WILLIAMSTOWN, MA - Tufts shot itself in the foot Saturday, as it could not overcome four fourth-quarter turnovers, en route to a 21-17 loss at Williams. The loss was Tufts' first of the season, and its 11th straight in Williamstown. Despite heading into halftime leading 17-14, and playing as well as, if not better than the Ephs, Tufts went scoreless on three possessions inside the 20-yard line in the second half, including two inside the ten in the fourth quarter.
Those wasted possessions cost Tufts the game and a chance at a perfect season.
"We played hard," sophomore defensive lineman Caleb Hudak said afterwards. "We set ourselves up to do it, but we didn't get the job done."
After Williams scored five minutes into the second half on running back Michael Hackett's second score of the game to make the score 21-17, Tufts had a number of opportunities to reclaim the lead. On the ensuing drive, Tufts drove the length of the field, and even converted a fourth and three, only to be stopped on the 17-yard line. Senior kicker Howie Rock's 34-yard field goal was wide left, and Williams held its four-point lead.
Tufts reclaimed the ball and put together an impressive drive down to the Williams eight-yard line early in the fourth quarter, only to watch junior running back Keven Kelley fumble. In fact, shutting down Kelley was clearly part of Williams' game plan, and the Ephs did so effectively. Kelley, the NESCAC's leading rusher heading into the day, was held for 80 yards on 20 carries and no scores.
Following the Kelley fumble, Tufts forced a Williams punt, but then two plays later, junior quarterback Scott Treacy threw the first of his three interceptions with 10:21 left in the game.
Tufts' two turnovers in a three-play span were indicative of the turnover story in the game. Each team caused four turnovers, with Rock's second quarter field goal the only resulting points from the eight giveaways. However, turnovers from both teams served more to prevent scores by the team giving up the ball than lead to points from the team taking it.
The Jumbos' final legitimate scoring chance started from their own five yard line, as Williams' multi-talented Scott Farley's punt was downed deep in Tufts' territory. Facing third and five on the first series of the drive, Treacy connected with junior wide receiver Bryan Pitko for a 56-yard reception. On the ensuing series, Tufts faced a third and two from the Williams 24-yard line, and Treacy ran for a first down, and the Ephs were called for unsportsmanlike conduct, bringing the ball to the 12.
But with 4:30 remaining in the game, Marshall Creighton intercepted Treacy's pass to Pitko, who was running a slant across the middle.
Tufts had one more drive in the game, but despite another Williams' 15-yard penalty, the Jumbos could get little going, and Treacy threw his third interception of the game under heavy pressure on fourth and 17.
Though Tufts' cost itself the game, Williams played a strong game. Farley, the coach's son, was one of the Ephs stars on the day, as he put together an impressive stat sheet. The senior kicked seven punts, three extra points, rushed once for 17 yards, caught a pass for 66 yards, had six tackles, one interception, returned punts and kicks, and, for good measure, threw one pass - an interception - on a halfback option play.
Hackett had 85 yards in addition to the two touchdowns, and quarterback Joe Reardon threw for 241 yards and Williams' first touchdown, a 15 yard pass to Tyler Shea.
While Williams' three scores were spread throughout the first three quarters, each came from a long-sustained drive that kept the Jumbo offense off the field.
"Some big plays hurt us," said Hudak, who had two sacks and six tackles on the day. "We knew we had to get tough, and in the fourth quarter we did, but we should have given up two fewer scores."
Tufts started the scoring on the second play of the game, as running back Chuck McGraw took a handoff out of the shotgun formation and ran 59 yards for a score. The Jumbos' second touchdown came on the last play of the quarter, as Pitko made an excellent leaping catch for a 20-yard score, his second of the season.
McGraw and Pitko had the strongest days offensively for the Jumbos, as McGraw scampered for 108 yards and the score, while Pitko caught two passes for 76 yards and a touchdown.
Treacy, who had been effective, if not statistically overwhelming in the first four games of the season, had his worst game of the season Saturday. The junior was 7-22 for 126 yards and a touchdown, but the first two interceptions were his undoing.
The quarterback showed off his physical talents, scrambling for 60 yards and making impressive throws to Pitko on both the touchdown and the 56-yard bomb. But near the end of the game, the QB missed open receivers and threw passes to others who were tightly covered.
Despite the difficult loss, Tufts must pull together quickly, as it faces Amherst, also undefeated, next weekend at Homecoming.
"It's tough," Hudak said of the loss. "But we have to come out against Amherst. They're a heck of a team, and we have to play hard."
