By all accounts, it was a tough loss to forget. On Oct. 8, 2005, the Tufts and Bowdoin football teams, both perfect on the young season at 2-0, squared off at Zimman Field.
Tufts dominated in every statistic except the one that mattered, the scoreboard; as a heartbreaking 10-8 Jumbos loss started a downward spiral to an eventual 2-6 season. The two-point loss was the second against the Polar Bears in two years, as Tufts fell 14-12 in Brunswick, Maine, in 2004.
"We don't like to look at the past, but of course you always look back and say, 'They beat us last year; we've got to get them good this year,'" senior defensive end and co-captain Chris Decembrele said. "We don't forget. It will definitely be in the back of our minds all week, remembering how they stole one from us last year and the year before."
The Jumbos now have their chance to settle the score, traveling to Maine tomorrow to take on the Polar Bears at Whittier Field. The undefeated Jumbos come in riding the momentum of a 21-12 homecoming victory over the Bates Bobcats last weekend. Bowdoin, meanwhile, has stumbled out of the gate and will try to overcome a 0-2 start in hopes of achieving the success of last season's surprising 6-2 record.
This will be Tufts' first road game of the season, and winning away from of Zimman Field will present a challenge.
"A lot of the younger players won't be as comfortable," senior quarterback Matt Russo said. "We've got to be extra focused in practice and take care of the little things. We've got to make sure we are mentally prepared."
In last week's victory, the Jumbos found themselves down 9-0 midway through the second quarter. Bates scored a touchdown off an early Russo fumble, and struck a field goal at the opening of the second frame. Tufts bounced back, however, and scored 14 second quarter points to take the halftime lead.
Though Bates closed the margin to two with a field goal 10 seconds before the halftime break, sophomore wide receiver David Halas' second touchdown of the day in the fourth quarter clinched the win for the Jumbos.
"[The players] have played well; they need to continue to play well," coach Bill Samko said. "We are working hard, and I think they are keeping their composure, certainly creating turnovers on defense and protecting the ball offensively. I was impressed by their composure and attitude."
The Tufts defense was solid again, shutting out Bates in the third and fourth quarters, holding the Bobcats to just 70 yards in the second half. The offense, coming off a nice effort versus Hamilton, struggled somewhat against the Bobcats; Russo was solid, going 13-for-21 for 131 yards and two touchdowns, but the offense was plagued by a poor ground game, rushing for only 68 yards.
"The offense has to continue to not turn the ball over," Russo said. "As long as we can do that and control the field position we will have a good chance to win because that gives our defense good field position to protect."
Bowdoin, meanwhile, has struggled on both sides of the ball this season, giving up an average of 425 yards and a total of 47 points in its two. The Polar Bears offense has scored only one touchdown, and averages 182 yards per game.
Senior quarterback Tom Duffy, who was 13-for-31 for 143 yards in last week's game, leads the Polar Bears' offense. His main targets at wide receiver are sophomore Ian Merry and junior Lamont White, both of whom had five catches in Bowdoin's 20-7 loss to Amherst last Saturday. Junior Jeff Smith, who had 53 of the Bears 84 total rush yards last weekend, will be the primary running back. Bowdoin will need a breakout game from these players if it hopes to dent the stout Jumbo defense.
On the other side of the ball, senior co-captain and linebacker John Regan, who had 12 tackles versus Amherst, leads the Polar Bears. He heads a line-backing corps that is one bright spot of the Bowdoin defense. Regan's co-captain on defense, senior defensive back Brendan Murphy, was Second Team All-NESCAC last season.
The Jumbos know this game is a benchmark for their season. A 3-0 start could propel Tufts to their first winning record since 2003.
"Right now, I think it's [about] just not getting complacent, not being satisfied with how we are playing right now," Decembrele said. "The key to success is not getting too high on yourself but not getting to low on yourself [either]. You have to take it one game at a time and never be satisfied."
