Mules kick Jumbos

It has been two years since a Tufts football team has been shut out in any game, and before Saturday, it would have been ridiculous to say that this year's team would be the one to break the streak. But the ridiculous became reality this past weekend as the Jumbos squared off against a struggling Colby squad.

In its final home game of the season, the team that had been held to fewer than 20 points only once this season was shut down by a stifling Colby defense that held the Jumbos to just 76 yards of total offense. Colby's sophomore running back Aaron Stepka provided more than enough offense for the Mules, who cruised to a 9-0 win on a cold and blustery afternoon.

It was the first time since Oct. 28, 1995 that Tufts had been shutout at home, when the team lost 28-0 to Amherst.

With the win, the Mules improved their record to 3-4 on the season, and moved into a three way tie for fifth place in the NESCAC, with Middlebury and Tufts, who fell to 3-4 with Saturday's loss.

The loss was the fourth in a row for a Tufts team that began the season with high expectations, and rushed out to a 3-0 start. This loss was less heartbreaking, though, as the Jumbos were never able to find an offensive rhythm, and were never really in the game.

"They were a very physical team," junior defensive lineman Matt Keller said. "I thought we played a lot better in the second half defensively, but it just didn't happen today. The last three were tough to stomach; this one's even tougher."

Colby looked to establish the running game early on, and in the first eight plays of the game, Stepka carried the ball five times for 18 yards, which set up an early field goal attempt from the Tufts 13-yard line. The kick attempt sailed wide left, and the Jumbos took over deep in their own zone.

After a seven-yard run by senior running back Chuck McGraw, quarterback Scott Treacy completed a pass to tight end Ryan Papi, which gave Tufts a first down, one of only four the team would achieve all afternoon. A McGraw rush and two incomplete passes later, the Jumbos were forced to punt from their own 32-yard line. On the punt, Colby junior Brandon Irwin was able to break the line and block the kick, giving the Mules a first down at the Tufts 24.

Stepka converted a fourth and one from the 15-yard line with a two-yard run, and two plays later punched the ball into the end zone on a six-yard run for the only touchdown of the day for either team. Colby missed the extra point, but led 6-0 for the remainder of the first quarter.

Senior Evan Zupancic, Tufts' all time leader in picks, made two interceptions during the second quarter, but the Jumbos were not able to capitalize on either, seeing just one first down as a result.

After Zupancic's second interception turned into nothing for the Jumbos, Colby took over at its own 43. The Mules proceeded to march their way down field behind Stepka's ever-churning legs, and went 43 yards in 15 plays to set up another field goal try. The kick was good this time however, and after Tufts went three and out on its next possession, Colby had went into the half with a 9-0 lead.

Though the second half saw an even better defensive effort by one of the NESCAC's best units, the offense was even worse, and was only able to muster a single first down the entire half. Treacy was frequently flushed out of the pocket, and was on the run for most of the afternoon, unable to find his favorite targets. But even though he was sacked twice for a loss of 24 yards, Treacy said that his blocking was as good as ever.

"The offensive line did a great job today," Treacy said. "All of the sacks were pretty much my fault because I was leaving the pocket."

But if the blocking was good, it was the only positive side to a forgettable afternoon for the offense. Tufts was never able to establish a running game between McGraw and sophomore Steve Cincotta, and gained just 24 yards on 24 carries all day. Treacy's numbers were similarly dismal, going just 6 of 26 for a season low 53 yards, and throwing for three interceptions.

The defense, meanwhile, had its own troubles containing Stepka, who rushed for 177 yards on 47 carries.

"He was just a shifty back," Keller said. "It would look like a couple of guys were going to make the play and then he'd cut back. The cut back was really what killed us today."

Tufts never saw any chances to come back in the second half, as the defense was on the field for the majority of the time. Colby's nine first half points proved to be more than enough, as Stepka chewed up the clock against a tired Jumbos' defense.

"He was a good back, but it's not fair to the defense that we kept them on the field so much," Treacy said. "Obviously their gonna get tired trying to tackle that kid."

The team must now regroup before next week's game against a tough Middlebury squad. Middlebury, like Tufts, is better than its 3-4 record suggests, and has hung tough with the top teams in the league, never losing by more than seven points. Both teams will be playing to try and salvage a .500 record.

"It's tough to take these losses when we've got so many good guys," Keller said. "We're too good of a team to let this happen one more time. We've been keeping at it, trying to keep a good attitude, doing what we can. We just have to regroup and get ready to go."