Jumbos Back Out On The Road With Tilt at Williams Saturday

MEDFORD, MA (October 22, 2026) -- The Tufts University football team will look to shake off a home loss to Trinity College last Saturday, heading to Western Massachusetts for a battle with Williams College in Williamstown this Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. at Farley-Lamb Field. The Jumbos played a solid defensive game against the top offensive team in the league last week, forcing four turnovers but couldn't turn them into points in falling 28-9 to the Bantams at Ellis Oval. Junior corner Cameron Pineda had two picks for the game, while Johnny Ferrelli and Ryan Horigan also each intercepted a pass in the contest. Williams comes into Saturday's contest 4-1 after nipping Middlebury College last Saturday 20-10 up in Vermont. Williams is 2-0 at home this season, defeating Bowdoin 17-7 in Week 1 before besting Bates 34-0 two weeks ago. 

Game Details
Opponent: at Williams College (4-1, 4-1 NESCAC)
Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Location: Williamstown, Massachusetts – Farley-Lamb Field
Weather: Clear, Low 50s, Chance of Rain: 0%, Wind: NE 0-5 MPH
Live Coverage: LIVE STATS – LIVE VIDEO

Tufts vs. Williams All-Time
Williams and Tufts have played 94 previous times dating back to the first match-up in 1885, a 49-0 win for Williams. Tufts has held the momentum lately in the series, winning the last four games including a 41-20 victory last season in Somerville. The Jumbos have defeated Williams on the road the past two times out in Williamstown, defeating the Ephs 27-24 in 2024 while earning a 35-28 win in 2022. Prior to that, Tufts had gone 12-32-3 on the road in the series. 

A Look At The Jumbos (3-2) 
Tufts enters its match-up with Williams at 3-2 overall and in NESCAC play following a 28-9 loss to Trinity on Oct. 17. The Jumbos have scored 100 points through five games, averaging 20.0 points per contest, while allowing 132 points and 26.4 per game. Tufts opened the season with a 42-28 victory over Hamilton, then fell to Wesleyan before earning consecutive wins against Bates and Bowdoin. The Jumbos rank fifth in the NESCAC in scoring offense and eighth in scoring defense. Williams, meanwhile, is 4-1 and ranks seventh in scoring offense at 18.0 points per game, but its defense has allowed just 13.8 points per contest, the second-lowest average in the conference.

Offensively, Tufts has produced 1,437 total yards on 300 plays, averaging 287.4 yards per game and 4.8 yards per play. The Jumbos rank sixth in the NESCAC in total offense, narrowly ahead of Williams, which averages 277.6 yards per game. Tufts has recorded 76 first downs, including 35 rushing and 34 passing, and has maintained possession for an average of 32 minutes and 15 seconds per game. The Jumbos have converted 28 of 68 third-down opportunities, a 41.2-percent rate that ranks among the conference's stronger marks. Their 8-of-13 success rate on fourth down, or 61.5 percent, has also helped extend drives. Against a Williams defense that ranks second in the conference in total yards allowed at 245.4 per game, sustaining drives and limiting negative plays will be particularly important.

The ground game has been one of Tufts' most productive offensive components. The Jumbos have rushed 189 times for 702 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 140.4 yards per game and 3.7 yards per carry. Tufts ranks third in the NESCAC in rushing yards per game, behind Trinity and Wesleyan, while Williams ranks fourth at 138.0. Christian Shapiro leads Tufts with 266 yards and five rushing touchdowns in three games, averaging 88.7 yards per contest and 4.4 yards per attempt. Caden McCallum has added 168 yards and two touchdowns on 49 carries, while Nate Johnson has rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown. Williams has allowed just 336 rushing yards in five games, or 67.2 per contest, ranking third in the NESCAC in rushing defense. Establishing the run against that unit will be one of Tufts' biggest challenges.

Through the air, Tufts has totaled 735 yards and five touchdowns on 57 completions in 111 attempts, completing 51.4 percent of its passes. The Jumbos average 147.0 passing yards per game, ranking eighth in the NESCAC, and have thrown three interceptions. Hudson Weidman has completed 37 of 69 passes for 488 yards and five touchdowns, with two interceptions, while Johnson has completed 20 of 42 attempts for 247 yards. John Getman leads the receiving corps with 15 catches for 211 yards and a touchdown, followed by Keller Rogers with 12 receptions for 198 yards and a touchdown. Rogers also averages 16.5 yards per catch and has a team-long reception of 63 yards. Williams' pass defense has allowed 178.2 yards per game, fourth-best in the conference, and has intercepted six passes. Tufts will need to find opportunities for explosive plays while protecting the football against a disciplined secondary.

