In a game packed with excitement, Tufts football ended its season with a winning record of 7–2 coming out of their most recent senior day win against Middlebury on Saturday. At the start of the game, Middlebury won the coin toss and deferred to Tufts, letting them receive the ball first.
In the first quarter, both the Jumbos and the Panthers held the other team in check.
“I anticipated a low-scoring game,” coach Jay Civetti said. “I think they’re two just really good teams playing versus each other.”
The Jumbos’ starting quarterback, senior Michael Berluti, tried seeking help from his teammates, resulting in a few turnovers. The Panthers were held up by the Jumbos, resulting in nobody scoring during the first quarter despite the Panthers coming within 15 yards of the endzone. Middlebury missed the quarter’s only field goal attempt.
At the outset of the second quarter, the Jumbos changed the tide of the game and established control. Within the first five minutes, Tufts scored their first touchdown after a no-huddle shotgun play with Berluti throwing to first-year wide receiver Keller Rogers. When junior kicker Vaughn Seelicke tacked on the extra point, the Jumbos extended their lead to 7–0. Jumbo fans were very excited to see their team take the lead.
Civetti compared the game to chess, with his players carefully moving down the field like pieces on a board.
Soon after the Jumbos put up seven points, sophomore defensive back Ty Richardson intercepted the ball from the Panthers to gain 59 yards on their 17-yard line, setting the Jumbos up to score again.
The Jumbos ran the shotgun formation a few times with no success. On fourth down, Seelicke kicked a 26-yard field goal to extend the Jumbo lead to 10–0. Another force on the defensive side was senior defensive back Louis Timmins, who intercepted a Middlebury pass with three minutes left. The second quarter soon ended after a missed Middlebury field goal, yielding a 10–0 score at the half.
Middlebury began the third quarter with the ball. Yet again, the quarter ended with neither side scoring.
The Panthers, however, did not go down without a fight. Things quickly changed in the fourth quarter as Middlebury scored their first touchdown within a minute by running back Connor McClellan. The extra point attempt was good, making the score 10–7.
Civetti mentioned how he believes the Jumbos have been resilient and gritty in this year’s action. According to Civetti, the team has worked to stay calm and focus on individual plays rather than the game’s overall outcome.
The Tufts Jumbos’ loss to the Middlebury Panthers last season 19–10 gave the game more gravity and inspired the Jumbos to finish the season with a win.
Berluti, the first-ever Tufts football player to surpass 10,000 total yards, left the game in the fourth quarter due to injury which gave senior quarterback Luke Leongas the opportunity to secure the win for the Jumbos.
Leongas said that he is always prepared to play for and take on Berluti’s leadership role.
“Even though I came in not starting the game, they always tell me to prepare like I am starting, and that’s what I do every week,” Leongas said.
Later on in the fourth quarter, Leongas created a short pass to senior wide receiver Cade Moore to lead the Jumbos to score another touchdown. The extra point attempt was also good from Seelicke, making the score 17–7.
Leongas mentioned that practice and support from his teammates is what led him to comfortably enter the game, driving out the win without any hesitation.
The game concluded with the Jumbos securing the win 17–7. The Jumbos finished the season with a winning record of 7–2.
“This year, we [wanted] to chase perfection,” Civetti said. “To reveal excellence.”
Leongas mentioned that he will miss the players who he has grown close to and formed strong, meaningful bonds with on the team.
As Tufts concludes its season with a record of 7–2, the team will now enter the off-season as the NESCAC does not have a playoff tournament for football.
