Jamie Walker '07 rushed for 71 yards and a touchdown.

Terence Ryan '07 had eight tackles, including two sacks.

STATS: Middlebury 31, Bates 7

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. -- The Middlebury College football team ran its record to 4-1 on the season as they handed Bates (0-5) a 31-7 loss on Youngman Field at Alumni Stadium. The Panthers gained 324 yards of total offense on the day, while holding the Bobcats to 196.

Middlebury wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, as Tiger Lyon found Stefan Hrdina on a short completion, before the running back scampered down the field for a 59-yard scoring play. The touchdown came at 13:59 of the first quarter, on the Panthers' third play from scrimmage.

Bates answered with an 11-play, 53-yard drive at the end of the first quarter, ending with a touchdown at 12:32 of the second quarter. Senior running back Jamie Walker (Needham, Mass.) gained 31 yards on the drive, including a one-yard plunge into the end zone.

Middlebury regained the lead later in the quarter, as they took advantage of a fumble that was recovered by Erik Woodring. On the ensuing drive, Lyon hit Andrew Matson for 31 yards to put Middlebury at the Bates 23. Three plays later, Steve Hauschka booted a 41-yard field goal to give Middlebury a 10-7 lead at the half.

Middlebury's Matthew Morrissey intercepted a pass on Bates' first drive of the second half, leading to a Panther touchdown. David Randolph moved the ball up the field with a 19-yard rush, before catching a 19-yard touchdown pass from Lyon to cap the drive.

The Panthers added to their lead on the next drive, as a 17-yard completion to Hrdina set up a 19-yard scoring strike from Lyon to Christopher Schmidt to give Middlebury a 24-7 lead with 5:22 left in the third quarter.

Middlebury scored its final touchdown on a 12-play, 70-yard drive that ended with a one-yard run by Lyon at the 11:50 mark of the fourth quarter.

Junior quarterback Brandon Colon (Manchester, N.H.) went 13-for-31 for Bates, throwing for 127 yards with one interception. Walker rushed for 71 yards on 22 carries with a touchdown, while senior wide receiver Dylan MacNamara (San Francisco, Calif.) caught seven balls for 84 yards. Senior defensive end Terence Ryan (Milton, Mass.) led the defense with eight tackles, including four for lost yardage and two sacks.

Lyon ended the day 15 of 27 for 218 yards with three touchdowns and one interception, while Randolph rushed for 49 yards on the afternoon. Jamie Staples caught a team-high four passes for 27 yards, while Derek Polsinello made three catches for 30 yards. Scott Secor led the Middlebury defense with 10 tackles, while Woodring had nine. The Panther defense had nine plays for lost yardage, including Kevin Ryan's NESCAC-leading 10.5th sack of the season.

Bates will host Colby (1-4) next Saturday, Oct. 28, on Homecoming Weekend with a 1 p.m. kickoff.

-- Story courtesy of Middlebury Sports Information