SOMERVILLE, MA (October 22, 2022) -- Amherst College kicker Connor Kennelly hit a 39-yard field goal as time expired Saturday to lift the visiting Mammoths of Amherst College to a 20-17 win over the Tufts University football team in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) play from Ellis Oval.
The field goal came after Amherst (1-5, 1-5 NESCAC) drove down to the Tufts 22 after getting the ball with 2:27 remaining in the game with the score tied at 17. The Mammoths marched 58 yards before taking a timeout with two seconds left in the game. Amherst's kicker stepped up and connected on the 39-yarder to lift the visitors to the victory.
Tufts (3-3, 3-3 NESCAC) wasted no time getting on the board on its first possession, as quarterback
Michael Berluti took an option read and scampered 56 yards untouched down the middle of the field to put the Jumbos up 7-0. On the next possession, Amherst quarterback Mike Piazza matched Berluti with a 50-yard scoring run to deadlock the game at seven with 9:58 to go in the first quarter.
After those explosive plays, neither team could get much going offensively much in part to both defensive units. With 11:24 remaining in the first half,
Louis Timmins picked off Piazza and returned the ball 23 yards down the Mammoth 32 yard. The Jumbos would cash in on the turnover, as
Vaughn Seelicke nailed a 28-yard field goal to push Tufts out in front 10-7.
Right before the break Tufts was driving and looked to have extended its edge up to two scores but a fumble at the goalline and recovery in the end zone by Amherst sent the game to the half with the hosts up three. Out of the locker room, Tufts would get that score to go up by 10 points as
Tyler Johnson pushed in from a yard out to complete a 13-play, 75-yard drive.
Later in the third quarter, Amherst pulled back to within three at 17-14 as Piazza connected with Austin Pieck on a 23-yard touchdown catch in between two defenders. Early in the fourth, the visitors would pull even at 17-17 on a 28-yard Kennelly field goal with 12:37 to play in regulation. After the Mammoths forced a three-and-out, Tufts punted but got the ball right back on a fumble of the punt return at the 26-yard line of Amherst.
The Jumbos though would not be able to come away with points, being forced to punt from Amherst's 31-yard line. Tufts would force a punt on defense to get the ball back but a potential go-ahead field goal with 2:27 left sailed wide, setting up the eventual game-winning drive for the Mammoths.
Tufts rushed for 155 yards on the day, third-most this season as Johnson totaled 89 yards on 18 carries with a score. Berluti also rushed nine times for 66 yards and a touchdown. Through the air Berluti went 30-for-48 for 219 yards, as
Phil Lutz collected 12 catches for 61 yards. The 12 grabs were the most in a game for Tufts since he posted 17 catches against Colby last year on November 6.
Jaden Richardson also had 55 yards on six grabs, while
Cade Moore, Johnson and
Jackson Butler all corralled four grabs.
EJ Comerford had a strong game on defense for Tufts, making nine stops including a sack, hurry and pass break-uo, while
Shane Reiner also had nine stops and a pass defensed.
Jack Racine finished with eight tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, while
Matty Drouillard tallied eight tackles as well.
Amherst saw Pizza go 18-of-40 for 193 yards and a score, while also rushing for 102 yards. Owen Gaydos pulled in seven catches for 74 yards, while Jack Roberge had four catches for 44 yards in addition to 51 rushing yards.
The Jumbos will be right back in action at home next weekend, hosting Hamilton College at 1 p.m. in NESCAC play from Ellis Oval in Somerville, MA.
--JUMBOS--
