Williams travels to Middlebury on Saturday, Oct. 17 to take on the Panthers at 2 p.m. at Youngman Field.
Middlebury is 2-2. The Panthers opened with a 35-13 home loss to Wesleyan, then shut out Bowdoin 16-0 and routed Colby 32-2. Last week they fell 23-22 at Amherst when a potential game-winning field goal was blocked in the final seconds. Through four games, Middlebury averages 318 yards (203 passing, 115 rushing) and 21 points. The Panthers allow 316 yards and just 15 points per game.
QB Aidan Moss (#15, Sr.) averages 203 passing yards per game. His favorite target is WR Jordan Angstreich (#8, So.), who has two 100-yard receiving games. WR Luis Kuehberger (#17, So.) and WR Julian Schneider (#6, Jr.) can also make big plays. The engine of the offense is RB Connor McClellan (#2, Jr.), who has scored seven rushing touchdowns in the last two games alone and now ranks second in program history in career rushing touchdowns.
The defense is led by LB Matt Shaw (#44, Sr.), who averages more than 11 tackles per game, and LB Carson Eutsay (#9, So.), whose two interceptions against Bowdoin included a 70-yard pick-six. DL Calvin Szoradi (#54, Jr.) has supplied the pass rush.
Both the Panthers and the Ephs have beaten Bowdoin and Colby. Williams won those games 17-7 and 19-7, and Middlebury won 16-0 and 32-2. Against Colby, Middlebury gained 361 yards and held the Mules to 165. Williams gained 283 and allowed about 225.
INSIGHTS: Middlebury’s defense is the real thing. It allows just 87 rushing yards per game and has forced seven turnovers in the last two games. The Panthers can be beaten through the air, though: they gave up 269 passing yards to Wesleyan and 315 to Amherst. Inside the 20, expect Middlebury to feed McClellan.
For Williams, the run game faces tough sledding, so the passing game must deliver against a secondary that has given up big numbers to good passing teams. Ball security is a must against a defense that thrives on takeaways.
Williams leads the all-time series 69-27-1. Last year the Ephs won 24-17 in Williamstown, which snapped a three-game Middlebury winning streak.