MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – It was a back-and-forth battle all afternoon long between two of the premier NESCAC programs that came down to the final minute until a Mike Rowan '25 strip sack sealed a 24-21 win for the Wesleyan football team in its home opener. The Cardinals (2-0) are one of three lone remaining unbeaten teams in the NESCAC, joining Trinity and Bowdoin, while Middlebury falls back to 1-1.
The game-defining play came with 1:15 remaining as Middlebury had a 2nd-and-1 play from their own 26-yard-line, trying to march down the field to send the game into overtime. As the Panther QB Cole Kennon stepped up in the pocket, he did not sense Rowan's pressure behind him as the All-NESCAC defensive lineman stripped the ball away where it was recovered by DL Corin Canada-Hunt '26, unleashing a ruckus of cheers from the home fans.
That was one of four takeaways for the Cardinal defense on the day as Wesleyan intercepted Kennon three times including a pick-six from DB Wesley Abraham '25 in the second quarter. DB Jack Nally '24 had the other two interceptions, good enough for the second multi-INT game of his career, with the first also coming against Middlebury at Corwin Stadium back in 2021.
Big plays also benefitted the offense as WR Liam Kennedy '25 caught a deep 66-yard bomb from QB Niko Candido '25 on what was a 3rd-and-9 play on the Cardinals' first drive of the game that made it 7-0 Wesleyan early. Then early in the fourth quarter, Candido unleashed a deep throw to the back of the end zone on a 3rd-and-24 play, finding WR Thomas Elkhoury '24 open to make it 24-14 Cardinals with 14:45 remaining.
The reigning NESCAC Offensive Player of the Week Candido finished the game with 262 yards, 2 TD and 2 INT but the all-important stat was the junior signal caller was sacked just once one week removed from Middlebury setting a single-game team record with nine sacks in a week 1 win over Amherst. Candido also rushed for a career-high 73 yards on eight carries, averaging 9.1 yards per carry.
Three Cardinal receivers went for 70+ receiving yards including Kennedy who tallied three catches for a career-high 93 yards and 1 TD. WR Chase Wilson '25 finished with six catches for 77 yards. Elkhoury went for seven catches for 71 yards and 1 TD.
On the defensive end, LB Jake Edwards '24 led the team with 11 tackles (seven solo) as this marked his third career double-digit tackle performance. Incredibly, all three 10+ tackle performances for Edwards have come in games against Middlebury. LB Ben Carbeau '25 supplied 10 tackles (four solo), finishing just one shy of his career-high. Abraham had a big day, recording his first career interception while breaking up two passes. The Cardinal defense swallowed up the Panther ground game, holding Middlebury to 93 yards on 34 carries (2.7 average) while the Panthers didn't record a single carry that went for double-digit yardage for the game.
After the Kennedy TD, Middlebury's first offensive series started on the Wesleyan 29-yard line after a 66-yard kickoff return by Rocco Stola. Eight plays later, however, Wesleyan's defense shut the door, holding Middlebury to no points on the series as a 4th-and-2 play from the Wesleyan 7-yard line only went for one yard.
Middlebury got on the board with just over five minutes left in the first, with Donovan Wood catching passes for 33 and 32 yards in the drive before Ollie Orvis eventually punched in a TD from 2 yards out.
Candido was forced into his first interception of the season early in the second quarter with the score even at 7-7. But on the very next play, Kennon was intercepted by Abraham who took the ball in the house for a pick-six, restoring a lead at 14-7 Cardinals.
A deflected pass attempt at the line of scrimmage allowed for an easy pick for Nally who set the Cardinal offense just shy of midfield. After three completions to Elkhoury for gains of 14, 5, and 5 yards, Wesleyan's drive stalled at the Middlebury 2-yard line. With 4th-and-goal from the 2, Wesleyan chose to kick as Daniel Yoon '24 hit from 18 yards out to give Wesleyan a 17-7 lead.
Right before half, Middlebury had a chance to get some positive momentum going, but as their drive entered the red zone, Kennon was intercepted for the third time of the half as Nally picked him off again, keeping Wesleyan out in front 17-7 at halftime.
With just a few minutes expired in the third quarter, Middlebury took over at its own 35-yard line, marching down the field for an eight-minute scoring drive. The ball was kept on the ground until Orvis barreled in from three yards out to cut into the Wesleyan lead at 17-14.
As play entered the fourth quarter, Candido tossed a bomb into the back right corner of the end zone where Elkhoury hauled in the 33-yard TD catch on a 3rd-and-24 play.
The teams traded quick possessions before Middlebury answered. Kennon started with a 33-yard pitch and catch to Wood before Patrick Jamin caught a slant and ran in for the score, making it 24-21 with just under 10 minutes left.
Wesleyan held the ball for 4+ minutes, handing Middlebury the ball back on their own 6-yard line with just 2:22 left. Three plays into that drive, Kennon was strip sacked by Rowan with Canada-Hunt falling on the recovery and securing Wesleyan another victory.
Next up for the Cardinals is a home game against Hamilton next Saturday for a 1 PM kickoff. The Cardinals beat the Continentals 49-14 on the road last season and have beaten Hamilton three straight years and nine in the last 10.
Defense Sparks Wesleyan’s 24-21 Home Win over Middlebury
/seasons/2023/boxscores/20230923_23wl.xml
2023
Middlebury
21
Wesleyan
24
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middlebury (1-1) | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| Wesleyan (2-0) | 7 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
Sep 23, 2023