MEDFORD, MA (November 4, 2024) -- The Tufts University football team, winners in four straight contests to get to 6-2 on the season, will look to cap its strong season on Saturday, November 9 as Middlebury College comes to town for Senior Day at Ellis Oval. Tufts is fresh off its second straight road victory Saturday afternoon, holding off host Colby College for a 28-21 win in Waterville.
The Jumbos scored on their first two drives, and took a 21-14 lead into the halftime locker room.
Cade Moore caught a TD pass in the second half to put the Jumbos up two scores, and Tufts was able to run out the clock on the final drive to earn the victory.
Michael Berluti surpassed 10,000 yards of total offense for his career Saturday, the first ever NESCAC player to accomplish that feat, while
Christian Shapiro scored twice in addition to his third 100-yard game in the last four. Middlebury is coming off a 35-0 home rivalry win over Hamilton College to retain the Old Rocking Chair. Middlebury out-gained Hamilton 429-191 in the game and scored in all five red zone chances against the Continentals.
Game Details
Opponent: vs. Middlebury College (6-2, 6-2 NESCAC)
Date: Saturday, November 9, 2024
Time: 12:30 p.m.
Location: Somerville, Massachusetts –
Ellis Oval -
Directions
Weather: Sunny, Low 50s, Chance of Rain: 0%, Wind: NW 10-15 MPH
Live Coverage:
LIVE STATS –
LIVE VIDEO
Panthers vs. Jumbos All-Time
In one of the most competitive series on the Tufts schedule, the Jumbos and Panthers have played 42 previous times dating back to 1976 with Middlebury holding a slight 25-17 edge. The teams have split the previous six meetings since 2017, as this game has been the season finale every season since 1992. Last year, Middlebury sealed a 19-10 win with a 59-yard pick-six with 1:26 to go in regulation to finish the season 8-1 and with a share of the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) title. Two seasons ago, Tufts lit up the scoreboard thanks to an aerial assault that saw quarterback
Michael Berluti toss seven touchdowns while Phil Lutz pulled in 10 balls fo 237 yards and six touchdowns in a 65-34 win.
A Look At The Jumbos (6-2, 6-2 NESCAC)
The Tufts squad is looking to up its win streak to five with a win Saturday, which would be only the third five-game winning streak in a single season since 1990. Also, a victory would give the Jumbos seven wins and a share of second-place in the NESCAC, marking the fourth seven-win season since 1990 and only the second runner-up finish in NESCAC history for the Jumbos. This past Saturday the Jumbos picked up their third road victory of the season to finish 3-1 away from Somerville with a 28-21 win at Colby College. Tufts tallied a score on its first drive for the seventh time in eight games this year, while sophomore
Christian Shapiro scored his 8th rushing touchdown of the campaign with two scores.
Michael Berluti was 20-for-28 and one touchdown, adding a rushing touchdown as well. Berluti comes into this weekend with 83 total touchdowns (passing, receiving and rushing) for his career, and Moore tied for fourth all-time with his 12th touchdown grab of his career.
The Jumbos come into this weekend's contest with the league's second-rated offense with 386.9 yards per game, ranking third in rushing yards with 1172 on the season with 14 touchdowns. Tufts' passing attack is ranked second on the season with 240.4 yards per game, though the touchdown total of nine is seventh in the NESCAC. Shapiro moved up into No. 3 in the NESCAC in rushing with 613 yards on the season with his 100-yard effort this weekend, as he has averaged 76.6 yards per game this year. Shapiro is second in the league in touchdowns with eight, behind only Ryan Lynskey of Bates College. Berluti is also 12th in rushing in the conference with his 33.6 yards per contest.
Berluti is second in the NESCAC in passing this season with his 1901 yards on the year, and he has a chance to post his third 2000 yard passing season on Saturday with 99 yards.
Cade Moore is fourth in the NESCAC in receiving this season with 75.1 yards per game, adding six touchdown grabs ot his resume, while
Matt Rios is 14th in yards per game with 40.5 this season. Senior tight end
Jack Elliott ranks No. 20 in the NESCAC, while his yards per grab of 18.1 is sixth-best in the NESCAC.
Henry Fleckner has also pulled in 20 balls on the year. The offensive line has been steady and sound all year, as the same starting five has combined to help Tufts to the NESCAC's top red zone scores with 30 on the year. Tufts also has allowed just seven sacks all season.
