Rushing attack leads Jumbo Football past Bates 45-22

45

winner

Tufts
Tufts

3-2, 3-2

22

Bates
BATES

1-4, 1-4

winner

45

22

Points by quarters

team	1	2	3	4	F
Tufts Tufts	7	21	3	14	45
BATES Bates	7	0	8	7	22

Match Review: Football | Oct 12, 2024 9:38 p.m

LEWISTON, MAINE (October 12, 2024) – The Tufts University football team scored 24 unanswered points to open a 7-7 game while rushing for a season-high 211 yards in a 45-22 road win at Bates College in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) plays at Garcelon Field.

The win was the third straight against the Bobcats (1-4, 1-4 NESCAC), while Tufts picked up its ninth win in the last 10 tries against Bates. The rushing attack was key for the Jumbos, as Tufts gained 211 yards on 43 carries and scored four times on the ground in the contest. It was the first time Tufts scored four rushing touchdowns in a game since scoring four rushing touchdowns last season against Colby College on Nov. 4, 2023 in a 44-16 win at Medford.

The Jumbos wasted no time on offense on the game’s first drive, gaining 62 yards in 10 plays before the sophomore Christian Shapiro threw the first of his three touchdowns, making the score 7-0 at 9:01 of the first quarter. Tufts was able to stop their first chance on the field, but a Tufts fumble put the ball right back into the hosts’ hands. Bates would tie the game on this possession as Colton Bosselait pushed inside from a yard out to make it 7-7.

Tufts answered right back with a seven-play, 76-yard drive that ended with another one-yard touchdown rush by Shapiro with 12:46 left in the first half. The big play on the drive was a 24-yard pass Michael Berluti To Heinrich Fleckner all the way to the Bates 2. The Jumbos would stay on defense, and Max Nunnally With just under nine minutes left in the half, they blocked a punt to give the ball back to Tufts at their own 43-yard line.

The scoring continued for Tufts, and this one ended with one of the wildest plays you’ll see this season. On the Bates 22, Tufts ran an end-around to Fleckner, but instead he threw the ball back to Berluti, who caught the pass and marched into the end zone for his first career touchdown. The game was reminiscent of the “Philly Special” in Super Bowl LII, hosted by the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Jumbos led 21-7, forced another three-and-out and a 14-yard punt gave the ball back to Tufts at the Bates 45-yard line with 2:15 left. For the second week in a row, Tufts ran a perfect two-minute drill, gaining 45 yards in eight plays before Berluti took an RPO of his own, beating the weak side linebacker all the way to the pylon for a rushing score from three yards out and taking a 28-7 halftime lead.

In the third quarter Vaughn Seelicke scored a 30-yard field goal to make the score 31-7 with 7:40 left. The field goal was Seelicke’s ninth of the season, tying his career high for field goals in a season with his sophomore year in 2023.

After Bates made it a two-point score at 31-15, the Jumbos put together another outstanding performance, going 75 yards on 12 plays before Berluti scored Cade Moore in the back of the end zone for a nine-yard touchdown catch for the senior. It was Moore’s 10th career touchdown catch and fourth of the 2024 season.

The hosts answered again, but Tufts got a late stop deep in Bates’ territory and three plays later Shapiro picked up his third score of the game to seal the tie.

Shapiro was the star running back for Tufts that night. He carried the ball 26 times for 107 yards and three touchdowns. Berluti added 49 yards on eight carries Aundre Smith averaged 5.9 yards per carry for 41 yards on seven attempts.

Berluti finished 15-21 with his only touchdown pass through the air while scoring a touchdown with his feet and hands. He is the first Jumbo to record a passing, receiving and rushing touchdown in the same season since Dom Borelli achieved the feat in 2018.

Moore had six grabs for 62 yards, making him Tufts’ leading receiver. On the defensive side of the ball Henry Ferrelli had seven tackles while Will Duncanson added six stops. Ty Richardson completed his fourth pass of the season, leading the NESCAC as Tufts allowed just 117 pass yards all night.

Tufts posted a 371-279 total yards advantage and a 28-15 advantage in first downs on the night. Second semester Andrew Leigh He also had a solid night on his two punting attempts, averaging 44 yards on his shots with both landing inside the 20.

Ryan Lynskey rushed for 74 yards and scored for Bates, and Bosselait was 4 of 12 for 100 yards passing.

Tufts returns to Ellis Oval for Parents and Families Weekend on Saturday, October 19, hosting Hamilton College at 1 p.m

–JUMBOS–