BRUNSWICK, ME (October 7, 2023) -- The Tufts University football team allowed just 155 yards of total offense including just 38 rushing yards as the Jumbos earned a 24-10 road victory over Bowdoin College in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) play from Whittier Field in Brunswick, Maine on a windy, rainy evening.
The 155 yards against were the fewest surrendered for the Tufts defensive unit since letting up just 124 against Colby College in a 48-0 win on November 3, 2018. The Jumbos posted a season-high five sacks on the night, while holding the Polar Bears to only four third-down conversions in 17 attempts.
The night's victory didn't start how the Jumbos would have wanted, as they fumbled the first play from scrimmage which turned into a 26-yard field goal for Bowdoin to give the hosts a quick 3-0 lead just three minutes into the game.
Two drives later, the Jumbos would even the score at 5:17 of the first quarter, as
Vaughn Seelicke connected on a 30-yard field goal to cap a seven-play, 21-yard drive after a short punt from the hosts. Bowdoin came right back down on the next drive, trekking 75 yards on 10 plays before Robbie Long plunged in from four yards out for a 10-3 lead for the Polar Bears.
From that point on though it was all Jumbos, as Tufts needed just one play to score following a 7-yard punt as
Michael Berluti connected with
Jaden Richardson for his seventh score of the season from 24 yards out to make it 10-10 with 11:35 left in the half.
After another three-and-out for the Polar Bears handed the ball back to the Jumbos, and Berluti scampered 45 yards on the first play of the drive to set the ball up at the Bowdoin 10. Three plays later, Berluti hooked up with Richardson once again for an 8-yard touchdown reception to make it 17-10 at the half.
The first drive of the third quarter ended with more points for the Jumbos, as
Chartellis Reece busted a 9-yard rush to end an 8-play, 90-yard drive. Tufts would allow just 19 yards of offense over the first four drives of the second half, clinching the win with three sacks on the final drive including two from senior
Drew Guida.
In all, the Jumbos forced eight punts, two turnovers on downs and picked off one pass to end drives after the first quarter.
Berluti was 15-for-28 for 172 yards and two touchdowns Saturday, rushing for 48 yards on the ground on 10 attempts. Reece finished with 26 yards on 12 carries and four receptions for 11 yards as Tufts finished with 91 yards rushing.
Junior
Henry Fleckner posted his two grabs for a career-high 76 yards Saturday night, including a personal-best 62-yarder in the second half. Richardson caught four balls for 48 yards and the two scores, as he leads the NESCAC with eight receiving touchdowns this season.
CJ Burton pulled in three catches as well for Tufts.
Suleiman Abuaqel had his best game as a Jumbo, as the defensive end finished with four tackles for loss and three total sacks on the night.
Jameer Alves had five solo tackles, and
EJ Comerford tallied four stops and two for loss.
Kristian Rosario intercepted his first pass of the season in addition to his two tackles, and
Louis Timmins broke up a pair of passes.
Punter
Patrick Walsh had his best game of the season, as he finished with an average of 51 yards on his four kicks including two inside the 20 and a long of 66 yards. He also had five touchbacks on five kick-offs in the driving rain. Seelicke was perfect on his four kicks, nailing all three of his extra points as well as his field goal.
Long led the Polar Bears (2-2, 2-2 NESCAC) in rushing with 51 yards on 16 carries, while Andrew Boel was 7-for-24 for 117 yards and an interception. It was the second straight week the Jumbos have held a quarterback to less than 10 completions. Tufts surrendered just 0.9 yards per carry on Saturday,
The Jumbos (3-1, 3-1 NESCAC) will be back at Ellis Oval next Saturday, October 14 at 6:30 p.m. to battle Wesleyan University for more conference action.
--JUMBOS--
