The Jumbos entered Pratt Field with a talented team, but also a share of last place in the NESCAC on account of their inability to score points-Tufts averages just 11 points per game. While Tufts was unable to solve its scoring woes on Saturday-the Amherst defense actually held the Jumbos below their season average-the Jumbo defense completely shut down what had been a potent Amherst offense.
The Jeffs were lethargic on offense throughout the ballgame. Amherst mustered just 221 yards of total offense and had only three plays from scrimmage of 15 yards or more. "When you don't make plays on offense, you are not going to win," said Mills. Amherst was held without a touchdown for the first time since 2000, when Middlebury beat Amherst by a score of 17-0.
Despite abysmal execution on offense, the Jeffs remained in contention until the bitter end due to sensational play on defense and special teams. Trailing 10-3, Amherst found itself inside the Tufts 15 on each of its final two possessions of the game. Unfortunately, Amherst turned the ball over on downs both times.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Tufts was on the verge of putting the game out of reach with another score, but senior quad-captain B.J. Gaddour recovered a Tufts fumble on a crucial third-and-one on the Jeff 41-yard line to give Amherst new life. Senior quarterback Marsh Moseley promptly completed an eight-yard pass to reliable tight end Ryan Sykes '05 and then scrambled for another 13 yards to put the Jeffs well inside Jumbo territory. After three consecutive runs by senior quad-captain Fletcher Ladd, Moseley threw a 19-yard strike to Sykes-Amherst's longest play from scrimmage-to put the Jeffs within 16 yards of a game-tying score. After two more Ladd carries, the Jeffs faced a third-and-two on the Jumbo 8-yard line and seemed poised to find the end zone. However, Amherst advanced no further for the rest of the game.
Moseley was sacked for a two yard loss on third down, and his fourth down pass attempt was batted down at the line to return possession to Tufts.
With just 2:42 remaining in the game, Mills needed a quick stop from his defensive unit in order to have any hope of salvaging his team's perfect season, and a quick stop is exactly what he got. Tufts called three consecutive running plays which netted them only one yard and-thanks to three Amherst timeouts-took only 29 seconds off the clock.
Amherst's prospects improved even more dramatically when senior quad-captain Jay Wagstaff returned the ensuing punt 21 yards to the Tufts 18-yard line. The Jeff offense was handed a golden opportunity to tie the game, but could only manage three of the 18 yards required. Moseley went 0-3 on the drive as Amherst once again turned the ball over on downs. This time, however, there would be no second chances as Tufts simply took a knee to earn its second consecutive victory over the Jeffs.
"We had our opportunities in the second half to at least tie the game, but we did not convert," said Mills. "We just were not able to generate any offense."
All of the game's scoring took place in the second quarter. Tufts got on the board early in the quarter following a 31-yard field goal which was set up by a Moseley fumble.
A couple of possessions later, the Jumbos took a 10-0 advantage when quarterback Casey D'Annolfo found wideout Steve Menty for a 23-yard touchdown. That scoring strike punctuated a four-play, 96-yard drive, which began with a 59-yard Menty reception. D'Annolfo accumulated 91 of his 109 passing yards on this one drive.
Placekicker David Bodner '05 made a 31-yard field goal at the end of the first half to put Amherst back within one score.
Although the Amherst defense suffered a couple of breakdowns in the secondary on Tufts' lone touchdown drive, Mills' unit had, all in all, a pretty solid day. The Jeffs limited the Jumbos to just 241 yards of total offense and made critical stops late in the fourth quarter to keep Amherst in the game. Justin Roemer '06 had a sensational game from his outside linebacker position, recording a career-best 13 tackles. Safeties Bob Sargent '05 and Chris Scarpelli '05 each grabbed interceptions.
Unfortunately, it is hard to find many good things to say about the performance of the Amherst offense, which was completely shut down by Tufts after playing so magnificently the previous week against Wesleyan University. The formidable Tufts defense and the rainy conditions certainly did not make life easy for Moseley and company, but ultimately the Jeffs beat themselves with costly turnovers and poor execution.
Ladd led the way offensively for Amherst with 90 hard-earned rushing yards on 23 carries. Moseley finished 12-29 for 90 yards and an interception.
This game very nearly went into overtime, which is how the previous two Amherst-Tufts contests were decided. Last season, Tufts topped Amherst 24-17, avenging a 27-24 loss to the Jeffs in 2002.
The schedule does not get any easier for the Jeffs, as Amherst travels to Hartford, Conn., next week to take on defending NESCAC Champion Trinity College. The Bantams won their 20th consecutive game-the longest current winning streak in collegiate football-last week against Middlebury College and have absolutely dominated their opposition thus far this season. Trinity has scored 239 points in 2004, while allowing just 39.
Amherst will certainly be an underdog in this Saturday's contest, but victory is well within the Jeffs' grasp. If the offense can return to form, and if the defense can continue to force critical turnovers, Amherst may well reclaim a spot atop the NESCAC just in time for its much anticipated season finale against Williams College.
Despite the loss to Tufts-disappointing as it may be-Mills' squad is still in fine shape heading into the home stretch.
"If we win our next two games, we are NESCAC and Little Three Champs, so we are still in a position to accomplish all of our goals," said Mills.