SOMERVILLE, MA (September 28, 2024) -- The stingy Tufts University defense held visiting Amherst College to just 119 total yards and no points while picking off three passes in a dominating 25-0 win over the Mammoths in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) play from Ellis Oval Saturday.
The shutout for the Jumbos was their second in the last five games, while the blanking of Amherst (2-1, 2-1 NESCAC) was the first shutout of the Mammoths since a 23-0 win in 1992. The home win over Amherst was also the first since the 2007 season when Tufts earned a 29-10 win.
Saturday's victory was all about the Jumbos (2-1, 2-1 NESCAC) ability to get off the field, forcing the Mammoths into a 3-of-11 rate on third downs while surrendering only 94 passing yards and 25 yards on the ground. The 119 yards of offense against was the second-fewest allowed by a Tufts defense in the last 10 years. Tufts allowed only 70 yards in a 38-0 win over Colby College last November 4. The 25 yards surrendered on the ground were the fewest for a Tufts squad since allowing -11 against Hamilton College on September 15, 2018.
The two teams would have their first two drives stopped by interceptions, but Tufts was the first to get on the board as the Jumbos cashed in a seven play, 54-yard drive with a 30-yard field goal from
Vaughn Seelicke.
Tufts would add onto its lead at 13:18 of the second quarter, as
Michael Berluti scored his first rushing touchdown of 2024 with a five-yard scamper to make it 10-0. Amherst had one of its best drives of the game following the Tufts' score, but
Jameer Alves broke up a 4th and 2 at the Jumbos 38 to stop the push for the Mammoths.
Following the stop Tufts netted another score as Berluti scored from 25 yards out on a keeper, and senior back-up quarterback
Luke Leongas took the direct snap on the conversion and went untouched into the end zone for two points to make it 18-0.
After halftime, Tufts got a quick three-and-out, and then went 66 yards over nine plays before Berluti hit senior
Cade Moore for a 20-yard touchdown reception to up the Jumbos lead to 25-0. Down the stretch the Tufts defense would continue to hold firm, as senior
Will Duncanson picked off his second of two interceptions while
Ty Richardson also had a pick late in the game to hold Amherst scoreless.
Following Richardson's takeaway with 13:22 left in the game, Tufts finished the contest off with 17-play drive that ended on the Amherst 15 as time expired to clinch the contest. All 17 plays on the drive were run plays as the Jumbos dominated in time of possession for the game, 39:05-20:55.
Berluti finished 18-for-29 with one passing touchdown and 230 yards through the air, while also rushing for two scores and 59 yards on the ground. Sophomore
Christian Shapiro toted the ball 16 times for 84 yards, and
Khallid Calhoun also had 40 yards rushing on 12 carries.
Moore finished with 67 yards receiving on five catches, and
CJ Burton and
Henry Fleckner each had three receptions.
Matt Rios had 43 yards on two catches, while
Jack Elliott also posted 34 yards on a pair of grabs.
Alves had five stops and two pass break-ups for the Jumbos, while
Trevor Hillier also had five tackles and a quarterback hurry. Duncanson had a career day at linebacker, making four stops to go with half a sack and two interceptions. Richardson added three stops to his interception, as the Jumbos played just 44 plays on defense while averaging 2.7 yards allowed per play.
Kevin Agnew had seven stops and a fumble recovery for Amherst to lead the Mammoth defense, while Mason Morrow was 8-for-22 for 68 yards and two interceptions in the loss.
The Jumbos finished with 427 yards of total offense on Saturday and were a very strong 8-of-15 on third downs.
Tufts will take on undefeated Trinity College (Conn.) (3-0, 3-0 NESCAC) next Saturday, October 5 at 1:30 p.m. inside Ellis Oval in a big NESCAC contest.
--JUMBOS--
