Football suffers disappointment against Trinity

A lot was on the line going into Saturday's game against Trinity College. The Jumbos were trying to advance to 4-0 for the first time in the three years, move into sole possession of first place in the NESCAC, and avenge last year's 13-12 loss to Trinity.

But Tufts could not make it happen.

The team suffered its first loss of the season, 23-3. The Bantam defense shut Tufts down, while its offense maintained control of the football.

The score was close for most of the game, with Trinity leading just 6-0 at halftime. But in the second half the Bantams took over, scoring the only two touchdowns of the game and continuing to shut down the Tufts offense.

After a first quarter in which both teams failed to score, Trinity put up the first points of the game at 4:49 in the second quarter with a 34-yard field goal from Bantams' kicker Kevin Swinarski. Trinity added another field goal with 38 seconds to go in the first half. That field goal was set up by a good punt return by Brad Soules. On the return, a Tufts player was hit from behind before he could cover Soules. No penalty was called, one of three illegal blocks committed by Trinity that were not called.

Tufts senior cornerback Mark Tilki set up the team's only points of the day with a 46-yard return on the second half's opening kick off. That return led to a 27-yard field goal by senior Marcellus Rolle. In all, Tilki gained 131 return yards.

Later in the third quarter Trinity scored its only offensive touchdown of the day on a two-yard run by Pierandri. The score was set up by a punt return by Soules, which he took to the Tufts' 42-yard line. Pierandri ran for 21 yards to give the Bantams 1st and goal and set up his own touchdown.

Early in the fourth quarter Swinarski kicked a 41-yard field goal, his third and longest of the day to give Trinity a 16-3 lead. It appeared that Tufts might score on the ensuing possession, moving the ball to the Trinity 19-yard line. Tufts' quarterback, junior Casey D'Annolfo, was unsuccessful on three straight passes and was sacked on fourth and 10 to end the drive.

Late in the game the Trinity defense produced the team's second touchdown when Duane Taylor recovered a fumble by Tufts' wide receiver Matt Cerne and returned it 25 yards for the score.

Statistically, Trinity dominated the game, out-gaining Tufts 283 yards to 143. The time of possession was heavily in Trinity's favor; 37:17 to 22:43. Playing without starting running back junior Steve Cincotta and his back up junior Matt McMillan, the Jumbos managed just 36 yards rushing. The running load was split between converted fullback sophomore Steve Lombardi and senior wide receiver Tim Mack.

Tufts' passing game was similarly ineffective. Quarterbacks D'Annolfo and fellow junior Jay Casey combined to complete just 13 of 36 passes for 107 yards.

Tufts' offensive coordinator Mike Daly attributed the offense's poor performance more to mistakes than to the Trinity defense.

"It seemed like every time we did something good, something else set us back," Daly said. "We'd have a long return, and it'd get called back because of a penalty. We'd get some positive yards and then lose them because of an offensive penalty. We really just shot ourselves in the foot a couple of times."

According to Daly, it was hard for the offense to get into a rhythm because of how little they had the ball.

Tufts lost the turnover battle for the first time this season, as the defense failed to intercept a pass. Without the extra boost of big defensive plays, the offense was unable to move the ball effectively.