Box Score 
AMHERST – Sophomore quarterback Brad Breckenridge rushed for three touchdowns as Amherst College edged Tufts University 24-21 in NESCAC football action on Saturday afternoon.
The Jumbos amassed 454 yards of total offense on 92 plays, including 337 through the air. Freshman quarterback Michael Berluti (pictured) came on and threw for 256 yards (24 for 40), including seven passes for 118 yards to junior Philip Lutz. Breckenridge carried 16 times for 103 rushing yards leading the hosts to 327 total yards.
Tufts moved into Amherst territory on their first possession of the game, including a fourth and four conversion pass from starting quarterback Matt Crowley to O.J. Anderson. The Jumbos would go for it on fourth and 10 from the Mammoth 25, but threw an incomplete pass.
On Amherst's first play of the game, Breckenridge ran 69 yards to the Jumbo six-yard line. Jason Ndansi caught him from behind, but two plays later Breckenridge scored from four yards out for a 7-0 Amherst lead at 10:31 of the first quarter.
The Jumbos would drive to the Amherst 31 late in the first quarter, including an 11-yard pass from Crowley to Lutz on a third and seven play. Tufts went for it on fourth down again, but Amherst's Charlie Parkins sacked Crowley to turn the ball over on downs.
Amherst would take its turn going for it on a fourth down from the Tufts 31 in the middle of the second quarter, but Jumbos Spencer Alligood and Jovan Nenadovic stopped Kellen Field for no gain.
The Jumbos got the ball again with 2:50 remaining until halftime and drove for a score. Crowley completed a 28-yard pass to Lutz into Amherst territory. He later ran for 13 yards and took a personal foul penalty from Amherst putting the ball at the one. Junior RB Tyler Johnson took it in from there and the game went to the half tied 7-7.
John Andre's 23-yard punt return to the Amherst 42 helped Tufts take the lead early in the third. Berluti led the Jumbos on a six-play, 42-yard drive from there including 23-yard completion to Lutz down to the Amherst 2. Johnson scored his second touchdown of the day on the next play and Tufts led 14-7.
A sensational one-handed grab by Amherst's Turner Garland for 21 yards put the Mammoths on the Tufts 40. The Jumbo defense stiffened and Amherst took a 39-yard field goal by Conor Kennelly that pulled the hosts within 14-10 at 8:32 of the third.
Following a Tufts punt, a 38-yard pass from Breckenridge to Michael Immerman set up a go-ahead score on Amherst's next possession. Breckenridge got around the left end and scored on a 15-yard run at 5:30 making it 17-14 Amherst.
Berluti opened the next Tufts drive with a 33-yard completion to Jaden Richardson. The Jumbos got to the Amherst 7, but a 24-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Mammoth Ricky Goodson, then scooped up by Raymond Dixon and returned 71 yards to the Tufts 19. Jumbo Steven Michael made the potential touchdown-saving tackle.
However, Amherst eventually turned that into seven points. They converted a fourth and three and then Breckenridge rushed for his third touchdown (one yard) of the game. Amherst led 24-14 at 13:52 of the fourth.
The teams then traded turnovers. Amherst's Michael Jeffery intercepted a tipped pass. Tufts got the ball right back when Edward Iuteri strip-sacked Breckenridge with Brendan Coughlin recovering at the Amherst 25. The Jumbos were unable to capitalize though, turning the ball over on downs.
The Mammoths later moved to the Jumbo 11, but missed a 28-yard field goal attempt giving Tufts the ball at 5:49. Berluti looked like a seasoned veteran completing passes to Paul Campo, Lutz (a brilliant one-handed catch for 30 yards to the Mammoth 25), OJ Armstrong and Andre down to the Amherst four-yard line. He then hooked up with a fifth different receiver on the drive when Billy Dunn caught a four-yard touchdown pass. That pulled the Jumbos within 24-21 at 3:12 of the fourth.
The Jumbos tried an onside kick, but Amherst recovered. Alligood had a key tackle for a loss helping force a Mammoth punt with 58 seconds left in regulation. Starting at their own 18 without any time-outs, Tufts made things interesting with gains on back-to-back lateral plays. However, they were unable to register a game-tying or go-ahead score.
Tufts, who had 30 first downs in the game to Amherst's 17, got 77 yards rushing and eight receptions for 46 more yards from Johnson. Richardson caught five passes for 68 yards. Johnathan O'Neal (11 tackles) Alligood (10) and Iuteri (two TFL's) were defensive leaders for the Jumbos.
Breckenridge also completed seven of 11 passes for 120 yards, with Carson Ochsenhirt leading Amherst pass catchers with three for 60 yards. Matt Durborow and Ryan Monteleone with 12 tackles apiece and Tim Swope with 11 led Amherst.
