SOMERVILLE, MA (September 19, 2026) -- Tufts University head coach Jay Civetti became the all-time wins leader in Tufts football history Saturday, winning his 61st game at the helm of the Jumbos as Tufts knocked off visiting Hamilton College 42-28 in the 2026 season opener on Homecoming weekend at Ellis Oval. 

The victory for Civetti pushed him out of a tie with former wins leader Lewis Manly, who coached the Jumbos from 1930 until 1945. Civetti, who endured three straight 0-8 seasons to start his tenure, has turned around the program and posted seven winning seasons over the last 10 years. 

Civetti's accomplishment wasn't the only noteworthy feat on Saturday, as the Jumbos got a career-high four touchdowns from senior running back Christian Shapiro. The four rushing touchdowns are the most in a game for a Tufts running back since Ryan McDonald scored four times against Hamilton in the 2018 season opener. Shapiro finished with 110 yards on 27 carries Saturday. 

The difference in the game though came down to turnovers and the Jumbos' ability to cash in off of the mistakes from the Continentals (0-1, 0-1 NESCAC). The Jumbos first score came after Hamilton muffed a punt, recovered by Justin Keller deep in Continentals' territory. Seven plays later, junior quarterback Hudson Weidman hit junior Granville Anderson II for an 11-yard touchdown score to make it 6-0. 

After the Jumbos forced another punt, Tufts would march 65 yards over 11 plays and 6:59 of game time before Shapiro scored from 17 yards out to make it 13-0. After Hamilton pulled to within six on a 31-yard touchdown pass from Luke Kurzam to Matthew Kearns, Tufts answered with an eight-play drive that ended in another Shapiro score, this time from two yards out. Anderson II caught the ensuing two-point conversion to make it a 14-point edge for the Jumbos at 21-7 with seven minutes left in the first half. 

Hamilton though wouldn't go away, as the Continentals got a rushing touchdown from Ace Etienne to make it 21-14 heading to halftime. 

Out of halftime the Jumbos would go on a statement drive spanning 6:16 of the third quarter, marching 77 yards over 10 plays before Shapiro plunged in from a yard out to make it 28-14 following the PAT. 

Etienne pulled Hamilton back within one score with his second TD of the game on the following possession, but Tufts needed only two plays on the next drive to regain its 14-point lead. On its own 37-yard line, junior Keller Rogers caught a pass near midfield and outraced the entire Hamilton defense for a 63-yard touchdown reception. 

Both teams would force punts on their next possessions, but Tufts got another turnover early in the fourth quarter as sophomore Lucas Gonzalez picked off his first career pass to give the ball back to the Jumbos. On the next drive, Tufts used up 6:36 of the fourth quarter as it trekked 89 yards on nine plays before Shapiro rushed in for a two-yard touchdown score to make it 42-21. 

Hamilton answered with a Kurzam six-yard touchdown pass to Etienne with just over two minutes to go, but that's as close as the Continentals would get as Tufts won its third straight season opener.

Individually, Weidman was 13-for-19 for 218 yards and two touchdown passes, adding 51 yards on the ground on 11 rushing attempts. Junior Reed Ramirez finished with 16 yards rushing on five carries as well. 

Rogers pulled down four balls for a career-high 129 yards, while John Getman had four catches for 39 yards. Anderson also finished with three receptions for 34 yards and a score. 

Defensively, Riley Yaker had six tackles, including a sack, while Johnny Ferrelli had five solo tackles and a tackle for loss. Junior Dazer van Leeuwen had a strong game with five tackles and a sack, and Connor Simkiss added four tackles. 

First-year Ted Gialanella averaged 33 yards on his four punts, putting two inside the 20. The Jumbos held a massive 176-28 yard edge in rushing yards on Saturday, edging the Continentals 394-374 in total offense. Tufts was a stellar 7-for-13 on third downs, and converted both of its fourth downs. Tufts was also a perfect 5-for-5 inside the red zone, and posted a 37:00-23:00 edge in time of possession. 

Kurzam was 28-for-37 through the air, passing for 346 yards and two touchdowns. Etienne had 33 yards rushing and three touchdowns (one receiving), and Mitchell Ivatts had a team-high 123 yards receiving on nine catches. 

Matt Bucher also had 12 tackles for the Continentals in the loss. Hamilton was 3-for-7 on third downs. 

The Jumbos will now head on the road for back-to-back games over the next two weeks, starting with a trip to Wesleyan University (1-0) Saturday, September 26 at 1:30 p.m. in Middletown, Connecticut.