SOMERVILLE, MA (October 10, 2026) -- Sophomore quarterback Nate Johnson scored from 17 yards out with nine seconds to play, helping the Tufts University football team rally for a 20-13 home victory over Bowdoin College in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) action from Ellis Oval. 

It was a big night for the signal caller, who was making his first start of the season and only his second career start. Johnson finished with a strong 302 yards of total offense individually, as he passed for 178 yards while rushing for 124 and one score in helping the Jumbos come back for the win. 

Tufts (3-1) got on the board early in the game as senior kicker Caden Lawlor nailed his first goal attempt of the season from 25 yards out to cash in on a 10-play, 92-yard drive and make it 3-0. 

Bowdoin would get the ensuing kick-off and march 75 yards over 13 plays before Soren Hummel connected with Peter Macauley for a three-yard touchdown pass to make it 7-3. Bowdoin added a field goal in the second quarter to take a 10-3 lead into the halftime intermission. 

The Jumbos would deadlock the game in the third quarter after a 13-play, 74-yard drive, as junior Caden McCallum pushed in from three-yards out for his first career touchdown to make it 10-10 with 2:09 to go in the third frame. Tufts had the ball for 11:54 of the 15 minutes in the third quarter, outgaining Bowdoin 108-16 in the frame. 

The Polar Bears regained the lead early in the fourth quarter as Caden Perry banked in a 41-yard field goal off the left upright and in to give Bowdoin a 13-10 lead. 

Tufts had a chance to tie the game on its next drive, but the 44-yard field goal by Lawlor had the distance but missed wide left to give the ball back to the Polar Bears with 5:19 to play. Tufts would force a three-and-out, and on the ensuing punt senior Ben Frisoli blocked the punt out of the end zone for a safety to make it 13-12 with 3:35 to go. 

After the free kick, Tufts was set up at its own 43 yard line needing any score to take the lead. Tufts slowly moved the ball down the field, highlighted by a diving catch on the sideline by senior Matt Rios to put Tufts at the Bowdoin 30. After four rushes up the middle and a pair of timeouts by the Jumbos, Tufts had the ball on 2nd and 7 with under 20 seconds to play. On the next play, Johnson faked the inside handoff to McCallum, peeling around the left end and darting inside the pylon for a 17-yard touchdown score to make it 18-12. 

Tufts added a two-point conversion on the next play, as Johnson hooked up with Granville Anderson II near the goal line and the junior wide out stretched the ball over the pylon to make it a 20-13 Jumbos' lead. 

Bowdoin's last chance came with three seconds to go, as their lateral drill would get stopped at the 45-yard line to secure the victory for the Jumbos.

Johnson was 13-for-20 overall passing, while needing 12 carries to get to his 124 yards on the ground. His first carry of the game was his long, going 56 yards to help set up the opening field goal. 

McCallen had 84 yards on the ground, adding five catches for 54 yards, while John Getman had 58 yards through the air on two catches. Anderson and Keller Rogers each had two catches, and Matt Greco had a 37-yard reception as well. 

Ryan Horigan had eight tackles including one for loss, and Johnny Ferrelli totaled six stops. Justin Keller and Drew Reed each had four tackles, and Cameron Pineda finished with three tackles and two pass break-ups. The win was the 11th straight for the Jumbos over Bowdoin. 

Tufts outgained the Polar Bears 402-193 for the night, holding a 34:05-25:55 edge in time of possession. The Jumbos were 6-for-14 on third downs. 

Bowdoin saw Nelson Dorsey rush f or 64 yards on 18 carries, and Jude Baker finished with five catches for 34 yards. Hummel was 19-of-27 for 125 yards through the air. 

Ferris Collins had 14 tackles, and Charlie Saurack posted 13 stops as well. 

Tufts (3-1) will host Trinity College (4-0) at Ellis Oval Saturday, October 17 at 1:30 p.m. next weekend.