Junior free safety Andy Henke picked up a key fumble in the football team's 16-10 win over the Trinity Bantams Saturday, and he grabbed something else for his efforts too: the Boston Globe's Gold Helmet Award for Divs. II and III.
In a matchup of undefeated NESCAC foes, the Bantams brought their NESCAC-best offense to Medford to take on the Jumbos. Trailing 10-9 after the first half of play, the Jumbos battled back to win 16-10, taking the lead in the third as Henke and the defense held Trinity scoreless in the final two quarters.
Henke's big play came with three minutes to go in the first half, and Trinity driving with a 10-2 lead. With the Bantams on the Tufts 26, Henke stripped senior running back Jordan Quinones and recovered the fumble, giving Tufts the ball and thwarting a Trinity drive that could have put the visitors up by two scores.
Without his partner, sophomore Tom Tassinari, in the backfield, Henke stepped up and led an impressive Jumbo defense. The junior finished with eight tackles along with the forced fumble and recovery. Tufts stopped the Trinity offense four times in the second half on fourth down attempts, forced a safety on a holding call in the end zone, and forced three Bantams turnovers. The Jumbos held the Bantams signal-caller, junior Eric McGrath, to just 180 yards passing after he had come into the contest averaging 294 per game.
The win for the Jumbos is perhaps the biggest in head coach Bill Samko's 14-year tenure, and gives his team its best start since 2001, when they also began the year 4-0. Tufts handed Trinity only its second loss in 42 games and beat the Bantams for the first time in six years. The win gave Tufts sole possession of first place in the NESCAC, allowing the Jumbos to control their own destiny in their quest for a conference championship.
Henke will receive a plaque today at the weekly New England Football Writers' Luncheon at Harvard. He is the first Jumbo to earn the prestigious award since then-senior wide receiver Tim Mack did so in 2003.
The safety leads the Jumbos, who have the second-ranked scoring defense in the conference, with 32 total tackles on the season.
Tufts' early-season achievements are being recognized across the region, as the program jumped up seven spots from last week and is now ranked second in the New England Div. III poll. Curry College is in first place with a 7-0 record on the season, but the Jumbos were the only New England team to receive a vote in the D3football.com national poll.
With half of Tufts' games still left to play, including Saturday's contest in Williamstown against the reigning NESCAC champion Williams, there is still work to be done. Henke and the Jumbo defense will be counted on to slow down an Ephs attack led by the top quarterback and running back in the conference, senior Pat Lucey and junior Brian Morrissey.
