WILLIAMSTOWN, MA (October 24, 2026) -- Senior kicker Caden Lawlor drilled a 37-yard field goal with with 32 seconds to play and the Tufts University defense knocked down a late hail mary attempt from host Williams College as the Jumbo football team rallied for a big 24-21 road victory in a New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) tilt at Farley-Lamb Field. 

The win for the Jumbos (4-2) was their fifth straight consecutive victory for Tufts over Williams, matching the second-longest win streak in the series dating back to 1885. 

The opening quarter was dominated by the defensive units, as Williams held the Jumbos to only one yard of offense while Springfield was forced into two punts and a turnover on downs. 

In the second quarter, the Tufts defense continued its solid run of taking the ball away as senior Johnny Ferrelli picked off Williams quarterback Drew Weiler and returned the pick 46 yards to the Williams 16 yard line. Four plays later, sophomore quarterback Nate Johnson pushed in from three yards out to put the Jumbos up 7-0. 

The Ephs (4-2) marched right back down the field on their next possession and deadlocked the game at seven as Jack Fabiano finished off a eight-play, 76-yard drive with a 17-yard touchdown rush. That would finish the scoring in the first half, as Ferrelli ended another drive with an interception late in the second frame. 

After halftime, both offenses started to kick things into gear as Williams took its first lead of the day on a 16-yard touchdown run by Fabiano to make it 14-7 with 5:45 to play in the third quarter. 

Tufts answered right back with a scoring drive of its own, as senior running back Christian Shapiro scored the first of his two touchdowns from two yards out to complete a nine-play, 65-yard march to even the game at 14 with 20 seconds left in the third frame. 

Williams jumped back in front early in the in the fourth on the third rushing touchdown of the day by Fabiano, but once again the Tufts offense answered. The went on a 12-play, 75-yard drive over the next 6:17 to tie the game as Shapiro bowled in from four yards out, with the extra point making it 21-all. Tufts converted two third downs on the drive, including a seven-yard catch by John Getman on a clutch 3rd and 7 at the Williams 30. 

The defense would step back up for Tufts on the next Williams drive, getting a three-and-out, taking back possession on the Jumbos 36 with 5:34 to go. The Jumbos offensive momentum continued on the game-winning drive, with Granville Anderson II making a critical catch in traffic on 4th and 3 at the Williams 29 with keep the drive going. 

Four plays later, Lawlor stepped up and drilled his only field goal attempt of the game for his first career game-winning field goal with 32 second remaining. Williams set up an opportunity to throw a last-second pass into the end zone, but the pass from Weiler was broken up by Brayden Beyer at the 5-yard line to clinch the win for Tufts. 

Johnson finished 13-for-20 passing for 156 yards, also rushing for 21 yards overall. Shapiro had 85 yards on the ground rushing, scoring twice while upping his career rushing touchdown total to 24. That ties Paul Dresens and Dan Morse for second all-time. He's now one behind Mike Krueger for second all-time in total touchdowns. 

Senior Matt Rios had a strong game as he pulled all five of his targets for five catches and 102 yards. Anderson had three catches for 16 yards, and Getman had two receptions for six yards. 

Defensively, senior Justin Keller had nine tackles to lead the Jumbos, while Ferrelli added eight tackles and two interceptions. Junior Ryan Horigan also tallied seven tackles, and first-year Drew Reed added five stops. Beyer finished with three tackles and two pass break-ups as well. 

Tufts finished with 261 yards of total offense, but scored on all four chances in the red zone including three touchdowns. The Jumbos also posted a big 34:41-25:19 edge in time of possession. 

Fabiano was the big weapon offensive for the Ephs, rushing for 134 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries. Weiler was 9-for-22 for 149 yards, while Owen McHugh finished with four catches for 75 yards. Luke Mangini had 11 stops and two tackles for loss as well for Williams. 

Tufts returns to Ellis Oval next weekend on October 31 to battle undefeated Amherst College in Week 7.