For the second straight week, Tufts faced an undefeated opponent. Just like last week, the Jumbos played on equal footing as their foe and gave themselves opportunities to win. But for the second consecutive game, turnovers around the goal line cost Tufts the chance of an upset.
Amherst sophomore Flethcher Ladd scored from five yards out with 12:52 left in Satuday's Homecoming game to give the Lord Jeffs a 14-10 lead, one they would not relinquish. Ladd rushed for 144 yards and Amherst's only two scores on the day, as the Lord Jeffs move to 6-0 and remain in a tie for the NESCAC lead with rival Williams.
The Jumbos fall to 4-2, and for the second straight week, are left with a lot of "what ifs?" For the second straight week, Tufts squandered opportunities to win the game. Ahead 10-7, the Jumbos went on an impressive 16-play, 8:31 drive that ended the third quarter and brought them down to the three-yard line. But the first play of the fourth quarter was the last play of the drive, as junior running back Keven Kelley fumbled the ball as he attempted to dive over the pile.
"That was a major turning point of the game," coach Bill Samko said. "If we score there, we go up 17-7, maybe it's over, maybe not. But you have to give them credit. They made the plays."
Amherst recovered the fumble and marched down the field for Ladd's game-winning score.
Tufts had one more good scoring chance in the game, as sophomore Mark Tilki recovered a fumble at the Jumbos' 38-yard line with 8:34 remaining in the contest. Junior quarterback Scott Treacy led the march down to the 13-yard line before the drive stalled. Facing a fourth and eight, Treacy was forced to throw into a crowd over the middle, where the ball was tipped then intercepted by junior Paul Micelli.
Though Tufts got the ball back one more time, it was only with 14 seconds remaining and without any timeouts. The clock wound down before the Jumbos could get off a Hail Mary.
Kelley got the day started when he ran in from one yard early in the second quarter. The score, which gave Tufts a 7-0 lead, was significant for a few reasons. It was the first touchdown the Amherst defense had succumbed all season. Further, it gave Tufts a seven-point cushion.
"We heard about their defense and how good they were," Tilki said. "Driving down the field and scoring on them was a big boost to our confidence."
That lead was swiftly squandered, though, as Ladd scored his first touchdown of the game, a one-yard run. The scoring drive was a short one, as Ladd ran 44 yards down to the one-yard line on the first play of the drive, then scored on the second.
Tufts answered on the ensuing possession, though, as Tilki returned the kickoff 48 yards, which set up a 5-play, 16-yard drive that stalled on the Amherst 21. From there, senior kicker Howie Rock booted a 38-yard field goal to put the Jumbos up 10-7 with 5:20 left in the half. It would remain that way until Ladd's second score.
Saturday, Tufts ran the ball 63 times for 225 yards, as Kelley, who took the ball 41 times for 155 yards and a score, spearheaded the rushing effort.
"Running is what we do," Samko said. "That's what our strength is."
The 225 rushing yards were 37 more than the Lord Jeffs, and Tufts also held an advantage in total yards, first downs, plays, and time of possession. The biggest reason for Tufts' statistical advantage was the defense, which played on par Amherst's defensive unit - the best in the country heading into Saturday's game.
The Jumbos held Amherst to a mere 35 passing yards and eight first downs, while forcing two fumbles and an interception.
"We played our asses off and we played really hard. That's all you can ask," graduate defensive lineman Everett Dickerson said.
Despite two straight weeks of statistical domination and winning opportunities, Tufts is now 4-2, and must bounce back to play Colby on the road next weekend.
"It will be interesting to see what our players do next weekend," Samko said. "Colby can beat us, we can beat them. We gotta go play extremely hard. I think our players will react fine, but they're upset now."
If nothing else, the consecutive losses to NESCAC leaders proves that Tufts can play with the best in the conference.
"There's no question that we can play with them," Samko said. "We're finally at that point, but now we have to get past it. We only have four senior starters this year, so we're young, but experienced. But this was very disappointing today. We should have won."
