MEDFORD, MA (October 27, 2026) -- The Tufts University football team will look to pick up back-to-back wins for the second time in 2026, as the Jumbos play host to Amherst College Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. inside Ellis Oval. Tufts is coming off another come-from-behind win last Saturday at Williams College, scoring the game's final 10 points in a 24-21 win. Senior
Caden Lawlor's 37-yard field goal with 32 seconds to play was the difference in the game. Amherst had one of the most impressive wins of Week 6, as the Mammoths topped reigning New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) champion Wesleyan University at home 15-9. In that game, Amherst tallied the final 15 points of the game including the game-winning score with 22 seconds left.
Game Details
Opponent: vs. Amherst College (6-0, 6-0 NESCAC)
Date: Saturday, October 31, 2026
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Somerville, Mass. –
Ellis Oval
Weather: Sunny & Clear, High Low 50s, Chance of Rain: 0%, Wind: NE 5-10 MPH
Live Coverage:
LIVE STATS –
LIVE VIDEO
Tufts vs. Amherst All-Time
Amherst holds a 46-22-2 record with the Jumbos since 1954, winning six of the last eight meetings with the Jumbos. Last season, Amherst knocked off the Jumbos 30-14 in Amherst, MA as the Mammoths led 30-0 at the halftime break. Tufts won the prior two meetings, with the 2024 home victory over the Mammoths serving as the first home victory over Amherst since 2007. Since 2000, Tufts has won just six times against the Mammoths. Prior to the last three meetings, four of the five match-ups with Amherst and Tufts were one-score games.
A Look At The Jumbos (4-2)
Tufts enters this week's home game against Amherst with a 4-2 overall record and a 4-2 mark in NESCAC play after earning a 24-21 road victory over Williams on Oct. 24. The Jumbos have also defeated Hamilton (42-28), Bates (22-21) and Bowdoin (20-13), while their two losses came against Wesleyan (42-7) and Trinity (28-9). Tufts is averaging 20.7 points per game and allowing 25.5 points per contest.
The Jumbos have totaled 1,698 yards of offense through six games, averaging 283.0 yards per game and 4.7 yards per play, which ranks sixth in the NESCAC. Tufts has recorded 90 first downs, including 40 rushing and 42 passing. The Jumbos have been effective in key situations, converting 40.2 percent of their third-down attempts (33 of 82) and 60 percent of their fourth-down attempts (9 of 15). Tufts is averaging 32 minutes and 39 seconds in time of possession per game and has scored on 18 of 19 red-zone possessions, including 15 touchdowns.
Tufts has rushed for 807 net yards and 11 touchdowns on 234 attempts, averaging 134.5 yards per game and 3.4 yards per carry. Christian Shapiro leads the ground game with 351 yards and seven touchdowns on 85 carries in four games, averaging 87.8 yards per game. Caden McCallum has added 167 yards and two touchdowns, while Nate Johnson has rushed for 145 yards and two scores. Hudson Weidman has contributed 67 rushing yards, and Reed Ramirez has added 66.
The Jumbos have completed 70 of 131 passes for 891 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions, averaging 148.5 passing yards per game. Weidman has completed 37 of 69 attempts for 488 yards and five touchdowns, with two interceptions. Johnson has completed 33 of 62 passes for 403 yards. John Getman leads the receiving corps with 17 catches for 217 yards and a touchdown, followed by Keller Rogers with 12 receptions for 198 yards and a score. Rogers has a team-long reception of 63 yards. Matt Rios has nine catches for 139 yards, while Shapiro has added seven receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown. Granville Anderson II has 11 catches for 90 yards and a score.
Defensively, Tufts has allowed 1,918 yards of total offense, an average of 319.7 yards per game. Opponents have gained 701 yards on the ground and 1,217 through the air. The Jumbos have recorded eight sacks for 63 yards, eight interceptions and 15 pass breakups. Johnny Ferrelli leads the team with 39 tackles and three interceptions, while Ryan Horigan also has 39 tackles. Justin Keller has contributed 31 tackles, and Dazer van Leeuwen has recorded 23 tackles, four tackles for loss and one sack. Patrick Keeley leads the team with three sacks for 22 yards lost.
Creating turnovers has been a strength for the Tufts defense, as the Jumbos lead the NESCAC in interceptions with eight. Ferrelli has three interceptions, while Lucas Gonzalez and Cameron Pineda have two apiece and Horigan has one. Gonzalez has four pass breakups, and Ferrelli and Brayden Beyer have three each. The Jumbos have also recorded 25 tackles for loss totaling 106 yards. Pressure on the quarterback and the ability to capitalize on mistakes will be important against Amherst.
Caden Lawlor has made three of four field-goal attempts, including a long of 37 yards, and is 11-for-12 on point-after attempts. Ted Gialanella has handled most of the punting, averaging 34.4 yards on 27 punts, with eight downed inside the 20-yard line. Rogers leads the kick-return unit with 231 yards on 13 returns, averaging 17.8 yards per return.
