The football team has made it a habit to step up its play in the second half, and its knack for late-game success is one of the reasons the Jumbos were atop the NESCAC in each of the season's first six weeks.
That changed on Saturday.
In Waterville, Maine, it was the home Colby Mules who came through in the final two quarters, springing to life for a comeback 19-16 victory that ended the Jumbos' hopes of an outright conference title.
Tufts held a 16-6 lead at the half and looked well on its way to its sixth win and prime position for a NESCAC crown. But the Jumbos were hurt by a number of second-half turnovers and allowed 13 second-half points, falling to 5-2 on the season.
"I think the only thing we can do right now is look in the mirror and say we had a chance to make plays," senior quarterback Matt Russo said. "We could have turned the momentum onto our side and we just didn't do that. I was inaccurate and the run game didn't look too good ... Colby played a great game, especially in the second half."
The biggest play of the day, and the eventual difference-maker, came early in the fourth quarter, courtesy of a Colby defense that averaged 24.2 points allowed coming into the game and had struggled earlier in the day.
After Tufts sophomore safety Tom Tassinari hauled in his fifth interception of the season, the Jumbos had the ball on their own 30-yard line. But with a steady rain coming down, Russo fumbled at the Jumbos' 25. Colby senior Mike Poplaski picked up the ball and rumbled 25 yards for a touchdown.
The game-changing turnover was the first of two key fumble recoveries for Poplaski, who also had a sack that ended Russo's day with three minutes to go in the fourth quarter.
"I think Colby has played a couple games in the rain, and they were actually prepared better than we were," Russo said. "There were opportunities to make plays whether it was raining or not, but we just didn't make them."
One of those opportunities for redemption came two possessions later, when freshman defensive end Matthew Murray picked up a fumble by Colby senior tailback Chris Bashaw to hand the ball back to the Tufts offense. Facing a third-and-eight on the Mules' 35-yard line, Russo looked to junior wideout David Halas. But Colby junior defensive back Tom Daley stripped Halas and classmate Gardiner Parker recovered. The Jumbos did not threaten again, and Colby came away with its second victory of the season.
The Jumbos' offense put up good numbers. Sophomore running back Darren Ferguson rushed for 94 yards and Russo went 18-for-33 for 189 yards and a touchdown but was doomed by four turnovers. After a strong first half, Tufts was held to only three first downs by the Colby defense in the closing two quarters.
"In the first half ... we were running pretty good and we had guys open," Russo said. "In the second half, we were out of rhythm. I couldn't really hit anybody and give them a chance to do anything with the ball. The offense got in a rut in the second half and couldn't really get out of it."
Tufts opened up the scoring on its first drive of the day. Russo was 4-for-5 and hit junior wide receiver Stephen Black for a 23-yard touchdown to give the Jumbos the early lead. Colby responded immediately with a 74-yard drive over six minutes to tie the game at six. Freshman quarterback Patrick Burns made his only pass attempt of the day count, hitting senior Justin Candon for a 16-yard touchdown.
"I think we had a defensive letdown," junior linebacker Tyson Reynoso said. "We came back to the bench after that drive and talked about it. We just played like crap that first drive and came out better the rest of the game."
Despite a solid ground effort, allowing 80 yards on 39 carries, the Jumbos had trouble containing the Colby passing attack. The Mules came in with the second-worst passing game in the NESCAC but had success through the air against the Jumbos' secondary. Ryan was 19-for-33 on the day and threw for 208 yards. Candon had nine catches for 105 yards and two scores.
Senior linebacker Stephen Albertine led the Tufts defense with nine tackles. Reynoso chipped in six and a forced fumble, one of three Colby turnovers.
"We knew coming into the game that they weren't just going to fold over, and we had to come out and play," Reynoso said. "But we just didn't come out ready."
Tufts led at 16-6 at the half, but Colby opened up the third quarter with a quick touchdown drive to cut the lead to 16-13. The Mules were helped by some big plays from senior quarterback Billy Ryan and a personal foul call on the Jumbos that brought the ball to the Tufts 17. Three plays later, Candon made his second touchdown catch of the day on a nine-yard halfback option from sophomore tailback Dan Prunier.
Though the loss ends the Jumbos' chances of winning the NESCAC outright, a victory next week over Middlebury (6-1) could give them a tie atop the conference.
"Whether it's at 6-2 or 7-1, it's still a league championship," Russo said. "That's what we set out to do at the beginning of the year and we still have a chance to do it. We've had some great wins this year, beating Amherst and Trinity, and if we win on Saturday, we can still accomplish our goal."
