Box Score
SOMERVILLE – Trinity College (4-0) returned two interceptions for touchdowns and had a 99-yard kickoff return for a third score as the undefeated Bantams spoiled the day for the Tufts (0-4) Homecoming crowd in a 43-7 victory over the Jumbos.
The game started well for Tufts as the Jumbos held Trinity to three yards on the Bantams' first offensive possession. Freshman Mike Rando (Walpole, MA) fielded a Kyle Pulek (Cheshire, CT) punt at the Tufts one and was immediately swarmed under. On first down Zack Trause (Carlstadt, NJ) rumbled for 28 yards to move the Jumbos from the shadow of their own goalpost. Trause's run started a 10-play, 99-yard drive that gave the Jumbos a 7-0 lead. Trause accounted for 79 rushing yards and six receiving yards on the drive.
It took 18 seconds for the Bantams to answer as Ian Dugger (West Hartford, CT) returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards. The Bantams missed the extra point, but Tufts was flagged for roughing the kicker and Trinity made good on the second chance PAT for a 7-7 tie just five minutes into the contest.
Trinity kept its foot on the gas as the Bantams tried a pooch kick on the following kickoff and recovered the ball on the Tufts 30. The Bantams drove the ball to the Jumbos' three, but on fourth down Trinity's Evan Bunker (Topsfield, MA) was dropped for a yard loss on a tackle by Jumbos Tommy Meade (Wakefield, MA) and Garrett Ewanouski (Canton, MA).
Tufts was able to get one first down, but was forced to punt. Trinity took the ball on its own 45 and 12 plays later Michael Budness (Belchertown, MA) scored on a one-yard run to give the Bantams a 14-7 lead.
Following an out of bounds kickoff, Tufts drove from its own 35 to the Trinity one. Chance Brady (Haverhill, MA) rushed for 39 yards on the drive, but on fourth and goal was stopped for no gain. Trinity moved the ball to its own 17 and was forced to punt.
After a holding penalty gave the Jumbos a first and 20 at their own 37, Michael Weatherby (Atlantic City, NJ) tipped a Jack Doll (Villa Park, CA) pass and pulled down the interception. Weatherby had clear sailing to the end zone for a 30-yard pick six. Ben Rosenblatt's (Newton Center, MA) kick gave the Bantams a 21-7 lead.
Tufts followed with a three and out, punting the ball to the Trinity 30. The Bantams held the ball for over seven minutes running 16 plays before Rosenblatt drilled a 20-yard field goal. Rosenblatt got another chance at a field goal with 0:29 left in the half after Tom Szymanski (Dracut, MA) picked off a Doll pass at the Tufts 37. Six plays later Rosenblatt connected from 27 yards for a 27-7 halftime lead.
The teams exchanged punts to begin the second half, but on the Jumbos' second possession, Doll threw his second pick six when Tom Haverty (Marion, MA) grabbed an errant ball and went 36 yards for the score. Rosenblatt's kick gave the Bantams a 34-7 lead.
A Rosenblatt 22-yard field goal ended the third quarter scoring.
The only score of the final stanza came on an 11-yard pass from Trinity's Sonny Puzzo (West Caldwell, NJ) to A.J. Jones (Freetown, Sierra Leone) just over a minute into the quarter to reach the final margin.
The Jumbos racked up 251 yards rushing on the day to just 181 for Trinity, but the Bantams out-passed Tufts 226-69. Trause led all rushers with 114 yards on 17 carries. Bunker was the Bantam's workhorse, lugging the ball 31 times for 104 yards. Puzzo was 11 for 16 through the air for Trinity, while starter Henry Foye (Madison, CT) went 8 for 16. The Jumbos were 11 for 20 through the air.
Defensively, senior Sean Harrington (Chelmsford, MA) and sophomore Matt McCormack (River Forest, IL) posted game-highs with 11 tackles. Meade finished with 10. Five tackles apiece by Nathan Cyr (Kingston, NH) and Mike Mancini (Rocky Hill, CT) topped 32 players who made stops for the Bantams.
Tufts will head to Williams College next week for a 1:30 kickoff. The Bantams will host the Bowdoin Polar Bears in a 12:30 start.
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