Box Score 
HARTFORD – Sophomore quarterback Matt Crowley threw three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to lead a Jumbo comeback, but it feel short and Tufts lost 42-28 at Trinity College in the NESCAC football opener Saturday afternoon.
Crowley threw scoring passes of 16 yards to junior Billy Dunn (pictured), 22 yards to junior Philip Lutz and 64 yards to Dunn again as the Jumbos closed to within 42-28 in the fourth. It's the first career touchdown for each of the Jumbo receivers. Tufts then attempted an onside kick with five minutes remaining in regulation, but the Bantams were able to recover it and then earned two key first downs to run out the clock.
Tufts had taken a 7-0 lead on the third play of the game. Junior starting quarterback Trevon Woodson passed to junior Jackson Butler, who caught the ball after it deflected off a defender's hands and dashed down the left sideline 72 yards for a touchdown.
Trinity would answer immediately, with sophomore running back William Kirby scoring on a seven-yard run with 10:49 remaining in the first quarter to tie the game at 7-7.
The Bantams would build their lead on strong performances by Kirby and receiver Jonathan Girard. Kirby would run for three scores overall, including a one-yard TD late in the first quarter and a 13-yard run around the left end at 9:45 of the second period. Gerard then took over the game, grabbing three lob passes for touchdowns from 12, 11 and 18 yards out.
A 35-yard pass from Crowley to Dunn into the Bantam red zone got the Jumbo comeback started. The pair then connected for a 16-yard score at 10:27 of the fourth. The touchdown to Lutz came on a fourth and 22 play as Crowley scrambled to the right sideline and lofted a pass over the Bantam defense. Then on the first play of the next Tufts drive, Dunn got behind the Trinity defense and Crowley connected with him for the 64-yard touchdown.
The Jumbos outgained the Bantams 426 yards to 423. The Jumbos passed for 377 yards and four touchdowns. Crowley completed 9 of 13 for 213 yards and the three touchdowns. Woodson was 10 of 20 for 164 yards with the touchdown, while also leading Tufts in rushing with 35 yards on 15 carries. Butler (8 catches, 164 yards, TD) and Dunn (3 catches, 115 yards, 2 TDs) had huge days receiving. Spencer Alligood led the Jumbos with 10 tackles. Preseason All-American Jovan Nenadovic had six stops, including 1.5 for losses with a shared sack (Richie Ferrelli). Brandyn Jones added eight stops.
Kirby ran 21 times for 96 yards and the three scores out of Trinity's backfield. Quarterback Spencer Fetter completed 21 of 24 passes for the three touchdowns to Girard, who caught 10 balls for 118 yards overall. Michael Masse and Kevin Clark had sacks for Trinity.
The Jumbos will play their home opener on the newly-turfed Ellis Oval / Zimman Field next Saturday afternoon against Williams College. The Bantams play at Bowdoin next week.
