The football team will put its 1-0 record on the line this Saturday at 1 p.m., when it travels to Lewiston, Me. for a match-up with NESCAC foe the Bates Bobcats. The Bobcats, who finished 1-7 a season ago, have not beaten the Jumbos since 1985. But after losing by a combined score of 52-6 in the 1997 and 1998 match-ups, Bates has been inching closer to erasing a streak that now stands at 15 straight losses to the Jumbos, falling by just five total points over the last two years (13-10 and 12-10).
This year, however, Tufts has another advantage on its side other than history- confidence. Last week, while Samko's team was in the process of defeating Wesleyan, 35-20, Bates was being dominated by Trinity, ultimately suffering a 41-7 defeat. Bates struggled on offense all day, mustering only 125 total yards and nine first downs, with a long play of only 18 yards and an average gain of just 2.2. On defense, the Bobcats again found themselves overmatched. Trinity racked up 266 yards rushing and another 168 in the air for a total of 450 yards from scrimmage and an average of 6.3 per play, while moving the chains 24 times.
Tufts ran the ball just as effectively as Trinity last weekend, accumulating 315 yards of its own on the ground against Wesleyan, and are looking to duplicate the feat at Bates. It was the first time the Jumbos had broken the 300-yard barrier since 1995, when they totaled 308 yards against Bates. Junior Keven Kelley led the charge, last Saturday, with 168 yards on 27 carries to go along with two touchdowns. Kelley's first touchdown - a 40-yard run to the endzone - broke open a 14-14 game in the third quarter. His second score, a five-yard scamper, put Tufts up 35-14 with For his efforts, Kelley was named NESCAC Player of the Week.
Junior quarterback Scott Treacy, now officially the team's starting quarterback, also showed that he is comfortable in his role. Treacy tossed three touchdown passes on the day including a 27-yarder to sophomore Brian Pitko with 1:11 to go in the first half to put Tufts up, 14-7. He completed 10 of 17 passes for 74 yards without an interception, while also adding 27 rushing yards.
On the defensive side of the ball, Tufts held Wesleyan to just 40 yards rushing on 16 carries. The secondary also picked off two passes. Wesleyan was also limited to just over 20 minutes of possession, while the Jumbos held the ball for close to 40. Limiting the run will be key against Bates, which features 2000 All-NESCAC selection Sean Atkins at running back. Tufts will also be focused on quieting junior quarterback Kane Jankowski, as he tries to rebound from his 7-22 passing and two interception performance last week.
In short, it looks as though the Bobcats will have their work cut out for them, once again, as they prepare to face a rejuvenated Tufts squad. The Jumbos are clearly the better team and should come out on top, proving that they do indeed have Bates' new number this time around - 16.