On the defensive side of the ball, Tufts ranks No. 4 in the league in total yardage allowed per game with 313.3 per contest. Tufts passing defense is second in the NESCAC with just 1502 yards allowed all season, while the rush defense has also been stout allowing only 3.9 yards per carry on the season. The Jumbos are second in the conference in interceptions with 13 this year, and are third in red zone defense forcing six stops inside the 20-yard line including three picks and two turnovers on downs. With one week to go, Tufts is allowing teams to pick up 36.4 percent of third downs, sixth-best in the NESCAC.
The tackling duo of
Jameer Alves and
Henry Ferrelli have combined for 91 tackles this season, ranking 17th and 18th in the conference respectively.
Ty Richardson is tied for the conference lead in interceptions with five this year, and
Louis Timmins also has three takeaways at cornerback for the Jumbos. Despite the sack numbers not being huge, the defensive line has been strong for Tufts thanks to the rotation of
Dom DeCrescenzo,
Javier Rios,
Vince Gilchrist,
Kyle King and
Jalen Hill.
Special teams has been a highlight of the season as well for the Jumbos, as junior
Vaughn Seelicke is tops in the NESCAC in field goal makes with 13, while sophomore punter
Andrew Leigh ranks fourth in net punting with 38.3 yards per game on the league's fewest attempts. Senior
Aundre Smith is first in the conference in kick return average at 25.8 yards per opportunity, including a 52-yard season long.
Tufts will be honoring its seniors on Saturday prior to the game, with Senior Day festivities starting 35 minutes prior to kickoff.
Head coach
Jay Civetti evened his career mark at Tufts at 55-55 on Saturday with his win against Colby College, as he has gone 55-31 over the last 10 seasons with the Jumbos.
A Look At The Panthers (6-2, 6-2 NESCAC)
Middlebury is looking for its third straight season with seven or more wins this weekend, after posting a 35-0 win over Hamilton College last weekend on Senior Day. Middlebury would be playing for a share of the NESCAC title on Saturday, but a one-point loss at Bates College on October 26 hampered that cause. Prior to the Bates' contest, the Panthers had won five straight including a 24-21 win over Trinity College to hand the Bantams their lone loss of the 2024 season. In the win last weekend, Brian Moran tossed for three touchdowns while going 25-for-35, and Connor McClellan and Isaiah Izzo Lizardi also scored on the ground for Middlebury.
The Panthers, who are five-time NESCAC champions in program history, earned a share of the title last season but will be looking for its fourth runner-up finish if it can win on Saturday. Middlebury ranks No. 3 in total offense in the NESCAC with 365.9 yards of offense per game, while the 26 touchdowns are third in the conference in 2024. Middlebury is in the middle of the pack in rushing, ranking No. 5 in the league with 127 yards per game while the passing attack is third-best on the season. Middlebury has a two-headed monster at running back, as Carter Stockwell and McClellan have combined to rush for 79.2 yards per game while McClellan has six touchdowns on the year.
Moran is third in the NESCAC in passing yardage with 1884 yards on the season, while his 16 touchdown passes rank second in the conference. Patrick Jamin has posted 46 grabs, third-most in the conference, to go with 631 yards and five touchdowns while teammate Mike Ahonen has four touchdowns and 36 catches for 385 yards this season. Ethan Vashel is sixth in the NESCAC in yards with 481, averaging 16 yards per grab.
Defensively, Middlebury's leading tackler is Matt Shaw as he has 55 stops on the year, which includes four sacks. All-American Tomas Kenary is seventh in the NESCAC in tackles for loss with nine on the year, ranking sixth in sacks in the NESCAC with 5.5 this season. Teddy Daniel has broken up 11 passes on the year, second-best in the conference, and teammate Charlie Ozolin has four interceptions as well to pace the Panthers. Middlebury ranks fourth in rushing defense this season, while its passing defensive unit has allowed 207.6 yards per game, second-most on the season of any NESCAC side.
Middlebury head coach Doug Mandigo is 14-3 in his two seasons at the helm of the Panthers.
NESCAC Week 9 Schedule
Amherst at Williams (Noon)
Bates at Hamilton (Noon)
Wesleyan at Trinity (Noon)
Middlebury at Tufts (12:30 p.m.)
Colby at Bowdoin (5:00 p.m.)
--JUMBOS--
