Box Score 
SOMERVILLE – Senior quarterback Brendan Costa passed for three touchdowns and ran for another leading the Bates College football team to a 33-10 victory against Tufts University in a NESCAC game Saturday afternoon at Ellis Oval.
This was a 19-10 game after Jumbo senior wide receiver Paul Campo scored on a 13-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Michael Berluti with 1:07 remaining in the third quarter. The Jumbos would get three fourth-quarter cracks at closing the gap, but couldn't capitalize and then the Bobcats added two touchdowns in the final 30 seconds of the game.
Tufts blocked a field goal on Bates' first possession, then the Bobcats forced and recovered a fumble when the Jumbos got the ball. After starting at the Jumbo 42, a Costa to senior WR Sean Bryant 20-yard touchdown pass would open the scoring at 6:50 of the first quarter. The extra point was missed and it was 6-0 Bates at the end of one.
The Jumbos had started what would be a 13-play scoring drive late in the first. Berluti converted two third downs on the possession, one with an 11-yard completion to Jackson Butler and the other with a 15-yard pass to Tyler Johnson. A 35-yard field goal by Patrick Walsh at 13:46 of the second put the Jumbos on the scoreboard.
The Bobcats answered right away, with Costa completing a 73-yard touchdown drive with a 30-yard run. Both teams missed field goals as the second quarter moved along – Bates' was blocked by Tufts junior Jack Racine – and the game went to halftime with the visitors leading 13-3.
On a windy day, blocked kicks came frequently as Bates' Finn Duffey got his hands on a Tufts attempt early in the the third quarter. The Jumbos got the ball back near midfield on an interception by Brandyn Jones, but couldn't take advantage of it. Costa and Bryant then connected again for a 32-yard score at 7:16 of the third making it 19-3 Bobcats after a 35-yard extra point due to a penalty was – you guessed it – blocked by Jumbo Javier Rios.
Tufts had another interception on a tipped ball later in the third by Spencer Alligood, but gave it right back to the Bobcats when Spencer Adams intercepted a Berluti pass. Adams was outstanding for Bates with 12 tackles, the pick and two pass break-ups.
The wind held up a Bates punt from deep in their own territory late in the third, giving the Jumbos the ball at the Bobcat 24. Two plays later Berluti and Campo combined for the score pulling the Jumbos within nine. While the Jumbo defense forced three-and-outs on the next three Bates possessions, a missed field goal and two turnovers on downs left the offense without any more points.
Taking over with 4:13 left in the fourth, Bates would convert a fourth down with a two-yard run by Costa. Four plays later came the third TD reception of the day by Bryant from Costa (28 yards) for a 26-10 Bobcat advantage. Tufts tried a lateral play on its next possession and it backfired as Bates' Owen Straley scooped up a fumble and went 20 yards for another touchdown crowning the Bobcats' day.
Freshman Aundre Smith (pictured) was outstanding on returns for Tufts, averaging 31.3 yards (3-94) on kickoffs and 17.0 (2-34) on punts. Berluti threw 52 passes for Tufts, completing 32 for 302 yards and the touchdown. He was also the Jumbos' leading rusher with 33 yards on eight carries. Philip Lutz caught nine passes for 91 yards. Senior Matty Drouillard led Tufts with eight tackles, including two for losses.
Costa finished 19 for 29 passing with 254 yards and ran 18 times for 113 yards. Bryant made five receptions for 91 yards and the three scores. In addition to Adams' strong day defensively for Bates, Mike Bulman was in on nine stops for the Bobcats and Anthony Costa broke up two passes to go with seven tackles.
The teams were nearly identical in total yards with Bates finishing at 380 and Tufts 379.