Defensively, Tufts has allowed 1,619 total yards through five games, an average of 323.8 per contest. Opponents have gained 551 rushing yards and 1,068 passing yards, with the Jumbos allowing 110.2 rushing yards and 213.6 passing yards per game. Tufts ranks sixth in the NESCAC in rushing defense but seventh in total defense and eighth in passing defense. Opponents are averaging 6.0 yards per play, compared with Tufts' offensive average of 4.8. The Jumbos have surrendered 18 touchdowns, including nine rushing and eight passing, and have allowed opponents to convert 43.8 percent of their third downs. The challenge against Williams will be limiting a balanced offense that has rushed for 690 yards and passed for 698. Williams' overall production is modest by conference standards, but its ability to distribute yardage across both phases could test Tufts' defensive consistency.

Individually, Ryan Horigan leads Tufts with 32 total tackles, including 20 solo stops, while Johnny Ferrelli is second with 31 tackles. Justin Keller has recorded 22 tackles, and Riley Yaker has 21. Dazer van Leeuwen leads the team with three tackles for loss, while Patrick Keeley has recorded two sacks for 13 yards lost. As a team, Tufts has registered 21 tackles for loss totaling 85 yards and six sacks for 48 yards. The Jumbos have also collected six interceptions, tied for the conference lead with several teams, with Lucas Gonzalez and Cameron Pineda recording two apiece. Tufts has nine pass breakups, recovered two opponent fumbles and forced one fumble. The six interceptions are a particularly encouraging figure for a defense that has struggled to limit passing production, and creating turnovers could be a decisive factor against Williams.

Special teams and situational execution could play an important role in a match-up between two teams averaging fewer than 20 points per game. Caden Lawlor has converted two of three field-goal attempts, including makes from 25 and 36 yards, and is 8-for-9 on extra points. Tufts averages 34.9 yards per punt and 34.8 net yards per punt, ranking fourth in the conference in net punting. The Jumbos have returned 21 kickoffs for 349 yards, an average of 16.6 yards per return, led by Rogers' 206 yards on 12 returns.

Tufts has scored on 14 of 15 red-zone trips, a 93.3-percent conversion rate, including 12 touchdowns. Williams has been effective in its own right, allowing just 69 points through five games, making finishing drives with touchdowns rather than field goals especially important. Tufts' 41.2-percent third-down conversion rate and 61.5-percent fourth-down rate offer opportunities to keep possessions alive, but avoiding penalties and turnovers remains essential.

A Look at the Ephs (4-1)
Williams enters its match-up with Tufts at 4-1 overall and in NESCAC play after a 20-10 road victory over Middlebury on Oct. 17. The Ephs have won four of their first five games, opening with victories over Bowdoin and Colby before suffering a 45-0 loss to Trinity. Williams responded with consecutive shutout victories over Bates and Middlebury, establishing itself as one of the conference's strongest defensive teams. Williams has scored 90 points, averaging 18.0 per game, while allowing just 69 points, or 13.8 per contest.

The Ephs rank seventh in the NESCAC in scoring offense and second in scoring defense. Their defensive performance has been the defining feature of their season, with three wins in which they have allowed seven points or fewer. Against Tufts, Williams will look to continue that defensive success while generating enough offensive production to control the game.

Offensively, Williams has accumulated 1,388 total yards on 312 plays, averaging 277.6 yards per game and 4.4 yards per play. The Ephs rank seventh in the NESCAC in total offense, just behind Tufts' 287.4 yards per game. Williams has recorded 83 first downs, including 44 rushing and 33 passing, demonstrating a preference for moving the football on the ground. The Ephs average 33 minutes and 48 seconds of possession per game, compared with 32:15 for Tufts. However, sustaining drives has been a challenge in some situations, as Williams has converted 23 of 67 third-down opportunities, a 34.3-percent rate, and just three of 10 fourth-down attempts. Williams' ability to maintain possession and keep the Tufts offense off the field could be important, particularly against a Jumbo team that has been effective on third down.
Williams' rushing attack has produced 690 yards and eight touchdowns on 200 attempts, averaging 138.0 yards per game and 3.5 yards per carry.

