The undefeated Tufts football team will face its biggest challenge of the season this weekend at Williamstown in a match-up against perennial NESCAC powerhouse Williams on Saturday. Coach Bill Samko's squad will attempt to improve its record to 5-0 for the first time since 1979 against the Ephmen, who haven't lost to the Jumbos since 1986. In fact, a Tufts team has not left Williamstown victorious since the Daily's infancy.
This time around, Williams brings an identical 4-0 record into the game, as well as a potent air attack that has produced an average of 384 yards per outing, and a stingy rush defense that ranks 18th in the nation. Along with that, Williams has already been the spoiler of a potential undefeated Tufts season in the recent past. In 1998, the last time the Jumbos began a season 4-0, the Ephmen dashed their hopes of a perfect season with a 42-7 trouncing on Homecoming in Medford.
But even so, Williams coach Dick Farley, who has a 13-0-2 career record against Tufts, refuses to take the Jumbos lightly. "This is the 2001 team," he said. "Whatever has been done previously probably has no bearing. These are new and different kids."
Tufts coach Bill Samko agrees. "We're in the position we want to be in," he said. "Williams has been good for a long time. If our record is bad against Williams, look at everyone else's. This is a team with great character. They play hard."
Samko's Jumbos will once again live and die by their running game, which has consistently grounded opponents into the field so far this year. Last week, junior Keven Kelley rushed for a career high 214 yards on 37 carries to boost his already NESCAC-leading mark to 156.8 yards per game. Kelley is also rapidly closing in on the single season Tufts record of 1,070, by Paul Dresens in 1988, gathering 627 yards to date.
"Kelley's the horse," Samko said. "You gotta ride the horse."
Against Trinity, Tufts' offense did just that, as Kelley accounted for 77 percent of his team's 283 yards of total offense in the 9-7 win. But Kelley and the rest of the Jumbo backfield will have to fight for their yards against a Williams defense that has surrendered an average of just 75.8 yards per game in its first four contests. In fact, the Ephmen gave up 100 yards to an individual rusher for the first time this year just last week, courtesy of Middlebury's Bill Lazaro, who ran for 134. However, Lazaro and Bates' Gene Atkins are the only two opponents to rush for over 34 yards against the Ephs this season.
Nonetheless, Farley's biggest concern lies in attempting to contain the 6', 230-lb. Kelley and a and a running game that has gained 300-plus yards twice in four games. "That Kelley kid is very big physically," Farley said. "His size and the big guys in front of him obviously are a concern. Honestly, if he were here, he'd be a defensive lineman."
Tufts, on the other hand, will focus its attention on shutting down Williams' passing game. Sophomore quarterback Joe Reardon is the top-rated quarterback in the NESCAC, with 917 yards passing, a 71.4 percent completion percentage, and nine touchdowns to his credit. Receivers junior Ryan Friend (22 catches, 254 yards, 3 TDs) and senior Colin Brooks (19, 289, 1), also rank among the conference leaders. The Ephmen also feature their own formidable collection of running backs, however, and an offensive line with an average weight of 270 - just ten pounds less than the much-heralded Jumbo unit.
Despite the two high-powered offenses, though, Farley expects more of a defensive battle. "Both teams seem to play good defense," he said. "So you have to earn whatever you're going to get. I'd be surprised if it were a high-scoring affair. But when I say low scoring, I don't really know what that means in today's football."
Either way, expect a well fought game between two talented teams, especially as the Jumbos try and scratch a 15-year itch.
"We expect it to be one of the better games in the NESCAC this year," Farley said. "Tufts is a very, very solid club. We're very impressed with them."
