WILLIAMSTOWN, MA (October 26, 2024) -- The Tufts University football team posted four interceptions Saturday at Williams College, recovering a late onside kick to hold on for a 27-24 win over the Ephs in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) play from Farley-Lamb Field.
The win was an important one for the Jumbos (5-2, 5-2 NESCAC), who stay alive in the quest for a conference championship. Tufts has won three straight games now, and moved to 2-1 on the road in 2024.
For the fourth straight game, Tufts scored on its opening drive of a contest as the Jumbos went 31 yards over 10 plays before sophomore quarterback
Justin Keller scored his first collegiate touchdown on a 15-yard rush to make it 7-0 at 9:49 of the first quarter. The carry was Keller's first of his career.
The Jumbos would double their lead early in the second quarter, as Tufts went 87 yards on five players before sophomore
Christian Shapiro pushed in from two yards out for his sixth touchdown of the season. The big play on the drive was a 41-yard completion from senior
Michael Berluti to classmate Cade More to the Williams 2-yard line.
Williams would score the game's next 10 points, including getting an touchdown run from sophomore quarterback Owen McHugh with 38 seconds to play in the opening half to make it 14-10. On the first play of the next drive, Berluti was picked up to give the ball back to the Ephs but Tufts'
Ty Richardson returned the favor with a pick in the end zone to end the first half.
After halftime, Tufts took the first drive of the third quarter and marched 68 yards on 14 plays before junior
Vaughn Seelicke connected on a 22-yard field goal to make it 17-10. The field was Seelicke's 12th of the season, which set a new single-season record for makes in a year by a Tufts' place kicker.
The score would remain at 17-10 until early in the fourth quarter when Williams tied the score at 17 after McHugh connected with Cameron Lee for a 3-yard touchdown reception with 13:39 to play in regulation.
The Jumbos were able to move the ball on their next drive, but it stalled at their own 45 before having to punt the ball back to Williams. Tufts' defense was strong on the next possession, getting the ball back with just under nine minutes to go. The Jumbos would regain the lead with just over three minutes left, completing a nine-play, 72-yard drive with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Berluti to Moore to make it 24-17.
On the next possession for Williams, junior linebacker
Jeff Xu made a great leaping interception at the Williams 36 and returned it 23 yards to set up Tufts in great field position. The Jumbos ran the ball three times, making Williams use al three timeouts before Seelicke nailed a 32-yard field goal to make it a two-score game at 27-17.
The field goal would be huge for the visitors, as the Ephs scored in just 55 seconds on a 22-yard touchdown catch by Luke Bobo to make it 27-24 with 1:20 to play. On the ensuing onside kick, Richardson was sure-handed on the recovery to secure the big road win for the Jumbos.
The Jumbos finished with 366 yards of total offense on Saturday, including 220 yards on the ground. Berluti was just 12-for-24 for 146 yards and a touchdown passing, while adding 62 yards rushing. Shapiro recorded a career-high 131 yards on the ground, averaging 5.7 yards per carry, and Keller also had 27 yards rushing on four totes.
Moore posted a nice day receiving with 106 yards on six catches, and
Jack Elliott also pulled in three balls for 23 yards.
Johnny Ferrelli had a great day with nine total tackles and a tackle for loss, while
Henry Ferrelli had five tackles and his first interception of the season. Richardson had four stops, including one for loss, along with his pick and pass break-up.
Louis Timmins also had an interception, as the four picks were the most in a game for a Tufts defense since picking off four passes against Colby College on November 4, 2017.
It was also a record breaking day for Seelicke, as the junior finished the day with 86 point after touchdowns in his career. He moved ahead of Matt Alswanger and his 84 in his career. Seelicke is now the single game, season and career leader in field goals made, and also the PAT leader for a single game, season and career.
McHugh finished 15-for-34 for 212 yards and two scores and three interceptions, adding 68 yards rushing. Jon Oris had 60 yards rushing as well, and Mario Fischetti posted 50 yards rushing on two carries. Owen Johansen also led the Ephs receiving with 71 yards on four receptions.
Tufts has now knocked off Williams eight of the last 10 meetings and is 4-1 in the last five contests in Williamstown.
Tufts will finish its road slate next Saturday, November 2 at 1 p.m. in Waterville, ME, battling Colby College in NESCAC play.
--JUMBOS--
