The Jumbos look to end eight consecutive years of winless Homecoming games on Saturday when the Williams Ephmen come to town for a 2 p.m. game at Zimman Field. While the typically intimidating Ephs are not the ideal opponent in terms of ending the drought, Tufts may just have its best chance at victory in recent years against a team that is traditionally its toughest opponent.
The last time the Jumbos (2-2) won a Homecoming match was in 1991, when they topped the Amherst Lord Jeffs by a 28-17 margin. Since then the team has racked up XXX losses to Williams, as well as a 10-10 tie in 1992. The most recent Homecoming game against the Ephmen came in 1998, when the Jumbos took a 4-0 record into the much-anticipated match-up and were hit with a 42-7 drubbing. Tufts coach Bill Samko maintains that even though Williams comes in with a mediocre 2-2 record, the team is no less talented than in years past.
"They're definitely the best team we'll have played to this point," he said.
Tufts came close to knocking off Williams last season, trailing 28-21 late in the fourth quarter in a late-season game in Williamstown. The Jumbos had a first and goal at the Williams five with the final seconds ticking away, but could not find their way into the end zone on repeated attempts. The victory extended Tufts' winless streak against Williams to 14 years, which includes 11 losses and two ties.
In fact, Williams coach Dick Farley has not lost to the Jumbos since coming to the Ephs in 1987. Farley, who brings an overall coaching record of 90-15-3 to the field, lost his first three games as Williams coach in 1987. Legend has it that he lined up each of his players outside of his office after the third loss and asked them to explain why the team was struggling. Since that talk, Farley's team has not once lost two straight games.
But that can change tomorrow, as the Ephs come off a 7-0 defeat at the hands of Middlebury last weekend and stand at 2-2. The injury-ridden offense could not manage a point in the loss, which also sets up the prospect of the team falling to an almost unheard-of below-.500 record with a loss to Tufts. But Samko is not deceived.
"I'm not deluded by their record," he said. "They're still immensely talented."
While the last time these two teams met in a Tufts Homecoming match culminated in a 42-7 drubbing by the Ephmen, things are a little different this time around for both teams. Most important for the Jumbos and Ephmen are resolving problems on offense and avoiding crucial mistakes that may have cost the team early games.
Tufts' young offense has struggled at times, which is to be expected with an offensive line comprised of nearly all freshmen and sophomores, youth at the starting wideout position, and both quarterback options never having started a collegiate game prior to this season.
The nod this week will likely go to sophomore Scott Treacy, who started the second and third games of the season, but was knocked out early on against Bowdoin two weeks ago. The athletic quarterback takes the reins from another sophomore, Todd Scalia, who has seen the majority of time at the position so far this season and has impressed at times, but has made costly mistakes as well. Scalia's fourth-quarter interception pass against Trinity last week could have made the difference in a 28-23 loss to the Bantams.
"We made too many mistakes last week," Samko said. "We threw three interceptions. We have to eliminate those mistakes."
But Williams is not entirely confident with its own quarterback situation, either. The Ephs will start freshman Joe Reardon on Saturday. Reardon made his first collegiate appearance in last weekend's loss to Middlebury. Like Scalia, Reardon came through at times, but also like Scalia, he threw two interceptions. Reardon took over the starting job last week from Marshall Creighton, who threw five interceptions in the first three games of the season.
Both teams, then, will have to deal with the inexperience factor. Running back Brian Holmes is the only senior starting on offense for Tufts. Holmes is complemented by sophomore tailback Chuck McGraw, who had not started a game prior to this season. The starting wideouts, sophomore Bryan Pitko and freshman Matt Cerne, are also new regulars to the team.
"We're a very young offensive team," Samko said. "There are times when Holmes is not in the game and we have no seniors on the field."
Samko also says that Holmes, who suffered a hamstring injury earlier this season, has not practiced at all this week. The 1999 All-NESCAC athlete at special teams racked up 84 yards in last week's loss, and had not practiced for most of the week leading into the game. He had not played the week before due to the injury, after having his best game in week two, rushing for 131 yards in the Jumbos' 12-10 win over Bates.
The Ephmen were expected to field a formidable ground attack, and did so in the early stages of the season, but injuries have depleted the teams' rushing game. Touted senior Fred Storz rushed for 196 yards in the first three games, while senior David Kinsley has compiled 216 yards on 43 carries in four games. But injury forced Storz out of commission last week, and neither he nor Kinsley are expected to be in uniform come Saturday's game. Instead, the running duties will be given to another freshman, tailback Mike Hackett.
The wounded running game means the pressure will be on freshman Reardon, and the team's top receivers, senior Matt Student and junior Collin Brooks. Student has caught for 231 yards in four games thus far this season.
Williams has allowed on average only 12 points a game this season, while Tufts has given up 19 per contest. In a battle of untried and mistake-prone offenses, the defenses could have a significant impact on the end result, with the game decided by a careless offensive mistake or two. Either way, one thing is sure: you can throw out those '90s Homecoming results, because this game will have quite a novel look.
