Trinity stomps on Jumbos

After a dreamlike start to its 2002 season, the football team received a rude awakening on Saturday and suffered its first loss of the year 13-12 to the Trinity Bantams. The game locked Tufts and Trinity in a tie for third place in the NESCAC with Wesleyan at 3-1.

Wet and wild conditions contributed to two botched snaps and a blocked extra point that left the Jumbos with only 12 points on the board after two touchdowns. Despite a solid passing day by senior quarterback Scott Treacy (17-32 for 180 yards and two interceptions) the team was not able to overcome the miscues on special teams.

"I think we played well in some aspects of the game, and we lost it in others," defensive lineman and tri-captain Caleb Hudak said. "It's like coach (Bill Samko) always say, special teams wins games, and special teams didn't play too well. That and a combination of everything else really caused that loss."

Although the Jumbos took a 12-6 lead into the fourth quarter, the Bantam's senior quarterback Greg Ward found junior receiver Joe Wahl open in the end zone for a ten-yard touchdown pass with 9:08 remaining to put Trinity ahead for good at 13-12.

Tufts defense, which did not allow a point this season until the second half of its third game, was again dominant in tough conditions, as it held the Bantams to just 77 yards in the air and 59 yards rushing. Junior safety Drew Blewett had an interception - his third in his last two games. But it was a defensive lapse _ a 15-yard pass interference call _ on Trinity's final scoring drive that pushed the Bantams up field, opening the door for Ward's touchdown pass.

Other than the interference call in the final quarter, the Jumbos' defense stymied the Bantams all day, holding them to 136 total yards on the day, and just 10-29 passing. But it was Trinity that was able to come through when it counted most, capitalizing on Tufts' mistakes and completing passes at opportune times.

The Jumbos opened the game on a promising note, marching 65 yards on ten plays, capped by Treacy's one yard touchdown run that put Tufts up 6-0. Trinity junior Matt Glasz got his hand on the extra point, however, for the first of the Jumbos' frustrations on special teams.

Late in the first quarter, the Bantams pulled even when Trinity safety Gavin O'Reilly blocked a Tufts punt and sophomore Duane Tyler grabbed it in the end zone to knot the score at six. Trinity fumbled the snap on the ensuing extra point to keep the score tied.

As the quarter drew to a close, Tufts again marched its way 62 yards down the field in ten plays for a touchdown, including a 31 yard completion down the sideline from Treacy to sophomore receiver Kevin Holland. After a botched snap, the Jumbos again were left with only six, and led the game 12-6 at the half.

The score remained the same until the fourth quarter when Ward connected on two big passes, including the ten-yarder to Wahl for the go-ahead score.

As the clock wound down Tufts was unable to mount a comeback bid, and heads hung low on the Jumbos bench as Trinity walked victorious off of the field.

"We didn't play well as a team like we have all season long," Hudak said. "The loss wasn't completely on those extra points. It was the first real team we've faced, and we struggled."

The loss comes at an inopportune time for Tufts, who faces Williams and Amherst in the next two weeks in what will likely be the toughest games of the season. Both Williams and Amherst are undefeated on the season, and stand tied atop the NESCAC standing. But with visions of their own undefeated season out of their minds, the Jumbos will have to remain focused on the remainder of the year.

"You always think about being undefeated," Hudak said. "But if we win out the rest of our games we can spoil everybody else's undefeated season, and we can finish as one of the top teams in the league."