With the game on the line, sophomore kicker Adam Auerbach remained unfazed, booting the winning field goal to give the Jumbos the 25-22 come-from-behind victory in their Homecoming matchup with Bowdoin.
And now, because of his efforts, Auerbach was named the NESCAC Special Teams Player of the Week on Sunday.
With the clock winding down in regulation, Auerbach stuck a 37-yard field goal down the pipe to tie the contest at 22-22. Once Bowdoin kicker Bill Donahue sailed his field goal attempt wide on Bowdoin's first overtime possession, Auerbach took the field with a chance to win the game.
And he delivered.
Auerbach kicked a 35-yard field goal, with room to spare, shortly after the Polar Bears called a timeout in an attempt to ice the second-year placekicker. But amidst all the pressure, he remained composed, striking the game-winner and setting off a raucous celebration from the Tufts sideline.
"I was so pumped up," Auerbach said. "I ran out there and it was definitely the best opportunity I've gotten in my kicking career, and I'm glad I could capitalize on it. It was awesome to see the crowd react, and my teammates flew off the sideline and just mauled me."
For a special teams unit that has experienced difficulties throughout the short season — Auerbach has made just one of four extra points — the field goals served as an emphatic victory.
"After the kick I missed earlier in the game, it was a great feeling just to hit that one," said Auerbach, who noted that this was his first game-winner. "[The misses] went through my mind, but you can't let past performances get in the way of doing your job. It was great to have all the pressure on me for once."
Even when faced with that dreaded lull between Bowdoin's timeout and the ensuing play, Auerbach insists that calming the nerves and remaining focused was the key.
"You definitely expect that they'll ice you," he said. "But you just have to keep your cool and remember the fundamentals. I was real glad to have the opportunity to help my team succeed."
Tufts set up Auerbach's heroics after Donahue's failed attempt by grinding out three consecutive run plays, certainly a testament to the faith placed on the sophomore.
"It's an awesome feeling that they had that much confidence in me; it says a lot," Auerbach said. "It's nice that they have the same confidence as I have in them, and it's definitely nice that we were able to succeed together."
Auerbach, who switched from soccer to football in 10th grade and has been kicking ever since, is perfect on all four field goal attempts from under 40 yards on the year. His game-winning field goal was the first at Tufts since 1997, and it helped the Jumbos to their first overtime win since 2003.
But in spite of his NESCAC award and the good feeling of being the hero, Auerbach remains determined to improve in the upcoming weeks.
"There will be a new focus and a new thought on the kicking game," he said. "Hopefully we'll be able to capitalize down the road. I think we made a huge statement against Bowdoin, though."
