COLLEGE
FOOTBALL FINAL SCORE
Amherst 13, Tufts 3
At Somerville, MA
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Game
Statistics
|
Junior Matt Murray made several big plays on
defense for the Jumbos
|
SOMERVILLE -- The Amherst College Lord Jeffs improved to 6-0 on
Saturday by grinding out a 13-3 NESCAC win over the Tufts
University Jumbos at Ellis Oval/Zimman Field. Sophomore Matt Rawson
(Bethesda, MD) kicked two field goals for the Lord Jeffs and senior
receiver Brandon Bullock (West Orange, NJ) caught a six-yard
touchdown pass with 8:53 remaining in the game as Amherst emerged
in what was a strong defensive effort for both sides.
The Jumbo defense set the tone on the first play of the game,
forcing a fumble which junior linebacker Matt Murray
(Winthrop, MA) recovered at the Amherst 32-yard line.
Amherst's defense responded by stopping Tufts' drive and then
blocking a 32-yard field goal attempt by Adam
Auerbach (Glen Rock, NJ), as Tufts was unable to
capitalize on the turnover.
The Jumbos did put the first points on the board, however, on
their next drive. After the Tufts defense forced a three-and-out,
the offense took over near midfield. An 11-yard pass from senior
quarterback Tom McManama
(Wakefield, MA) to junior Pat Bailey
(Beverly, MA) got the drive going. Bailey also converted a
third-down with a three-yard run. Auerbach later connected from 44
yards as Tufts took a 3-0 lead with 4;03 remaining in the first
quarter. The kick was a career long for Auerbach.
The visiting Lord Jeffs would tie the score early in the second
quarter. After getting the ball at their own 45 following a punt,
sophomore quarterback Brian McMahon (Basking Ridge, NJ) entered the
game and engineered the drive effectively. He ran for 10 yards and
then completed passes of 17 yards to sophomore Andrew Reed
(Riverside, CT) and 20 yards to sophomore Eric Bunker (Topsfield,
MA). The Lord Jeffs had a first and goal on the eight as the second
quarter started, but the Jumbo defense held and Rawson kicked a
27-yard field goal with 13:44 on the clock.
Both defenses continued to control the game. Three times in the
second quarter, Amherst took possession in Tufts territory and did
not score. The Jumbos twice made fourth-down stops, with Murray
making both plays on a tackle and a pass break-up.
Late in the second quarter, Tufts had the longest possession of
the game in terms of plays with 11. McManama would throw for 82
yards on the afternoon, but the Jumbos' biggest pass play came from
another source during this drive. Tim Puopolo
(Wenham, MA) took a lateral pass from his QB to the right
side of the field. The senior wide receiver then turned and threw
the ball back to McManama, who scampered down the field for a gain
of 26 yards into Amherst territory. Tufts drove down to the Amherst
14-yard line, and seemed poised to take the lead heading into the
break. However, the Jumbos were backed up by two penalties and a
sack by Lord Jeff junior Jeff Katz (Cheshire, CT), forcing them
into a second and 43 situation. It was one of eight sacks recorded
by the Amherst defense, which had McManama on his heels all
afternoon. The home team was forced out of field goal range and the
teams went into the half knotted at 3-3.
Both teams played stalwart defense in the second half, but Tufts
was unable to move the ball offensively after several key defensive
stands. The Jumbos had particular offensive difficulty in their
ground attack, finishing the day at -15 rushing yards, thanks in no
small part to Amherst senior linebacker Mike Taylor (Evanston, IL).
Taylor had a stellar game for the Lord Jeffs, pitching in eight
individual tackles and assisting on eight more while contributing
two sacks. He also forced two fumbles, recovering one of them in
the Jumbos' end during the third quarter.
Despite an interception by Tufts senior cornerback Andrew
Elfman (Wellesley, MA) to stop the Amherst drive after
Taylor's fumble recovery, Tufts was forced to punt from its own
12-yard line. The Lord Jeffs took the ball near midfield and
McMahon passed 29 yards to Reed on a third-down play. That led to
Rawson's second field goal of the game, again from 27 yards, and a
6-3 Amherst lead early in the fourth quarter.
After forcing another Tufts punt from deep in their own
territory, Amherst got the ball at the Jumbo 34 still early in the
fourth. The Jumbo defense showed impressive fight and grit all
afternoon, but Amherst was able to punch in the game's only
touchdown. On fourth and goal from the six-yard line, junior
quarterback Alex Vetras (Clyde Hill, WA) found Bullock open over
the middle and Amherst took a 13-3 lead.
The Lord Jeffs limited Tufts to 93 total yards in the game. In
addition to Taylor's performance, senior Fred Argir (Lakeville, MN)
finished with eight tackles and sophomore Kevin Ferber (Mahwah, NJ)
had two sacks among his eight tackles. Freshman linebacker Sam
Clark (Andover, MA) had 2.5 tackles for losses, including an
11-yard sack. Senior Edwin Urey (Quincy, MA) had three tackles
behind the line of scrimmage. The Lord Jeffs held Tufts to just 1
for 15 on third-down conversions.
Vetras, who played the majority of the snaps, completed 11 of 22
passes for 74 yards on the afternoon for Amherst, while Reed led
the visitors with 46 receiving yards. McMahon led Amherst rushers
with 34 yards on nine carries.
The Tufts defense, which kept the Lord Jeffs to three for 16 on
third down, was led by seven tackles, a forced fumble and a pass
break-up by senior safety Alex Perry
(Danvers, MA). Senior cornerback Keith Novak
(Albuquerque, NM) finished with six tackles, a pass
break-up and a quarterback hurry. Murray added a sack to his fumble
recovery and big fourth-down plays.
Amherst, 6-0 for the first time since 2001, will play host to
Trinity next week. Tufts, now 2-4 with three straight losses, will
travel to 3-3 Colby.
#