A Look At The Mammoths (6-0)
Amherst enters this week's match-up with Tufts sporting a perfect 6-0 overall record and a 6-0 mark in NESCAC play. The Mammoths have defeated Bates (24-14), Hamilton (38-21), Bowdoin (22-13), Middlebury (23-22), Colby (21-15) and Wesleyan (15-9). Amherst is averaging 23.8 points per game, ranking fourth in the NESCAC, while its defense allows just 15.7 points per contest, the fifth-lowest average in the conference. The Mammoths have scored 143 points and surrendered 94 through six games.
Amherst has accumulated 1,890 yards of total offense, averaging 315.0 yards per game and 5.1 yards per play. The Mammoths rank fifth in the NESCAC in total offense and have recorded 105 first downs, also ranking fifth. Amherst has been particularly effective on third down, converting 48.1 percent of its attempts (38 of 79), the second-best rate in the conference. The Mammoths have converted five of 13 fourth-down attempts (38.5 percent), ranking fifth, and average 31 minutes and 38 seconds in time of possession per game, fourth in the NESCAC.
The Mammoths have rushed for 639 net yards and five touchdowns on 205 attempts, averaging 106.5 yards per game and 3.1 yards per carry. Amherst ranks sixth in the NESCAC in rushing offense. Michael Dunmore and Demitrius Smith lead the ground game with 226 net yards apiece. Dunmore has scored twice on 49 carries, while Smith has carried 70 times and scored once. Marek Hill has added 86 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Max Alexander has contributed 77 yards on just four carries, including a team-long run of 54 yards.
Amherst has been more productive through the air, totaling 1,251 passing yards and 13 touchdowns while averaging 208.5 passing yards per game, fifth in the NESCAC. The Mammoths have completed 99 of 166 attempts (59.6 percent) but have thrown six interceptions. Hill has completed 88 of 148 passes for 1,146 yards and 11 touchdowns, with four interceptions.
Colin Livatino has added 105 passing yards and two touchdowns in limited action. Alexander leads the receiving corps with 31 catches for 405 yards and a touchdown, while Jadon Davis has 24 receptions for 286 yards and four touchdowns. Christian Moore has contributed 21 catches for 256 yards and two scores, and Cam Fowler has five receptions for 173 yards and two touchdowns, including a 97-yard scoring reception.
Defensively, Amherst has allowed 1,582 yards of total offense, an average of 263.7 yards per game, ranking fourth in the NESCAC. The Mammoths have been especially effective against the run, surrendering just 49.8 rushing yards per game, the best mark in the conference. Opponents have managed only 299 rushing yards on 155 attempts, averaging 1.9 yards per carry. Amherst has allowed 1,283 passing yards, or 213.8 per game, ranking eighth in the NESCAC in passing defense. The Mammoths have limited opponents to 94 total points and nine touchdowns while recording 14 sacks for 100 yards lost.
Amherst has generated pressure and disrupted opposing offenses throughout its unbeaten start. The Mammoths have recorded 41 tackles for loss totaling 183 yards, along with five interceptions and 20 pass breakups. Jackson Duncan leads the team with 29 tackles, including 8.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. Noah Onkst has recorded 35 tackles, while Carson Skotak has 33 tackles, five tackles for loss and one sack. Ty Kazanowsky has added 27 tackles and three sacks, and Jordan Summers has 31 tackles and an interception. Amherst's defense has also been strong in the red zone, allowing opponents to score on 11 of 18 trips (61.1 percent), the second-best defensive rate in the NESCAC.
Special teams have provided additional contributions. Hudson Fulcher-Melendy has made three of five field-goal attempts, with a long of 29 yards, and has converted 14 of 15 point-after attempts. Efe Ilgar has averaged 39.1 yards on 20 punts, with six downed inside the 20-yard line and three traveling at least 50 yards. Jadon Davis leads the kick-return unit with 167 yards on seven returns, averaging 23.9 yards per return. Amherst has also averaged 48.3 penalty yards per game on 35 penalties, ranking eighth in the NESCAC by penalty yards per game, an area the Mammoths will look to improve.
Amherst presents a significant challenge for Tufts, particularly with its nationally competitive run defense and efficient third-down offense. The Mammoths rank fourth in the NESCAC in scoring, fifth in total offense and first in rushing defense, while their defense ranks fourth in total yards allowed per game.
Tufts will need to establish its ground game against an Amherst defense allowing fewer than 50 rushing yards per contest, protect the football and capitalize on scoring opportunities. Defensively, the Jumbos will look to pressure Hill, limit Amherst's passing-game playmakers and force the Mammoths into difficult third-down situations. Amherst's undefeated record reflects its balance and consistency, setting up a key test for Tufts at home.
Week 7 Match-Ups
Amherst at Tufts (1:00 p.m.)
Wesleyan at Bowdoin (1:00 p.m.)
Hamilton at Williams (1:30 p.m.)
Trinity at Middlebury (1:30 p.m.)
Bates at Colby (7:00 p.m.)
--JUMBOS--
