Todd Wilcox '08 went high on this goal-line play, but Middlebury RB David Randolph (center left, partially hidden) went low for Middlebury's second touchdown. (H. Jay Burns photos)

LEWISTON, Maine -- A pair of 1-yard touchdown runs in the second quarter was all Middlebury College needed to defeat host Bates College 13-0 in a NESCAC football game Saturday at Garcelon Field.

The Panthers (4-1) took a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter, completing a 10-play, 82-yard drive with a 1-yard plunge by Gary Cooper (7 rushes, 27 yards). Two Bates possessions later, Brian Young picked off a Brandon Colon pass at midfield and returned it 48 yards to the Bates 7-yard line, setting up another 1-yard score by David Randolph, who led the Panthers with 88 yards on 20 carries on the day.

Middlebury's defense did the rest, holding the Bobcats (0-5) to 189 total yards of offense to the Panthers' 378 while winning its 19th straight meeting against its conference rival. Colon was held to seven completions out of 26 pass attempts for 82 yards with two interceptions, although the senior from Manchester, N.H., set the Bates all-time record for passing yards in the game, surpassing Dan Hooley '97's previous record of 4,488. Colon now has 4,512.

Shawki White '09 rushed for 93 yards on 18 carries, a season high for a Bobcat back.

Bates junior running back Shawki White (Danville, Ill.) was one bright spot for the Bobcats, rushing 18 times for 93 yards, a season-high for Bates running backs. The Bobcats gained 107 yards on 33 carries as a team.

Bates made it inside the Middlebury 20 one time, reaching the 13 with a 5-yard White run on 3rd and 7 immediately after Middlebury had gone ahead 13-0. The Bobcats then lined up for an Andrew Johnson (Naples, Fla.) 30-yard field goal attempt, but it was a fake: Colon, the holder, took the snap, stood up and lobbed a pass over the Middlebury defense but beyond the grasp of eligible receiver Jared Jammal (Arlington, Mass.).

Sophomore QB Donald McKillop was 19-for-31 passing for 227 yards for Middlebury, including 5 receptions each for James Millard (80 yards) and Charles Holm (59).

Ryan Mullin '09 (36) and Bill Jennings '10 (20) wrap up Middlebury punt returner James Millard.

In spite of the low final score, the game did provide some highlight plays from the host Bobcats. Sophomore Bill Jennings (Marshfield, Mass.), made an outstanding interception in the second quarter, leaping up and outwrestling Panthers wideout James Millard on a deep ball by McKillop along the sideline at midfield.

Junior Coleman Peeke (Exeter, N.H.) blocked Jack Britton's extra-point attempt after Middlebury scored its second TD. Senior Graham Raymond (Westfield, Mass.) stripped receiver Andrew Matson of the ball at the Bates 1-yard line (and Jennings recovered the fumble) on the penultimate play of the first half, preventing Middlebury from going into the break with a three-touchdown lead. Raymond and senior captain Todd Wilcox (Brentwood, N.H.) led the Bobcats with eight solo tackles apiece.

First-year punter Gavin Segall-Abrams (Greensboro, N.C.) had a very impressive game for the Bobcats, hanging five of his nine punts inside the Middlebury 20 while averaging 35.6 yards per punt, including a long of 48.

BOX SCORE: Middlebury 13, Bates 0