If the football team wants a shot at playing for the NESCAC championship against Middlebury next week, it will first have to take care of some business - namely, beating Colby tomorrow afternoon in Waterville, Maine.
The Jumbos came back after their first defeat of the season, a 34-13 loss to Williams two weeks ago, and dominated all facets of the game against Amherst last week to bring their record to 5-1. With Middlebury also sitting at 5-1 and hosting 2-4 Hamilton tomorrow, Tufts will likely need a victory to stay tied with the Panthers at the top of the NESCAC standings.
The Jumbos will need to be careful not to look past a Colby club that has struggled this season and comes into Saturday's game at 1-5 overall. Although they are near the bottom of the NESCAC standings, the Mules are coming off a 20-13 victory over winless Bates.
"This is our Super Bowl because if you lose this one, then the week after that doesn't even matter," senior tri-captain tight end Kevin Gleason said. "You have to take it one game at a time because you only play eight of them."
Despite some improved play last weekend, the Mules have had arguably the worst offense in the NESCAC this season, and an opportunistic Jumbos defense could have a field day tomorrow. Senior Billy Ryan and freshman Patrick Burns will likely split time at quarterback for Colby, and the two have thrown 13 combined interceptions this season. The Mules are at the bottom of the NESCAC in turnover differential at minus-16 and will be facing a Tufts defense that forced four turnovers in last week's win versus Amherst.
"We always say that as a team if we win the turnover battle, we will have a better chance to win the game," sophomore safety Tom Tassinari said. "Our defense has been about making the big plays, but just because they have the worst turnover margin doesn't mean they are going to come out and turn the ball over on Saturday. We have to come out and make plays."
In addition to their troubles taking care of the football, the Mules are also the league's worst statistical offense. Colby averages just 7.8 points and 229.2 yards a game, both last in the NESCAC, as the team has clearly suffered following the graduation of longtime quarterback Justin Smith.
The offense got a big game last week from senior wide receiver Justin Candon. His nine receptions for 147 yards and two scores doubled the team's season passing touchdowns. However, the Mules avrage only 131.7 yards through the air and will more likely, attack Tufts' rushing defense with senior Chris Bashaw, who is sixth in the league in rushing at 60.8 yards a game. Despite Colby's offensive woes, the Jumbo defense will not change its game plan.
"We are preparing the same way that we have all season," Tassinari said. "They have two quarterbacks that are pretty good, so right now we are going to be doing what we have been doing and running the same defense."
On the other side of the ball, the Jumbos' offense has been on a roll, putting up 29 points against a Lord Jeffs team that had previously had the top scoring defense in the NESCAC. While last year the Jumbos squeaked by Colby 7-0 on a touchdown pass with just three minutes left to play, tomorrow, that offense, which features many of the same faces but several big breakout seasons, could come up big against a Mules defense that has given up over 24 points a game.
Senior quarterback Matt Russo followed up a record-setting passing day in the loss to Williams with another strong effort versus the Jeffs, earning him NESCAC Offensive Player of the Week honors. The senior signal caller did it all last weekend, throwing for three scores and rushing for another in the victory. The Mules will try to get pressure from their top defensive player, junior defensive end Sam Handler, who is fourth in the league in sacks with 3.5, in order to force the Jumbos into mistakes.
"I think that the key to our passing is the offensive line," Gleason said. "They are blocking almost perfectly on the passing plays; they take a lot of pride in that and have been doing a great job. And obviously Matt Russo is having a great year. He is a great player, and when the offensive line gives him time, he is getting the job done."
The Jumbos also had a strong day on the ground against Amherst and have been doing a good job of setting up their passing game with a strong rushing attack. The balanced offense has worked well for Tufts, and the offense will try to keep the Colby defense guessing tomorrow.
"We are letting both feed off each other," Gleason said. "The run is helping us open up the pass, and the pass is helping us open up the run."
If the Jumbos can shut down the Mules on Saturday, the players can start looking toward their last game of the season versus the Panthers. If both squads win on Saturday, that matchup will be a de facto NESCAC championship game.
"Right now we are just focused on Colby," Tassinari said. "I don't think anyone on the team is focused on Middlebury. We just consider this a second week of playoffs because right now, if we don't beat Colby, where are we going to be?"
