Box Score 
CLINTON, N.Y. - Freshman kicker Sal LoCoco (pictured) booted a 41-yard field goal as time expired to send the game to overtime where a fourth-down touchdown run by Tyler Johnson and an interception by Spencer Alligood secured a dramatic 30-24 Tufts Football victory at Hamilton College on Saturday afternoon.
Hamilton's Quinn Voboril had kicked a 20-yard field goal with 23 seconds left in regulation to give the hosts a 24-21 lead. Tufts took over with just 23 seconds on the clock, and freshman quarterback Michael Berluti hooked up with junior receiver Philip Lutz down the middle for 39 yards on second down. A 12-yard Berluti to Jackson Butler completion on the right sideline set up the field goal attempt with four seconds on the clock. LoCoco had missed two previous field goals on the day, but delivered when it mattered most.
In overtime, Tufts possessed the ball first and Lutz took a screen pass and broke through the Hamilton defense for 15 yards down to the 10. Three plays later, Johnson dove into the end zone for a touchdown and a 30-24 Jumbo lead. On Hamilton's first play of OT, quarterback Joe Cairns overthrew a pass and Alligood grabbed it to end the game.
The back-and-forth battle had started with Hamiilton scoring on their first possession. Joe Park finished a nine-play, 75-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 Continental lead at 8:02 of the first quarter. A 35-yard Cairns to Saleh Eltayeb pass highlighted the drive.
Tufts would punt its first two times with the ball, but Jumbo senior linebacker Matty Drouillard tackled Park for a three-yard loss on a third-down pass play forcing a Hamilton punt.
That sparked an epic 18-play, 95-yard touchdown drive by the Jumbo offense which tied the game. They earned seven first downs on the drive, including a 10-yard Berluti-to-Butler combination on third and six from the Hamilton 17. Two plays later, Berluti found Billy Dunn over the middle for an 11-yard score and a 7-7 game early in the second quarter.
The hosts answered Tufts' incredible possession with an 82-yard scoring drive of their own. Cairns passed 33 yards to Drew Granski down to the 14. Park brought it in from three yards out as the Continentals retook the lead (14-7) at 8:17 of the second.
A 22-yard field Tufts field goal was blocked by Hamilton's James Ball at 4:32 of the second quarter, giving the Continentals the ball at their own 13. On the second play of the drive, Cairns was pressured by Brendan Coughlin and threw the ball into the raised arms of Jumbo sophomore linebacker Tyler Roach who brought it 10 yards into the end zone for a pick six. Tufts' first interception return for a touchdown since 2017 tied the score at 14-14 with 3:52 remaining until halftime.
Tufts would miss its second field goal of the quarter (26 yards) with five seconds remaining and the game went to the half tied 14-14.
The third quarter featured two long drives by both teams that resulted in no points due to fourth-down stops. Tufts' Edward Iuteri tackled Park for no gain on a fourth and one from the Jumbo 6. Mike Cairns and Ball stopped Tufts' Mike Pedrini on a fourth and one from the Hamilton 23.
Hamilton's go-ahead score early in the fourth was aided by a Tufts pass interference penalty. On the next play, Joe Cairns and Granski connected for a 21-yard touchdown giving the hosts a 21-14 lead.
Tufts' next drive had them third and three near midfield when Berluti scrambled out of the pocket and launched a bomb that the the back-stepping Dunn caught at the five-yard line and continued into the end zone for a 46-yard score. That tied the game at 21-21 with 8:38 remaining in regulation.
After a Hamilton punt and a Jumbo turnover on downs in Continental territory, the game would come to its dramatic conclusion.
Berluti, the freshman third-stringer at the start of the season, continued to guide an explosive Tufts offense. The Jumbos gained 495 yards today with Berluti completing 29 of 48 passes for 311 yards and the two TDs. He also led Tufts with 73 yards on nine carries. Lutz has emerged as one of NESCAC's top receivers this fall and had 10 more grabs for 144 yards today. Both of Dunn's receptions were for touchdowns totaling 57 yards and Butler finished with nine receptions (55 yards). Drouillard had two sacks and four TFL's as part of his nine tackles overall.
Quarterback Cairns directed Hamilton to 355 total yards, going 15 for 25 passing for 276 yards. Park had the two TDs as part of 18 carries for 46 yards. Vince Reph led Hamilton with 88 yards receiving (three catches). Jack Parker topped Continental tacklers with 10 while Christian Snell broke up four passes.
Tufts plays at home for the final time next Saturday against Colby and celebrates Seniors Day.
