It has been an up-and-down year for the football team. While the Jumbos have certainly had their highlights, such as defeating a strong 5-2 Williams team for the first time in 21 years, the team has also suffered disappointments, such as losses to 3-4 Bowdoin and undefeated Trinity by a combined total of three points.
The squad has also yet to pick up a road victory. Tufts will look to change that fact when it travels to Middlebury, Vt. tomorrow to finish its season against a Panthers squad currently tied with the Jumbos for fourth place in the conference standings.
Middlebury has been the highest-scoring team in the NESCAC this season, averaging nearly 34 points per game. The offense is led by sophomore quarterback Donald McKillop, who has thrown for 1,940 yards and 10 touchdowns so far this season, topping the NESCAC in both passing yards and total offense.
The Jumbos have not beaten Middlebury since 2001, though their average margin of defeat over the past five years has been just below five points. This game will take on added significance to years past, however, as Tufts' loss to the Panthers last season cost it a share of the NESCAC title.
"Last year the game was to decide the NESCAC championship," junior linebacker Alex Perry said. "It has always been a really intense game whenever we play Middlebury. The games have always been close and they always come ready to play."
If the Jumbos are going to beat Middlebury, they will need to shut down the passing game. Although McKillop has put up impressive counting statistics, he is certainly somewhat erratic through the air: He has already been intercepted 13 times this season. Tufts will have to capitalize on these turnover opportunities if it is going to be successful tomorrow.
"This week it's all about rushing and protecting the quarterback," senior wide receiver David Halas said. "If the defense can get a good rush on the passer and force him to make some bad decisions, I think our defense will be able to take advantage of their mistakes."
"We need to get the ball back to the offense," Perry added. "I think the game versus Colby was a good example of that. It is going to be tough, but we are ready for the challenge."
Middlebury is currently the most penalized team in the NESCAC, costing itself 69 yards per game. In addition, the Panthers rank only seventh in rush defense, allowing over 125 yards a contest. That could prove to be a huge advantage for the Jumbos, who boast the league's second-leading rusher in senior Will Forde. Forde has averaged over 106 yards per game while reaching the end zone six times this season.
"They have a pretty good defense, but we are going to get back to rushing the ball this weekend," Forde said. "Hopefully we will be able to run the ball and give our team a chance to win."
In addition to providing holes for Forde on running plays, the offensive line will have to deal with extra pressure on passing plays. The Panthers' defense is blitz-heavy, so the line will have to focus on pass protection to pick up the added pass rusher.
"They blitz a lot and they leave their corners in coverage," Halas said. "If we can handle their blitzing, [then] our passing game and running game will be successful."
As Tufts' season finale, tomorrow's contest will mark the final game for the seniors in the Jumbo uniform. Marquee performances from seniors like Halas and Forde, who have piled up big numbers all season, could guarantee a 5-3 finish for the second straight season.
"It doesn't feel any different right now," Halas said. "But I think when it's over, I will start to realize that it's the end of my football career."
"The game is really important to the team and it is really important for the seniors," Perry added. "It would be awesome for the seniors to be 5-3; they are the true leaders on the team. It would be great to get a win on Saturday and send them off on the right note."
