SOMERVILLE, MA (October 29, 2022) -- The Tufts University football squad posted 606 yards of total offense, the third-most ever in program history, as the Jumbos rolled past visiting Hamilton College 49-13 in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) play from Ellis Oval Saturday afternoon. With the win Tufts moved to 4-3 overall while the Continentals dropped to 2-5 on the season.
The offensive explosion of 606 yards was the most in a game since the 2019 season, and has been bested just twice before by the 671 yards in October of 2010 against Amherst College and the 662 yards against Bowdoin College on October 19, 2019. The offense was potent on the ground and through the air, as the team threw for 380 yards and rushed for 226 yards on the afternoon.
The Jumbos wasted no time getting on the board, going 95 yards on 10 plays over 5:03 of the first quarter before
Tyler Johnson broke one from 19-yards out for a quick 7-0 lead for the hosts. After a three-and-out defensively, Tufts doubled its lead to 14-0 as
Michael Berluti hooked up with
Phil Lutz with a perfectly thrown ball to the back right corner of the end zone from 23 yards away.
The lead would swell to 21-0 early in the second quarter, as
Tyler Johnson hit paydirt from 15 yards out with 9:02 to go in the first half for his second rushing score of the day. After Hamilton made it 21-7 on a Matt Banbury four-yard touchdown run, Tufts regained its three-score lead as Berluti went deep and connected with
Jaden Richardson for a 70-yard touchdown with just 57 seconds to go in the half.
After the intermission, Berluti posted another big play as he hooked up with Lutz for a 41-yard touchdown pitch-and-catch to make the score 35-7. The final drive of the game for the starting unit for the Jumbos ended in the first collegiate score for
Cade Moore, who hauled in a great thrown down the middle and scampered 51 yards for Berluti's fourth passing touchdown of the day.
Hamilton would add another touchdown in the fourth, but Tufts came back with one of the best drives of the season, using up 10:52 of clock in the fourth quarter as it marched 81 yards on 17 plays before
Joey Dellumo pushed in from a yard out for his first career touchdown.
The offensive stats were dominated by the Jumbos on the day, as Tufts chalked up 30 first downs which tied for the most this season. Tufts had the ball for 35:16 of the game, and averaged 8.7 yards per play including 16.5 yards per completion. The defensive unit also excelled, picking off Hamilton three times while holding Hamilton to only 293 yards of offense. Tufts was also a very strong 6-for-10 on third downs while picking up both of its fourth-down attempts.
Johnson had one of his best games as a Jumbo, as he rushed for a career-high 148 yards on 22 carries while adding a pair of receptions for 15 yards. Berluti finished 20-of-26 for 349 yards and four touchdowns, while
Luke Leongas came off the bench to complete both of his passes for 20 yards. Richardson pulled in eight of his 12 targets for 151 yards and a touchdown, and Lutz added seven grabs for 117 yards and his two scores.
Berluti also moved into No. 2 on the single-season passing list at Tufts, as he now sits with 2256 yards through seven games. He trails only Anthony Fucillo and his 2,475 yards from 2010. Berluti also tied for the second-most touchdowns thrown in a season with 17 after his four Saturday, behind only the 19 from Jacob Carroll in 2019. Lutz moved into the No. 3 spot on single season receiving yardage, behind only his season from a year ago (1047) and Frank Roche in 2019 (989).
On the other side of the ball,
Will McCreery finished with seven tackles, a career-high for the senior, while
EJ Comerford added five stops and a hurry.
Louis Timmins posted his NESCAC-leading fourth pick of the season, while
Kristian Rosario and
Victor Garza also each had interceptions in the win.
Will Duncanson also came in off the bench to post a pair of tackles for loss.
Banbury finished 9-of-18 for 114 yards through the air for Hamilton, while also rushing for 76 yards and a score. Leo Gerst had 46 yards on 13 carries, and Mark Howrigan made six catches for 114 yards receiving. Cole Rivell posted 10 stops and a forced fumble as well for the Continentals.
Tufts will head out on the road for the final time in 2022, as it take on Colby College Saturday, November 5 in Waterville, ME in NESCAC play.
--JUMBOS--
