception. Sophomore Jordan Atkinson piled up a career-high eight tackles with two sacks.
 
Middlebury registered 426 yards on offense, including 313 yards passing. Moran completed 21-of-41 passes with three touchdowns along with six carries for 25 yards. Jeremy Kiefer recorded a game-high 104 yards on four receptions while Ahonen hauled in a pair of touchdowns. Dave Filias. Matt Shaw and Charlie Ozolin each recorded six tackles for the Panthers.
 
A stout Middlebury defense held the Bantams to just seven yards on their opening two possessions of the game. Following a Trinity punt, the Panthers cracked the scoreboard with a 4-play, 61-yard drive, capped by a 32-yard touchdown pass from Brian Moran to Liam High, to hand Middlebury a 7-0 lead with 7:05 remaining in the first quarter.
 
The Bantams responded on their ensuing possession Zebrowski completed three straight passes to move Trinity to midfield. Zebrowski hit O'Brien across the middle of the field and O'Brien raced to the endzone on a 47-yard score to even the game at 7-7.
 
After the Bantams defense forced a three-and-out by Middlebury, Trinity orchestrated an eight-play, 51-yard drive to take control of the scoreboard. Zebrowski rushed for 14 yards and threw for another 29 yards to move the Bantams near the Panthers goal line. On first down, Zebrowski called his number and rushed up the middle for a 3-yard touchdown run, putting Trinity ahead 14-7.
 
Midway through the second quarter, Middlebury forced a Trinity three-and-out and took control on their own 37-yard line. The Panthers offense used a nine-play, 61-yard drive over the next four minutes and Moran found Mike Ahonen on a 9-yard strike to even the score at 14-14.
 
Trinity rebuilt a touchdown advantage prior to halftime, executing an eight-play, 75-yard drive over the next three minutes. Junior Tyler DiNapoli sandwiched runs of 21 yards and 13 yards around a 15-yard penalty from Middlebury to escort the Bantams to the Panthers four-yard line. On third-and-three, Zebrowski spotted Roche in the endzone to hand Trinity the 21-14 lead heading into halftime.