Box Score 
SOMERVILLE – Billy Dunn (pictured) hauled in a 36-yard touchdown pass in the back of the end zone early in the fourth quarter, and the Jumbo defense intercepted two passes later in the period helping the Tufts Football Team take an exciting 26-21 win over Colby College at Ellis Oval on Saturday.
The victory was the third in a row for the Jumbos and their seventh straight in the series against the Mules. Tufts held a whopping 42:37 to 17:23 advantage in time of possession for the game.
Visiting Colby had rallied from down 14-0 by scoring three straight touchdowns to lead 21-14 on a 56-yard run by tailback Devin Marrocco at 9:06 of the third quarter. Tufts came back on the next possession and scored with a one-yard touchdown by running back Tyler Johnson, but missed the extra point. That left Colby leading 21-20 with 3:51 remaining in the third quarter.
On the 81-yard scoring drive that ended with Dunn's 36-yard TD at 13:40 of the fourth quarter, Jumbo receiver Philip Lutz had eight- and 12-yard receptions. He finished the afternoon with 17 catches for 182 yards, the second-most receptions for a game in team history and the most yards receiving since 2010. Today gives Lutz 67 receptions for 977 yards on the year, close to the Jumbo program's single-season records of 70 catches and 989 yards.
With Tufts leading 26-21, Colby quarterback Matt Hersch completed a 41-yard pass to Brendan Sawyer to the Tufts 34 on their next possession. On a third-and-goal play from the Jumbo 6 six plays later, Tufts senior Brandyn Jones wrestled the ball away from a Colby receiver for an interception in the end zone. Jones, who also had two pass break-ups on the day, was one of 24 Jumbos recognized on Seniors Day with a pre-game ceremony.
The Jumbos took over after Jones' interception and put together a seven-minute drive resulting in a first and 10 at the Colby 12. However, Tufts fumbled with the Mules' Nick Wilcox recovering at his own 7. With 1:31 reamining in regulation, Hersch was intercepted by Tufts' Gio Arquilla on third down at the Colby 25. The Jumbos ran the clock down to two seconds, and then stopped the Mules' last-ditch lateral play to end the game with Tyler Roach recovering a fumble.
Dunn had started the scoring for Tufts with a five-yard TD from Michael Berluti at 5:08 of the first quarter for a 7-0 lead. The Jumbo drive had begun at midfield and Lutz had three receptions for 37 yards to help get Tufts a first and goal. Dunn's two TDs on the day give him seven on the season.
Early in the second quarter Tufts went for it on fourth and one from the Colby 2, but the Mules' Nick Donatio broke up a pass to turn the Jumbos over on downs. The Tufts defense trapped Colby deep in their own territory though, and a punt gave Tufts possession at the Mule 35. Johnson converted a fourth and one with a two-yard rush and then caught an 18-yard pass down to the Colby 6. He finished the drive with a one-yard TD plunge for a 14-0 Tufts lead at 6:51 of the second. The score was Johnson's ninth of 2021.
Colby started its comeback with a 54-yard Hersch to Jack Sawyer pass down to the Jumbo 8. Two plays later, Hersch found Matt Panker at the goal line and he got in to pull the visitors within 14-7 at 5:08 of the second quarter. After the Mules' defense forced a Tufts punt, Colby drove 63 yards in 11 plays and scored on the final play of the half to tie the game 14-14. Donovan Ganges ran it in from one-yard out and the game went to halftime tied. A 36-yard Hersch to Pat Sweetnam pass play had started the drive.
Tufts missed a field goal on its first possession of the second half, and Colby continued its momentum with Marrocco's 56-yard TD three plays later. However, the Jumbos answered with scores on their next two possessions and then made some key defensive stops to get the victory.
The Jumbos outgained the Mules 437 yards to 317, running 79 plays compared to 46 for Colby. Tufts' defense held the visitors to 12 first downs, 2 for 10 on third down and forced three turnovers.
Berluti finished 26 for 33 with 272 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 62 yards on 12 totes. Johnson gained 66 yards rushing . The Jumbo defense also had a 14-yard sack by Shane Reiner and an eight-yard sack by Jovan Nenadovic.
Colby's Hersch was 15 of 27 passing for 220 yards, with three balls each going to Sweetnam (59 yards) and Brendan Sawyer (54 yards). Marrocco's big TD run help him accumulate 96 yards rushing on just three carries. Donatio led Colby defensively with 10 stops, including a TFL and a PBU.
The Jumbos will go for four in a row to finish the season when they travel to Middlebury next week. Colby closes the year against Bowdoin.
