Who said there were no playoffs in NESCAC football?
While there may be no NCAA berths, no New England regional playoffs, and not even a NESCAC title game in the Jumbos' future, tomorrow's game at Zimman Field is the next best thing. The first-place Middlebury Panthers (6-1) come to town tomorrow, and for the first time in seven years, they have their sights set on an outright NESCAC title. It's up to the Jumbos (5-2) to stop them.
"No doubt - this is the biggest game of my career," senior quarterback Matt Russo said. "It's one of the biggest games that the Tufts football program has ever played in. We have a chance to get a piece of that title. It's a huge game, and it's a huge feeling - this is what you play for, this is why you put in all the hard work."
With a win tomorrow, Tufts would earn a share of the NESCAC championship. With five wins on the season, the Jumbos are tied with NESCAC powers Trinity and Williams for second place in the conference standings. Both teams play host to 4-3 opponents tomorrow - the Bantams take on Wesleyan while the Ephs face Amherst in their storied rivalry game - and both have a shot at joining Tufts and Middlebury at the top of the final league standings.
"Our goal all along has been to win the conference championship," coach Bill Samko said. "We have a chance to do that Saturday - we're going into the final game with a chance to accomplish our goal."
The Panthers have gotten to this point largely thanks to their defense. Through seven games, they've allowed just 70 total points, easily the lowest in the NESCAC. In 14 red zone drives, they've allowed only six touchdowns, also a league-best rate. Senior captain Erik Woodring is the NESCAC's leader in tackles across the board, posting 47 solo and 41 assisted.
"All 11 of them run extremely well," Samko said. "We have to play well against them, no question, but [it's] not over our heads. We can't make a lot of mistakes, but if we play well, I think we can play with anybody."
Middlebury shut down the Jumbos in Vermont last year, ending Tufts' season with a 10-0 loss. Russo had his worst game of the season statistically, going 8-for-20 for a season-low 50 yards and a season-high three interceptions. He was also sacked four times. Not surprisingly, Woodring led the way with 17 tackles.
"Their defense isn't the biggest by any means, but it's the fastest," Russo said. "They've got really good speed. And Woodring is a great player; he makes tons of tackles of every game. They've got great speed, and they pursue the ball well."
Middlebury's offense ranks third in the NESCAC. Senior David Randolph has been among the league's top rushers all season, and he currently ranks second in the NESCAC with 526 yards and six touchdowns.
The Panthers were forced to rebound this year from the loss of '07 graduate Tiger Lyon, their two-year starter under center. Freshman Donald McKillop has been inconsistent in his place -the rookie threw for 172 yards and three touchdowns against Colby in Week 2, but threw five picks against a sub-par Williams defense two weeks later. While it's hard to know what to expect from the first-year quarterback, Samko has been impressed so far.
"He's a talented kid," Samko said of McKillop. "I think he does almost everything very, very well. He's a freshman - he's been a surprise for them, and he's done very well."
If Randolph can have a big game and the good McKillop shows up to lead the Panthers' passing game, the Jumbos will be in trouble against the first-place Panthers. Tufts hasn't beaten Middlebury since 2001, and the momentum isn't on the Jumbos' side now. Tufts lost 19-16 to Colby last week, squandering a fourth-quarter lead on a Russo fumble that was returned for a touchdown.
"I think it made us take a step back and realize that you've got to go out every week and play your best game in order to win," Russo said. "Anybody can beat anybody on any given Saturday."
Despite the NESCAC's depth this year, the Jumbos have emerged this year to rise above the pack. The program has come a long way this season - its five wins are already the most since 2003. Tomorrow is Senior Day, and the fans at Zimman Field will celebrate a senior class that won just six games in the past two years combined, but now aims for its sixth of this season alone. Samko downplayed his own role in the team's transformation, giving most of the credit to his team's on-field leadership.
"Coaching's important, but coaches don't make plays," Samko said. "Players make plays. Our talent level is very competitive - we've got great leadership this year, a great senior class."
And if Samko's seniors can end their careers with one last win, they'll have brought a NESCAC title home to Medford.
