Jumbos don't want to repeat recent history

After opening up its season with three consecutive wins, the Tufts football team has struggled, losing in each of the last two weeks. This Saturday the team will try to reverse the trend with a win over the Amherst Lord Jeffs. The Jumbos are trying to avoid a repeat of last year, when they started off 3-0, only to lose their last five games.

Tufts faces a tough challenge in Amherst, which ranks second in the NESCAC with a 4-1 record. The team has given up points in only one game this season, their lone loss to Middlebury. It is a team similar to NESCAC leader Trinity, in that both are built on powerful running attacks and dominating defenses.

When Tufts has the ball, it will face a defense that doesn't have any real weaknesses. Amherst has held teams to just 2.3 yards per carry and is giving up only 76 yards rushing per game. The team has been similarly tough against the pass however, as opposing quarterbacks are throwing for under 140 yards per game.

Overall, the Amherst D is allowing only 214.6 yards per game. Tufts offensive coordinator Mike Daly certainly is aware of what the Lord Jeffs can do.

"They do a good job mixing up their coverages and stunts," he said. "And they're very fundamentally sound."

Despite the strength of the defense, Daly says the team isn't going to change its game plan at all.

"We always want to get the ball to our playmakers as much as possible. That's always been our philosophy, and it's not going to change," he said.

Tufts will try to utilize the running game as much as possible, especially with the return of starting running back, junior Steve Cincotta. Cincotta ran for 328 yards over the first three weeks before suffering a sprained right ankle. Daly said that Cincotta is 100 percent, and he is expected to be very involved in the offense.

Cincotta will be splitting time in the backfield with senior Tim Mack. Mack, who has been a wide receiver during most of his four years at Tufts, had a huge game against Williams last week in Cincotta's place. He ran for 114 yards on 22 carries. He will be used all over the field against Amherst, as Daly tries to get the ball in his hands as much as possible.

Cincotta's return comes at a very important time, as Jumbos' sophomore running back Steve Lombardi is listed as day-to-day after suffering a separated shoulder in practice this week.

Even if he does play, he is not expected to be seen back at fullback, where he started the season, as senior Adam Wylie has claimed that position over the past two weeks. Daly calls Wylie "one of the main reasons we've had the success running the ball that we have. He's one of the toughest, hardest working guys on the team."

Defensively, Tufts has to deal with an Amherst team that boasts five or six skill players that are legitimate playmakers. The team averages nearly 433 yards of total offense per game, and has scored over 30 points three times this year.

The Jumbos are expecting the Lord Jeffs to run the ball against them.

"That's their bread and butter. Their running backs are the strength of their team," said Tufts defensive coordinator John Walsh.

Amherst has three productive running backs. Bruising back Fletcher Ladd leads the team, averaging over 118 yards per game. He is complemented by the speed of Matt Monteith, who leads the team with seven touchdowns and is gaining 8.5 yards per carry. Those two are backed up by Ngai Otieno, who has averaged 5.5 yards per carry and scored three touchdowns despite limited playing time.

The Amherst offense is orchestrated by explosive quarterback Marsh Moseley. Walsh emphasized his ability and the need to shut him down.

"He's a playmaker. He's got a strong arm; he can throw and run. He has good vision and their coach tells him to run anytime his reads aren't there or he doesn't feel comfortable," Walsh said.

Walsh also said that the entire defense has taken it upon itself to play better. The D is looking to shut down Amherst on third down and give the ball back to the offense as much as possible. They also want to get back to forcing turnovers. Over the past two weeks the defense has only one take away. Walsh said that number has to improve.

Despite the losses the past two weeks, the team remains positive. Walsh said that that losing has made the team "hungrier and hungrier".

"No one's giving up," Walsh said. "There's not a happy person on the team, but the attitude in practice hasn't changed. We're going to fight the whole time, that's a given. But we're not just hoping to give them a good game. Our goal is to beat Amherst College."