Don’t Cross the Line: Middlebury Football Preview 2018
2017 Record: 7-2
Projected Record: 6-3
Projected offensive starters (*8 returning)
QB – Jack Merservy ‘19
RB – Peter Scibilia ‘21*
WR – Conrado Banky ’19*
WR – Jimmy Martinez ’19*
WR – Maxim Bochman ’20
TE — Frankie Cosolito ’20*
RT – Kevin Woodring ’20*
LG – Jack Purcell ‘20
LT – Andrew Rogan ’19*
RG – Parker Ferguson ’19*
C – Connor Roche ’19*
Projected defensive starters (*7 returning)
CB –Matthew Daniel ‘19*
CB – Bobby Ritter ’19*
S – Jordan Delerme-Brown ’20*
S– Kevin Hartley ’20
LB – Michael Joncich ’19
LB – Clay Hunt ’19*
LB —Kevin Maxwell ’19*
DL – Alex Norton ’20
DL –Emo Schiappa ’22
DL – Marty Williams ’20*
DE — Ian Blow ’19*
Projected specialists (*2 returning)
PK – Carter Massengill ’20*
P – Maxwell Rye ’20*
KR/PR – Conrado Banky ’19/Jimmy Martinez ’19
Offensive MVP:
RT Kevin Woodring ‘20
The returning 1st-Team All-NESCAC right tackle is going to bring the heat against opposing D-lines all season long. ‘Woody’ gets left on an island and lines up alone against a D-End and is going to have an even more important role in the new season in protecting an unexperienced QB and RB combo. Jack Merservy is a sniper from the pocket but not the most mobile of passers, meaning he will need all the time his line can give him. Adding to the importance of this task is the retirement of RB Diego Meritus who was out for most of last year and a heap of inexperienced runners who need to make a name for themselves. This RB group includes Charlie Ferguson, Wyllis McKissick, and Peter Scibilia, and the offensive line is the most important layer of the Middlebury offense.
Defensive MVP:
LB Kevin Maxwell ’19
After losing both John Jackson and Wes Becton, the two strongest linebackers on the Middlebury defense from a season ago, both Kevin Maxwell and Clay Hunt will need to step up their game in 2018. After tallying 66 total tackles, these two, but especially the more productive Maxwell will need to try to match the numbers of the two all NESCAC defenders. The Middlebury secondary is always strong but in the big games against Amherst and Trinity who have stellar ground attacks, Maxwell will be put in a make or break position.
Biggest Game: Saturday Sepember 15th @ Wesleyan
After narrowly beating the Cardinals a season ago 30-27, Middlebury will be in a different position this season as the underdog headed into the matchup. The Cardinals have a stronger lineup on paper with the potential NESCAC POY in Mark Picirillo. Wesleyan is our pick to win the NESCAC and in order to prove that Midd is still a contender, they are going to need to show up in week one in Middletown.
Best Tweet:
Middlebury doesn’t bring a whole lot of electricity in their twitter game, but this picture of Coach Ritter in the blue and white really gets me going. I would go to war for this guy who’s been going to war for Midd since 1978.
https://twitter.com/MiddFootball/status/1031564197820342272
Everything Else:
Along with Kevin Woodring, C Connor Roche, LT Andrew Rogan, and RG Parker Ferguson will push back against other NESCAC foes with him and should be one of the steadiest units in the conference. The last guard position will be decided between veterans Chris Taylor, Ian Arthur, and Jack Purcell, all bringing some heat in their own right. In addition to this line, the receivers are the strongest part of the Panther squad. Conrado Banky, Jimmy Martinez, and Maxim Bochman are all primed to have impact seasons as one of the speediest and talented groups we have sen in recent years. Frankie Cosolito should add even more depth to this position as one of the top tight ends in the NESCAC, bringing a more physical presence than the other members of the receiving corps. Although the tailback position is a bit of a question mark after modest seasons from Charlie Ferguson ’21 and Peter Scibilia ’21 . The duo should offer a reasonable attack for a pass heavy offense.
DE Alex Norton, DE Ian Blow, and DT Marty Williams should anchor the D-line who allowed the sixth most rush yards at 152 yards per game on the ground, but led the conference in sacks at 31 last year. A first year player will replace Ibby Nasir who is out for the season with injury, a big blow in training camp to the defense. Bobby Ritter, Matthew Daniel, and Jordan Delerme-Brown will make up the secondary for the Panthers this year and will do their best to replace Kevin Hopsicker who was an All-NESCAC honoree last year. Delerme-Brown is the most athletic of the group and should take a step up from 2017 after posting a season with 11 tackles and nine assists. Both P Max Rye and K Carter Massengill return after executing some clutch field goals last season. Banky and Martinez should return kicks for the Panthers and represent a real threat on special teams as two of the most speedy athletes in the conference. While Midd doesn’t have quite the impressive signal caller in Jared Lebowitz as it did last season, Merservy should compete well enough to give them a shot. They should stay in the upper tier of the NESCAC but will be in some tight games against the traditional league powerhouses and will need to show that their linebackers and run game can balance out the stronger parts of their game.