MIDDLEBURY, Vt. -- The Bates football team kept things close Saturday until the fourth quarter as the host Middlebury College Panthers scored the final 10 points of the game to pull away for a 34-16 win over the Bobcats in NESCAC action. 

Turnovers hurt Bates (2-5) down the stretch, with two interceptions and a muffed punt in the fourth quarter sealing their fate. 

Trailing 24-10, the Bobcats inched closer late in the third quarter, going on a nine-play, 75-yard drive to pull to within one score. The drive started with a big 41-yard completion from senior quarterback Jack Perry (Newbury, Mass.) to sophomore Jeff Vidou (Cornish, N.H.) as the Bobcats quickly moved the ball into Middlebury territory. On third and 10 from the Middlebury 34, Vidou caught another pass, this one for nine yards down to the 25. On fourth down, first-year running back Michael Seward (New Haven, Conn.) picked up the yard he needed to move the chains, extending the drive. 

Perry rushed for eight yards on the next play and a personal foul on Middlebury moved the ball down to the Panther eight. On third and goal from the six, Perry found senior Matthew Holmes (Carpinteria, Calif.) in the middle of the end zone for the latter's second touchdown of the season, trimming the deficit to 24-16 with 2:08 left in the third quarter.

The Bates defense forced a punt on the ensuing Middlebury drive, giving the Bobcats a chance to drive down the field early in the fourth quarter and potentially tie the game. But on first and 10 from the Bates 35, Middlebury's James Woodward intercepted a Perry deep ball at the Panther 37. 

Bates stood tall on defense again, forcing another punt. But this time, the ball hit the Bobcat return man and the Panthers grabbed it, getting possession back deep in Bates territory at the 12-yard line. Once again, the defense did their part, holding Middlebury to a field goal as the Panthers went up by 11 at 27-16 with 6:21 remaining in regulation.

Unfortunately, another interception, this one by Middlebury's Charlie Grant, gave the ball right back to the home team. And this time, the Panthers turned it into a touchdown. Connor McClellan ran the ball in from six yards out to cap off an eight-play, 47-yard drive, icing the game.

Saturday's contest could not have started better for the Bobcats, as they received the opening kick and immediately marched 78 yards on 12 plays. On fourth and nine from the Middlebury 29, the Bobcats went for it and Perry found sophomore Quinn Carver (Boston) for 26 yards down to the three. Seward punched it in from there for his first collegiate touchdown and junior Marcos Ruiz (Haskell, N.J.) made the extra point to put Bates up 7-0 with 8:18 left in the opening quarter.

The Bates defense forced a three-and-out on Middlebury's opening drive and the ensuing punt only traveled 17 yards, giving the visitors great field position at the Panther 48. They got the ball down to the Middlebury 27 before a sack of Perry moved the ball back to the 34. They opted to punt from there and senior Parker Huynh-Benningfield (Austin, Texas) pinned the home team at their own four. 

But the Middlebury offense had the answer, going 96 yards on 12 plays, capped off by a Caleb Smith six-yard touchdown run with 12:30 left in the second quarter, knotting the game at seven.

Bates went three-and-out on offense and Middlebury (3-4) took the lead for good on their next drive, going 68 yards on 10 plays. McClellan punched it in from one yard out with 5:03 remaining until halftime and the Panthers went ahead 14-7.

A Ruiz 24-yard field goal with 2:42 left until the intermission cut the deficit to 14-10. But the Panthers opened the second half with a McClellan nine-yard touchdown run and a Tony Wang 33-yard field goal to go up 24-10 with 5:34 left in the third quarter.

McClellan carried the ball 31 times for 121 yards and three touchdowns for the Panthers. Smith added 11 carries for 55 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Brian Moran completed 20-30 passes for 222 yards. Perry completed 14-28 passes for 243 yards and a touchdown. But he threw three interceptions and also got sacked twice. Seward carried the ball 11 times for 29 yards and a touchdown. Vidou caught three passes for a game-high 115 yards. Jordan Angstreich paced Middlebury with four catches for 70 yards.

Junior captain Ryan Rozich (Cromwell, Conn.) and sophomore Carmel Crunk (Lancaster, Calif.) both tallied a career-high 19 tackles in the contest, with Crunk notching six solo stops and Rozich five. Rozich had one tackle for loss and Crunk had half a tackle for loss. Junior Ryan Kimmel (Jeannette, Pa.) and sophomore Ryan DeMayo (Concord, Mass.) both sacked the quarterback once for Bates.

Shane Johnson had seven tackles and a fumble recovery for the Panthers.

Middlebury tallied 391 yards of total offense to 291 for the Bobcats. Playing without their top two running backs, the Bobcats managed just 48 rushing yards on the day.

The Panthers held onto the ball for more than 36 minutes and converted 9-16 third-down opportunities. The Bobcats were 4-12 on third down.

Bates is back in action next Saturday when the Bobcats visit rival Bowdoin. Kick is set for 1 p.m.