MEDFORD, MA (November 1, 2023) - The Jumbos finish their 2023 home schedule at Ellis Oval/Zimman Field on Saturday afternoon against the Colby College Mules.
Game Details
Opponent: vs. Colby College (3-3, 3-3 NESCAC)
Date: Saturday, November 4, 2023
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Medford, MA – Ellis Oval / Zimman Field (
Directions)
Weather: Partly cloudy, high of 60, Chance of rain: 2%, Wind: WSW 9mph
Live Coverage:
LIVE STATS –
LIVE VIDEO
Senior Salute
Saturday is Senior Day, as the team will honor 23 Jumbos for their hard work and dedication to the Tufts football program over the last four years. The football class of 2023 includes players
Gus Bickert,
Luke Botsford,
EJ Comerford,
Matt Crowley,
Jonathan Faber,
Richie Ferrelli,
Andrew Franco, Victor Garza,
Drew Guida,
Ed Iuteri,
Robbie Moret,
Kent Oliver,
Shane Reiner,
Jaden Richardson,
Javier Rios,
Kristian Rosario,
Patrick Walsh,
Travis White,
Marshall Wiese,
Andrew Wiesley and
Jeremy Zuniga. Their classmates Stephen Michaels (student assistant coach) and Dylan Johnson (game day operations) will also be recognized.
The Jumbos will also thank the players who took an extra year of eligibility this season to return to the team:
Michael Butler,
Travis Cepalia,
Blair Horning, and
Jayshon Means.
Mules vs. Jumbos All-Time
Tufts has controlled the recent series between the teams with an eight-game winning streak over the Mules. That dates back to 2014 when Tufts topped Colby 28-7. The last Colby victory was in 2013 by a 37-0 score, the Mules' largest margin of victory ever against Tufts. The overall series record stands at 45-23-1 in favor of the Jumbos. Tufts won 35-7 in Maine last season and had their biggest win in series history in 2018 with a 48-0 final in Waterville.
A Look at the Jumbos
Tufts will attempt to finish the season unbeaten at home. They have wins over Bates College (44-16), Williams College (28-10), and Wesleyan University (49-14) thus far. That's an aggregate score of 121-40 in front of the home crowd this season.
The Jumbos dropped to 5-2 overall with last week's 36-34 five-overtime loss at Hamilton College. Tufts led the Continentals 17-0 at the half. However, the hosts rallied to tie the game on a last-second field goal and then won it in overtime. The loss for the Jumbos stopped a five-game winning streak that had been the team's longest since late in the 2016 season through early in 2017.
At Hamilton, Richardson became Tufts' all-time leader in touchdown receptions with two more. His 13 touchdowns in 2023 and seven last year give him 20 as a Jumbo, surpassing the 23-year old team record of 19 touchdown catches set by David Halas (2005-08). Richardson, who leads NESCAC in touchdowns and receiving yards (694) this season, needs one touchdown to tie the team's single-season mark of 14 set by his former teammate
Phil Lutz last year.
The Jumbos also had a 100-yard rushing day from junior
Chartellis Reece last week, his third of the season. Reece gained 168 yards on a season-high 27 carries and had a one-yard run to open the scoring early in the first quarter. With 660 rushing yards this season, Reece leads the league and has almost 200 more than any other NESCAC back. Behind his lead, Tufts is first in the conference for rushing with 187.4 yards per game.
The Jumbo offensive line continued to protect junior quarterback
Michael Berluti (203 yards, 3 total touchdowns at Hamilton). Tufts has allowed just one sack this season, back in the Bowdoin game on October 7, and leads the nation in fewest sacks allowed. On the other side of the ball, the Jumbo defense has 19 sacks to tie for second overall in NESCAC. They recorded four last week, including 2.5 for 20 yards in losses by Rios. He was named to the D3football Team of the Week for his performance. Tufts also intercepted two passes last week, including the third of the season and seventh of his career by
Louis Timmins.
A Look at the Mules
The Mules (3-3) were idle last week after three games scheduled to be played in Maine were postponed following the tragic events in Lewiston. Colby also lost to Hamilton, 17-6, in their most recent game on October 21.
Colby's home game against Middlebury College last Saturday was postponed until November 18. The Trinity at Bowdoin and Williams at Bates games were also postponed from last week until November 18.
The Mules had won three in a row (Bates, Wesleyan, Amherst) before losing to Hamilton at home last time out. Colby enters week eight of the season ranked seventh in both scoring (16.0 points per game) and points allowed (23.5 ppg). Their yardage statistics are eighth for gained (273.7) and sixth for allowed (331.8).
Colby has been good defensively ranking fourth in both rushing defense and passing defense for yards allowed. Junior linebacker Julian Young leads the league in tackles per game at 12.0, including 4.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage. Sophomore Jack Mullen on the defensive line, and freshman Lincoln Merrill in the defensive backfield have also been statistical leaders for the Mule defense.
On offense, junior Keon Smart is a multi-purpose back who is ranked fifth in the conference with 312 rushing yards. Senior Thomas Keeling has taken the majority of snaps at quarterback for Colby, although sophomore Miles Drake has also seen a good amount of action. Junior Matt McHugh has been a reliable receiver, ranking eighth in NESCAC with 28 receptions for 420 yards and a score. Junior receiver Jack Sawyer had both of Colby's touchdowns, including the game-winner on the first play of overtime, in the Mules' first win over Wesleyan since 2009 on October 7.
Freshman kicker Chrisos Tzoumaskis is a two-time NESCAC Special Teams Player of the Week for Colby. He kicked a 25-yard field goal with three seconds left to help deliver a 19-16 win over Amherst on October 14. Sophomore Subomi Soyoye and junior Brendan Sawyer have combined to lead the league in kick returns. Between both Sawyers, Smart and Tzoumaskis, Colby has won five Player of the Week honors this fall.
Next Week
The Jumbos will finish their 2023 campaign with a trip to Middlebury College next weekend. Mules will host in-state rival Bowdoin College on November 11.
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