Box Score SOMERVILLE – In a wild game that saw the teams combine for over 1,100 yards of total offense, Wesleyan senior quarterback David Estevez scored on a four-yard touchdown run with 4:54 remaining in the fourth quarter to give the visiting Cardinals an eventual 36-35 win at Tufts on Saturday at Ellis Oval.
The Cardinals (5-0) had led 22-7 in the middle of the second quarter. However, Tufts stormed back to take a 35-29 lead on a seven-yard touchdown run by junior Tyler Johnson with four minutes remaining in the third quarter. The extra point was blocked though by Wesleyan's Danny Banks.
Early in the fourth quarter, Estevez - who produced 474 yards of total offense today including 204 on the ground – led the Cardinals on a 13-play, 93-yard touchdown drive that provided the winning points. The Jumbos got the ball back, but the Cardinal defense forced a three-and-out. Wesleyan then ran out the clock with a third-down and fourth-down conversion on the final possession of the game.
Tufts' Philip Lutz (pictured) continued his fantastic junior season with nine catches for 194 yards and a 61-yard touchdown that started Tufts' comeback. He took a pass from freshman QB Michael Berluti and scooted through the Cardinal defense for the score that pulled the Jumbos within 22-14 at 7:31 of the second quarter.
Later in the first half, Jumbo Matty Drouillard sacked Estevez forcing a fumble recovered by Tyler Roach at the Cardinal 37. Three plays later, Berluti - who had a 24-yard run on the first play of the possession - threw two yards for a score to Chase Mangini that pulled Tufts within 22-21 with 1:29 remaining until halftime.
Berluti would nearly match Estevez in total yards on the day, churning out 418 including 104 rushing and a touchdown on seven carries. He completed 27 of 46 passes for 314 yards and four more TDs.
Early in the second half, a 44-yard punt by Tufts' Patrick Walsh was downed at the Wesleyan 2. However, on the first play of the drive, Estevez broke free for an 88-yard run to the Jumbo 10. He was chased down by Tufts' defensive end Javier Rios. On the next play though, Wesleyan senior QB Ashton Scott passed for a 10-yard TD to Ezra Jenifer giving the Carindals a 29-21 advantage at 8:37 of the third.
Tufts came right back. Berluti passed 16 yards to Billy Dunn, 17 yards to Lutz and 11 yards to Johnson on three straight attempts setting up first down on the Wesleyan 32. After two rushes for 19 yards by Johnson, Berluti passed 13 yards to Jackson Butler scoring a touchdown with 5:47 on the third-quarter clock. Butler then made a one-handed grab of a two-point conversion pass by Berluti and the game was tied 29-29.
After a Wesleyan punt, a 55-yard Berluti to Lutz connection brought Tufts to the Cardinal 7. Johnson took it from there giving the Jumbos their first lead at 35-29. An interception by Johnathan O'Neal stopped Wesleyan's next drive and Tufts went to the fourth with the lead. However, Estevez and the Cardinals would have the final say to remain unbeaten.
On the first possession of the game, Tufts recovered a fumbled punt by Wesleyan on the Cardinal 32. However, they couldn't capitalize and turned it over on down. A 38-yard punt return by Aundre Smith gave Tufts the ball at midfield later in the first. Tufts got into Cardinal territory, but again failed to convert on a fourth-down play. Wesleyan would go 70 yards from there including a 54-yard Logan Tomlinson reception down to the Jumbo 1. Charlie McPhee took it across and the Cardinals led 6-0 after the PAT was blocked by Jumbo Brendan Coughlin.
Another long pass led to Wesleyan's second score as McPhee caught a 48-yarder from Estevez to the Jumbo 3. Estevez scored from there and Wesleyan led 12-0 with a minute left in the first.
A defensive play got the Jumbos going. Brandyn Jones forced a Wesleyan fumble and O'Neal recovered it at the Cardinal 35. On third down, Berluti wound through the Wes defense for a 35-yard rushing TD that brought the Jumbos within 12-7 early in the second.
Wesleyan responded immediately though, with a 48-yard Estevez scramble-and-heave play to Zyaire Sterling going to the Jumbo 27. On the next play, Estevez passed to Tomlinson for a touchdown putting the visitors up 19-7 at 11:56 of the second quarter. The Cardinals would add a 33-yard Daniel Yoon field goal with 8:49 remaining in the second for a 22-7 lead.
Tufts finished with 521 yards of total offense, the most since the 662 the Jumbos gained on Bowdoin in October 2019. Johnson rushed for 88 yards on 13 carries and caught eight passes for 37 yards and the score. Jones forced two fumbles, broke up two passes and led Tufts with eight tackles (all solo). Drouillard had a sack, 2.5 TFL's, a forced fumble and a QB hurry while registering seven tackles.
Estevez was 13 for 23 passing for 270 yards and a touchdown, including 10 balls for 186 yards and a TD to Tomlinson. His 204 yards and two touchdowns rushing came on 22 attempts. Isaiah Miller led Wesleyan defensively with nine tackles including one for a loss and two QB hurries. Banks forced a fumble, blocked a kick and broke up a pass to go with six stops.
