Tufts avenged last season's opening week embarrassment, defeating Wesleyan 16-6 in a defensive showdown on Saturday. Key defensive play coupled with a second-half offensive burst propelled the Jumbos past a 6-0 halftime deficit, and started the young season off on the right foot.
"We've had a bulls-eye on [Wesleyan] since that game [last season]," sophomore linebacker Adam Arsenault said. "We've been gearing towards them all summer. Everybody was gearing towards them, coaches included. Last year I don't know if we were ready or not, but coaches made sure we were ready this year."
The 14-point offensive run was initiated by an interception from senior defensive end Sean Mullin on Wesleyan's first possession in the second half. The interception gave Tufts key field position on the Cardinals' 23-yard line. The Jumbos capitalized as senior quarterback Casey D'Annolfo finished with a five-yard touchdown run.
The Jumbos also picked up ground on special teams when junior Josh Haynes recovered a fumble forced by senior captain Patrick Magoon during a Wesleyan punt return. Tufts delivered again with a 12-yard touchdown throw from D'Annolfo to junior Steve Menty, putting the Jumbos up 14-6 with under three minutes left in the third quarter. Wesleyan could not overcome the deficit and Tufts capped off the game with a safety, courtesy of a sack from sophomore Steve Albertine.
"I thought we played real hard; the effort level was terrific," coach Bill Samko said. "That was the deciding factor in the end. We physically wore them down in the second half, which comes down to conditioning."
Offensively, Tufts got off to a sluggish start, as D'Annolfo threw an interception on the first drive of the game and the team finished the half scoreless. Tufts finished the day on offense with 195 total yards, with D'Annolfo going ten for 29 for 95 yards and two interceptions. Tufts rushed for 100 total yards with senior running back Scott Lombardi responsible for 70. Menty caught five balls for 56 yards and a touchdown.
Samko attributed the low offensive output to Wesleyan's defense.
"People defend you in certain ways, and they had eight to nine guys down in the box and you've got to do what you've got to do," Samko said. "We still threw the ball 29 times. I didn't think [D'Annolfo] threw a really good ball [on the first drive], but you know some of it was the patterns and their coverage."
It was the Tufts defense that was the star of this game, allowing only six points and 138 total yards-only 24 on the ground-and nabbing two interceptions. The defense held the Cardinals at bay in the second half, giving up only 47 total yards and giving the offense a chance to find its rhythm.
"Our defense is looking top-notch right now," Arsenault said. "To play for our defense, you have to be adamant about everything. Our defense is going to turn some heads, and lay some big hitting down on offenses this year."
Magoon and Arsenault anchored the defensive effort with eight tackles each, while junior defensive end Chris Decembrele turned in six tackles and forced a fumble. Arsenault and Mullin contributed an interception apiece.
"Their quarterback broke the pocket, and I went to the flat," Mullin said of his interception, the first of his career. "I think the ball got tipped, because it was kind of like a wounded-duck throw. I didn't really believe it as it happened. I just wanted to make sure I caught it."
The Jumbos will look to carry their success to Bates next weekend, when they travel to Lewistown, Maine to take on the Bobcats in their second NESCAC match-up of the season. Last season, Tufts came away with a 14-12 win on Homecoming against Bates. The Bobcats are coming off a 47-0 loss against Trinity College over the weekend, and will be looking to regain their balance in league action.
