Box Score
SOMERVILLE – On a trick play, Colby senior Ryan Veillette (Westfield, MA) threw a three-yard halfback pass to classmate Derrick Beasley (Andover, MA) for a touchdown in the first overtime period that lifted the visiting Mules to a 21-14 victory at Tufts in NESCAC football action on Saturday at Ellis Oval/Zimman Field.
Veillette, a defensive end who led NESCAC in sacks entering the week, was lined up at fullback on what looked to be a bull rush for the Mules. However, freshman QB Justin Ciero (Chappaqua, NY) took the snap and handed off to Veillette, who dumped a two-handed chest pass into the arms of a wide-open Beasley in the back right corner of the end zone.
After a good run by Jumbo freshman Justin Weaver (Salt Lake City, UT), the Mules' defense stopped Tufts on its overtime attempt to win the game. Colby improved to 2-5 overall, while Tufts fell to 0-7.
All of the scoring in regulation came in the first half. Looking to end a 21-game losing streak, the Jumbos started strong with a 10-play, 66-yard scoring drive on their opening possession. Sophomore Zack Trause (Carlstadt, NJ) rushed seven times for 45 yards and scored on a seven-yard run with 9:54 remaining in the first quarter.
However, Colby answered with a 75-yard scoring drive in just four plays to tie it. Ciero, who ran for 166 yards on 22 carries overall in the game, had a 52-yard scamper on the Mules' first play. He later took it in from three yards out, making it 7-7 with 8:26 on the clock.
A 34-yard punt return by sophomore Zach Padula (Coventry, RI) set Colby up at midfield early in the second quarter. However, after moving to the Jumbo 17, Ciero was intercepted by Tufts freshman linebacker Wes Hartmann (Trabuco Canyon, CA) at the five-yard line. The pick was the second of the year for Hartmann.
An interception by Colby's Daniel Maddox (Bedford, NH) would lead to a go-ahead score for the Mules. He returned the ball 32 yards and then a Tufts personal foul penalty advanced it 15 more to the Jumbo 18. On third down from the 15, Ciero found senior WR Indigo Dow (Cambridge, MA) wide open in the end zone for a touchdown. That put Colby up 14-7 with 1:11 remaining until halftime.
With Colby receiving the second-half kickoff, Tufts answered with an impressive late scoring drive. Dylan Haas (Yorktown Heights, NY), one of 17 Jumbos honored before the game on Seniors Day, returned the ensuing kickoff 34 yards to the Colby 48. On third and two, Jumbo senior QB John Dodds (Mount Pleasant, SC) passed for 28 yards to freshman Jack Cooleen (Falmouth, ME). Three plays later, with 23 seconds on the clock, Dodds found Haas for a three-yard TD connection that made it 14-14.
Tufts would have two good scoring chances in the third quarter, but both went for naught. With the Jumbos taking over near midfield after a Colby punt, an excellent 18-yard run by senior Mike Howell (Phoenixville, PA) put the hosts first and 10 on the Colby 17. The Mules defense stiffened, and Tufts missed a 26-yard field goal that would have given them the lead.
Another strong effort by the Tufts defense turned the ball over to the offense at the Jumbo 41. Dodds and classmate Marty Finnegan (Oak Park, IL) combined for three receptions gaining 35 yards. However, the Colby D tightened up inside the red zone again. The Jumbos went for it on fourth and two from the Mules' 4, but Colby senior Lester Batiste (Chicago, IL) made the stop on a Jumbo rush.
Into the fourth quarter, Colby sophomore Jason Buco (Methuen, MA) intercepted a pass at his own 29-yard line to stop a Jumbo drive. Both defenses took over for the next few possessions, and then Tufts pinned Colby at their own one-yard line on a 56-yard punt by Finnegan that was downed by sophomore Michael DeFeo (Drexel Hill, PA) with 6:28 remaining.
Colby back Spencer Gopaul (Washington, DC) got them out of trouble right away with a 18-yard run on the first play of the drive. A 46-yard run by Ciero advanced Colby to the Tufts 24. However, with 2:06 on the clock, the Mules missed a 33-yard field goal attempt. Both teams went to overtime for the first time since 2009.
Ciero finished with 284 yards of total offense, including 118 passing with 14 completions on 25 attempts and a touchdown. He passed to seven different receivers. Gopaul rushed 20 times gaining 84 yards as the Mules gained 256 total on 43 carries (6.0 per carry). The Mules finished with 377 total yards, but were penalized 10 times for 70 yards.
Trause finished with 75 yards on 20 rushes for Tufts. Dodds was 18 for 30 passing for 180 yards, including four for 39 yards to Finnegan. The Jumbos finished with 17 first downs and 304 total yards. Finnegan averaged 43.8 yards on four punts.
Maddox led Colby with eight tackles (four solo), while sophomore Tony Atkinson (Bethesda, MD) had seven tackles, including six solos and a forced fumble. Buco added six tackles to his interception and a pass break-up.
Sophomore LB Tommy Meade (Wakefield, MA) finished with a game-high 12 tackles. Junior LB Sean Harrington (Chelmsford, MA) had 10 tackles, while freshman Patrick Williams (Moncks Corner, SC) had two sacks for 16 yards in losses among his seven tackles.
The Jumbos wrap up their season next week at Middlebury, while Colby plays at home agaisnt Bowdoin.
Game statistics
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