MEDFORD, MA (November 9, 2023) -- The Tufts University football team finishes up its 2023 season this upcoming Saturday for the annual season-ending contest with Middlebury College, as the Jumbos travel up to Vermont to take on the Panthers in a big game with title implications in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC). The Jumbos are coming off a dominating performance against Colby College on Senior Day, as the Jumbos knocked off the Mules 38-0 as they allowed less than 100 yards of offense while surrendering just five first downs on the game.
Game Details
Opponent: at Middlebury College (6-1, 6-1 NESCAC)
Date: Saturday, November 11, 2023
Time: 12:30 p.m.
Location: Middlebury, VT – Youngman Field at Alumni Stadium
Weather: Partly Cloudy, High 30s, Chance of Rain: 5%, Wind: NW 5-10 MPH
Live Coverage:
LIVE STATS –
LIVE VIDEO
Panthers vs. Jumbos All-Time
Dating back to 1976, the Jumbos have a 17-24 record against the Panthers of Middlebury, with the latest meeting coming last season in Somerville, MA. In that contest,
Phil Lutz broke the school record for touchdown catches with six, as the Jumbos topped Middlebury College 65-34 at Ellis Oval. The Jumbos are 5-2 against Middlebury over the last seven seasons, but prior to that Middlebury had won 13 straight from 2022 to 2014. Tufts is 9-14 since 1976 on the road in Vermont.
Looking at the Jumbos (6-2)
Tufts is looking for its third seven win season since 2000, as the Jumbos earned seven victories in 2016 and 2018. The Jumbos are still in reach of their first ever NESCAC title if it can pick up a win this weekend, and then get a loss by Trinity College over its final two contests either this weekend against Wesleyan University or at Bowdoin College next weekend.
The Jumbos come to town with the second-best offensive unit in the NESCAC, as the Jumbos have score 270 points on the year, averaging 33.8 points per game. Tufts is third in defensive scoring with 17.3 points per game, while its 248.5 yards per game allowed is second-best in the NESCAC. Tufts offense has posted 417.6 yards per game in 2023, second-best in the league, while leading the conference with 185.0 rushing yards per game this season. The blue and brown are also tops in the NESCAC in passing defense, allowing just 142.8 yards per contest in the air this season including allowing a 43.5 percent completion rate on the season. Tufts defensive efficiency rate is the best in the NESCAC.
Tufts leads the NESCAC in sacks with 23 on the season, and has allowed only three sacks in 2023, also best in the conference. The Jumbos pace the NESCAC this season in third down conversion rate, converting 48.7 percent on third town, while also holding teams to just 15 first downs per game which ranks second in the league. Individually, Tufts has three rushers in the top 20 in the league in yards per game, as
Chartellis Reece leads the conference with 683 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023.
Aundre Smith is coming off his best game as a Jumbo last week, and is currently 18th in the league with 183 yards and three scores.
Junior
Michael Berluti is fifth in passing yards this season in the conference, posting 1788 on the season, while his 19 touchdowns is tied for second. Berluti is also in the top five in rushing yardage with 56.9 yards per game, as he is second in total offense with 280.4 yards per game.
Jaden Richardson is fourth in the conference in passing yardage per game with 95.5, and his 13 touchdown receptions leads the league.
Cade Moore ranks 12th in the league with 52.3 yards per contest. Richardson is two touchdowns shy of the season record of 15, set by Zach Driscoll of Middlebury in 2012. The Tufts record is 14, set by Lutz last season in 2022.
Shane Reiner has had a fantastic season with 7.0 tackles for loss in 2023, and
Javier Rios and
Ed Iuteri have each found their names on the D3football.com Team of the Week the past two weeks after stellar performances.
Louis Timmins has eight total passes defended, and
Suleiman Abuaqel has four sacks this season.
Looking at Middlebury (6-1)
The Panthers still have two games to play in 2023, as Middlebury College had a game postponed until next week at Colby College following events in Maine on October 24. Middlebury currently sits in first place in the NESCAC, with its only loss coming at Wesleyan University back on September 23.
The Panthers are currently ranked No. 3 in total offense in the NESCAC, posting 28.1 points per game while posting 392.9 yards per game. The Middlebury passing offense has been strong in 2023, tossing for 291.0 yards per game while posting 101.9 yards on the ground per game. On defense, Middlebury is tied for the conference lead in sacks with 23, while also posting 10 interceptions. Middlebury has also done a great job on third downs on defense, allowing only 31.9 percent success to opposition. Special teams are also a big part of the success for the Panthers, as they rank first in kickoff return yardage with 21.1 per return while also ranking first in kick-off yardage and punt average. Middlebury's net punting average of 37.7 yards is four yards longer than the next closest team, Williams, at 33.6. Middlebury has also connected on all 23 extra points this season.
Cole Kennon is second in the NESCAC in passing yardage with 1929 this season, tossing 16 touchdowns to go with a league-high 12 picks. Kennon is also first in total offense with 287.7 yards per game. Middlebury doesn't have a single rusher in the top 20 in the league rushing, but has four runners with over 100 yards this season led by the 134 yards from Ollie Orvis. Walker Coleman also has picked up 133 yards this season. The Panthers have three receivers that are having strong seasons, as Patrick Jamin leads the team with 42 catches on 667 yards, scoring five times. Donovan Wood has five touchdown grabs on 35 receptions, and Mike Ohonen has pulled in 28 balls for 416 yards.
On defense, the Panthers like to get to the quarterback as Thomas Kenary and Davie Filias was 1-2 in sacks this season with a combined 15.5 on the year. Kenary leads the conference in tackles for loss with 16 this season, while Filias is third in that category with 11. Finn Muldoon is third in the conference in total tackles with 63, and John McCool has 55 tackles including 32 solo stops. Rocco Stola has a team-high six passes defensed. Cole Crider is averaging 41.2 yards with only two touchbacks and 10 inside the 20 punting, adding six of over 50 yards. Zach Levy is 8-of-11 on field goals this season.
--JUMBOS--
