Jumbos look to win third straight

The football team takes on Middlebury College this Saturday in a match up of teams headed in similar directions.

Both are riding high off recent successes -- the Jumbos come into the game following two straight victories over quality teams, Amherst and Colby. The wins pushed Tufts' record to 5-2 and tied the team for second place in the NESCAC standings. Middlebury is coming off its best game of the season, a 55-31 blowout of Hamilton College.

Both squads are looking to continue their success in what looks to be the last game of the season.

Defensively, the Jumbos will try to limit Middlebury's potent offense which ranks at the top of the NESCAC. The Panthers are averaging nearly 340 yards of total offense per game, and last week they exploded for 611 yards.

Despite the challenge posed by the Panthers' offense, Jumbos coach Bill Samko said his team isn't going to do anything differently defensively than it has done all season.

"We're going to try to control the ball a little bit more," Samko said. "But it really all comes down to playing well. We've just got to play well."

The strength of the Middlebury offensive attack is its passing, which has produced 221 yards per game and 14 of the team's 19 offensive touchdowns. Quarterback Mike Keenan has been very effective this year, completing 55 percent of his passes for nearly 1,500 yards and 13 touchdowns. Last week against Hamilton, he found his rhythm, throwing for 343 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Although the Middlebury game plan appears to play into the hands of Tufts' defensive strength, its secondary, Samko believes this isn't the case.

"It all depends on the guys up front," Samko said. "If they can get some pressure on the passer, we'll be alright. Statistics mean nothing. The line's the reason the secondary has played well this year. With enough time, I could make the throws."

On offense, Tufts should be able to move the ball effectively against a defense that has struggled this year. Middlebury is giving up 356 yards of offense per game, and last week against Hamilton it surrendered 530.

The Panthers have been particularly shaky against the run, giving up more than 160 yards rushing per game. That could mean big games for Tufts senior Tim Mack and junior Steve Cincotta. Mack has played big in three straight games, averaging 114 yards, and Cincotta is finally healthy. Offensive coordinator Mike Daly is excited about the prospect of the two playing together, and said he wants to get Cincotta more involved in the offense.

"We want to get [Cincotta] some early carries to get him into the flow of the game," Daly said. "I would hate to coach against them. Steve will pound you and as soon as you get used to that Tim runs right past you."

Daly mentioned the necessity of controlling the ball to keep Keenan off the field, but said that they would not hesitate to take some chances down field.

"We want to control the ball, and obviously a good way to stop Keenan would be to keep him on the sidelines," Daly said. "But we want to move the ball. We want to get first downs. We'll do whatever it takes to do that and get some points on the board."

With a win the Jumbos would finish the season at 6-2 and in second place in the league. Both Samko and Daly said the game is important because of what it would mean to the team's seniors.

"This win would be big for our seniors, Tim Mack, Ed Casabian, Matt Cerne, Justin Kelley, Adam Wiley," Daly said, referring to the offensive upper classmen. "I really want them to go out as the winners they are."

"This game means a lot to me," Samko said. "With all the obstacles this team has had to deal with, 6-2 would be a real tribute to their heart. And it'd be a great way for the seniors to end their career. They're a special group and they deserve it."