SOMERVILLE, MA (November 12, 2022) -- Sophomore
Michael Berluti and senior receiver
Phil Lutz had monster games Saturday afternoon, as the pair helped the Tufts Football team to a 65-34 win over Middlebury College in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) and season finale from Ellis Oval.
Berluti finished the contest with eight total touchdowns and 475 yards of total offense. Both numbers were school records for Berluti, while his seven touchdown passes ties a NESCAC record. Lutz posted 10 grabs for 237 yards and six touchdown receptions, just one shy of the NCAA Division III record of seven. The pair also broke the school record for passing yardage and TDs in a season, as well as receiving yardage and touchdown grabs in a campaign. Lutz finished the year with 78 catches for 1221 yards and 14 touchdowns, while Berluti finished the year with 2749 yards, 26 touchdown passes and five rushing scores.
The sophomore signal caller ended Saturday 19-of-31 for 294 yards and seven touchdowns through the air, while rushing for a career-high 181 yards and one touchdown. The 475 yards were the 10th most in Division III this year and the most in the NESCAC in 2022. Lutz's six touchdown grabs are most of any game at any level of NCAA football this season.
The Jumbos wasted no time getting on the board after a stop on the opening drive of the game, as Lutz took a slant and rumbled down the sideline for a 63-yard touchdown reception just 99 seconds into the game. After another stop defensively, Lutz and Berluti connected once again, this time from 44 yards out at 10:19 of the first quarter to make the score 14-0 in favor of the hosts.
The solid start of the game continued for the Jumbos, as Berluti connected with
Jackson Butler for a 14-yard touchdown grab to complete a five-play, 38-yard drive over 2:04 of the period. Middlebury (7-2) got on the board at 14:09 of the second quarter with a Cole Kennon pass to Greg Livingston, but Berluti hit Lutz from 12-yards out on the next drive to push the Jumbo lead back up to three scores.
Middlebury tallied back-to-back scores separated by 1:31 to make it a 28-20 game but Berluti came right back with a score before the half, as he finished a 10-play, 75-yard drive. The scoring play came with 12 seconds to go in the period, as Lutz was hit right on the goal line and pushed across for a three-yard touchdown grab to make it 35-20 at the break.
Right after halftime, Lutz pulled in another catch for a score, racing in from 70 yards out to make it a three-score game at 42-20. On the ensuing drive,
Matty Drouillard made an amazing play as he sacked Cole Kennon, forced a fumble and picked up the loose ball before racing in from 10 yards out to make it 42-26.
The passing onslaught continued later in the third, as Lutz was found for another Berluti strike from seven yards out for his sixth score of the game. Late in the fourth quarter Berluti put a bow on the scoring with another dazzling play, as he rumbled 50 yards on the ground for his eighth total touchdown of the game.
Senior
Tyler Johnson had a monster game on Saturday, as he rushed for a career-high 164 yards on 36 carries. Butler finished with four for 41 yards, and
Cade Moore added three grabs for 22 yards.
Vaughn Seelicke also had a great game, as he broke the school record for point after touchdowns in a season Saturday, finishing with 38 on the season after his eight against Middlebury. He also connected on a 30-yard field goal.
Defensively,
Cam O'Brien led the team with five tackles while Johnathan ONeal and
Jeremy Zuniga each had interceptions for the Jumbos. Tufts posted a 27-17 edge in first downs, and posted 639 yards of total offense. The team yardage total was third-most in a game ever at Tufts, behind only the 671 yards against Amherst on October 30, 2010 and the 662 yards against Bowdoin on October 19, 2019.
The Jumbos also held a decided 37:56-22:04 edge in time of possession, while averaging nearly eight yards per play. Middlebury was led by the five catches and 87 yards from Donovan Wood, while Kennon finished 17-of-34 on the day for 233 yards and two scores. Saturday's game marked the end of a storied career for Middlebury head coach Bob Ritter, who finishes his tenure at Middlebury 112-61. Ritter was previously an assistant football coach and lacrosse head coach at Tufts.
Tufts finishes the season 6-3, the most wins in a season since posting a 7-2 mark in 2018, while tying for third-place in the NESCAC. The squad also honored 28 seniors prior to the game for their hard work and dedication to the program.
--JUMBOS--
