Box Score SOMERVILLE – Senior quarterback Kenny Gray passed for 236 yards and three touchdowns as the Hamilton College football team won on the road at Tufts University, 36-21, in NESCAC action Saturday.
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| Frank Roche had three touchdown receptions to tie a Tufts record in a game. |
Gray threw scoring passes to senior Sam Robinson, junior Will Buddington and senior Christian Donahoe in the first half. The Continentals (4-3) also had a touchdown run by sophomore Joe Park and two field goals from sophomore Sam Thoreen while building a 34-7 halftime lead.
Tufts (3-4) made it interesting in the second half, pulling within 34-21 with 11:53 remaining in the fourth quarter. Jumbo graduate Frank Roche continued his outstanding season with a 46-yard touchdown reception in the first half and then a pair of 27-yard TDs in the second half. The three touchdowns tied a Tufts record for a single game and Roche finished with six receptions for 136 yards.
Hamilton senior Zach Weinstein blocked a punt that went out the back of the Tufts end zone for a safety and a 36-21 Continental lead with 5:12 to go in the fourth quarter, greatly diminishing Tufts' hopes for a comeback.
Jumbo miscues had helped the Continentals scored touchdowns on three of their first four possessions. A fumble recovery by Hamilton's Mike Cairns at the Tufts 10-yard line led to a three-yard Gray to Robinson scoring pass that put Hamilton up 7-0 at 8:41 of the first quarter.
On Tufts' next possession, a short punt gave Hamilton the ball at the Jumbo 36. Gray hit Buddington with a 21-yard touchdown connection and the visitors led 14-0 with 4:27 to go in the first quarter.
Park, who rushed 24 times for 126 yards in the game, then completed a nine-play, 52-yard scoring drive by the Continentals with an eight-yard run making it 21-0 early in the second quarter.
The Jumbos showed some life by going 67 yards in four plays to pull within 21-7. Senior QB Jacob Carroll passed 46 yards to Roche at 11:38 of the second quarter and Tufts was on the scoreboard.
However, the Continentals would put the finishing touches on a great first half by scoring 13 points in the final 3:23 of the second quarter. Thoreen field goals of 26 and 35 yards were sandwiched around an eight-yard TD reception by Donohoe from Gray. Thoreen's 35-yarder came as time expired after an interception by Continental senior Justin Leigh with 15 seconds left until intermission and a personal foul penalty on Tufts gave Hamilton the ball at the Jumbo 17.
Hamilton then got the ball first in the second half, but the Jumbo defense forced a punt. Carroll then had a 41-yard completion to junior WR Brendan Dolan followed by a 27-yard touchdown catch by Roche for a 34-14 score at 11:22 of the third quarter.
An interception by Tufts junior Michael Mughetto led to the Jumbos' next score. He returned the pick 21 yards to the Jumbo 45 and a Continental personal foul moved the ball up to the Hamilton 40. Carroll soon found Roche for a 27-yard score again and suddenly Tufts was within 34-21.
With the tide turning, Hamilton made a pair of big plays on their next possession. A six-yard run by senior back David Kagan on a third-and-two play around midfield extended the drive. And then when they had to punt the Continentals downed the ball on the Tufts 1-yard line. Tufts could not move the ball and then Weinstein came up with the block for the safety on the Jumbos' punt.
The Continentals fumbled on the free kick, but Leigh was able to make the recovery. However, they had to punt and Tufts got the ball back at midfield with 4:41 on the fourth-quarter clock. Hamilton's Jared Schwartz intercepted a halfback pass by the Jumbos with 3:43 remaining and the Continentals ran out the clock for the win.
Gray completed 21 of 31 passes to seven different receivers. Donahoe had four receptions for 106 yards including a 54-yarder. Thoreen scored 10 points with the two field goals and four extra points. The Continental defense finished with three interceptions, including an early one by Ian Esliker, and three sacks. James Ball led the visitors with 10 total tackles and had two quarterback hurries.
Carroll passed for 214 yards and the three scores for the Jumbos. Senior Greg Holt recorded a game-high 12 tackles while Stephen Timmins had a pair of TFL's including a sack.
Tufts plays its final road game of 2019 next Saturday at Colby College. The Continentals are on the road again at Middlebury College next week.