The Ephs rank fourth in the NESCAC in rushing offense, just behind Tufts' 140.4 yards per game. Jack Fabiano leads the ground game with 267 yards and two touchdowns on 51 carries in three games, averaging 89.0 yards per contest and 5.2 yards per attempt. Owen McHugh has added 107 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Aiden Clark has contributed 93 yards and a score. Williams has also spread carries among Matt Bott, Quinn Rucker and other backs, giving the Ephs several options in the running game. The biggest advantage, however, may be Williams' ability to defend the run. The Ephs have surrendered just 336 rushing yards through five games, an average of 67.2 per contest, ranking third in the conference. Tufts will need to find ways to generate consistent rushing production against a defense that has limited opponents to 2.4 yards per carry.

Williams' passing offense has generated 698 yards and three touchdowns on 60 completions in 112 attempts, with seven interceptions. The Ephs average 139.6 passing yards per game, ranking ninth in the NESCAC, and have completed 53.6 percent of their passes. Drew Weiler has been the most productive passer, completing 37 of 61 attempts for 504 yards and two touchdowns with one interception across three games. McHugh has thrown for 106 yards and one touchdown, while Owen Johansen has added 79 passing yards in limited action. Zach Falls leads the receiving corps with 12 catches for 174 yards and a touchdown, followed by Jimmy Montesano with 14 receptions for 155 yards and a score. Weiler is reigning NESCAC Offensive Player of the Week coming in. 

Daven Bailey has added seven catches for 99 yards and a touchdown. Brady Stahelski has been a big-play option, averaging 41.5 yards on his two receptions, including a 55-yard catch. Williams will face a Tufts defense that has intercepted six passes but has allowed 213.6 passing yards per game, ranking seventh in the conference. Protecting the football and taking advantage of opportunities downfield will be important for the Ephs. Defensively, Williams has allowed just 1,227 total yards through five games, an average of 245.4 per contest, the second-lowest figure in the NESCAC. Opponents have gained 336 rushing yards and 891 passing yards, with Williams allowing 67.2 rushing yards and 178.2 passing yards per game. The Ephs have surrendered nine touchdowns, including three on the ground and four through the air, and have limited opponents to 4.3 yards per play. Williams has also been effective on third down, allowing opponents to convert 20 of 68 attempts, a 29.4-percent rate. The Ephs have recorded 15 sacks for 121 yards lost by opponents, an average of three per game, and have forced four fumbles while recovering four opponent fumbles. Their defensive line and front seven will be especially important against Tufts, which has averaged 140.4 rushing yards per game and has relied on its ground game to sustain possessions. If Williams can disrupt the Jumbos early and force passing situations, it could make an already challenging offensive match-up more difficult for Tufts.

Individually, Connor Acheson leads Williams with 35 total tackles, including 19 solo stops, while Zakkai Moore has recorded 30 tackles. Will Baker has 23 tackles and leads the team with 7.5 tackles for loss, totaling 23 yards. Will Gale has added 19 tackles, six tackles for loss and a team-high three sacks for 17 yards lost. Williams has recorded 33 tackles for loss totaling 114 yards and nine sacks for 65 yards. The Ephs have also collected six interceptions, led by Brady Carroll with two, while Wyatt Cotton, Holden Gering, Finn Ryan and Sean Rooney have recorded one apiece. Gering has contributed seven pass breakups, and the defense has totaled 18 pass breakups overall. Williams' ability to pressure quarterbacks without sacrificing coverage has been a major strength. Against Tufts, the Ephs will look to pressure the Jumbos' quarterbacks, disrupt timing and create turnovers, particularly given Tufts' three interceptions through five games.

Special teams have been a positive for Williams, particularly in the kicking and punting games. Leonardo Maiuolo has made five of seven field-goal attempts, including a long of 34 yards, and has converted eight of nine extra points. His five field goals account for 15 of Williams' 90 points, making him a significant scoring contributor. Maiuolo also averages 41.7 yards per punt, with a long of 72 yards, and Williams averages 39.4 net yards per punt. The Ephs rank among the conference's top teams in net punting.

Holden Gering has returned five kickoffs for 142 yards, an average of 28.4 yards per return, while the team averages 24.7 yards per kickoff return. Williams has scored on 15 of 18 red-zone possessions, an 83.3-percent rate, including 10 touchdowns, and has committed just one lost fumble. The Ephs' 23 penalties for 177 yards also represent a relatively disciplined profile, averaging 35.4 penalty yards per game.

Other Week 6 Games
Colby at Hamilton (12:00 p.m.) 
Wesleyan at Amherst (1:00 p.m.)
Middlebury at Bates (1:00 p.m.)
Bowdoin at Trinity (1:30 p.m.)
Tufts at Williams (1:30 p.m.)