Tufts celebrates win, wants more
Jumbos Fever. Catch it! That’s the general feeling around Ellis Oval on the Tufts campus today after the football team ended a 31-game losing streak, dating to Sept. 25, 2010, by beating Hamilton, 24-17, on Saturday. The victory sent the Jumbos’ joyous fans storming onto Zimman Field.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Tufts coach Jay Civetti said. “Guys who are here have been working hard. We had recent alums, alums who were here long before I became coach, and families and friends, and they all rushed the field. It was just a big win for our community. The university has supported us from the get-go as we try to get this thing back to where it should be. We’re looking forward to getting back to work on Tuesday to prepare for Bates.”
Zack Trause caught one touchdown pass and ran for another to provide a spark for the Tufts offense. Mike Rando of Walpole compiled 199 all-purpose yards. Rando’s roommate and classmate, defensive back Mike Stearns of Framingham, was named co-NESCAC Defensive Player of the Week after making a game-high 18 tackles (16 solo) and recording a pass-break-up.
Stearns combined with inside linebackers Tommy Meade, a tri-captain from Wakefield and Malden Catholic, and Matt McCormack to stifle the Continentals offense. Hamilton was limited to 1-of-8 in fourthdown conversion attempts.
Special teams got into the act for the Jumbos as well, by bringing three kickoffs back across the 50yard line.
“I think the offense was able to put some points on the board and we took advantage of a great defensive effort,” Civetti said. “Now, we have to get ready for Bates, which runs the triple-option on offense and the 3-3 stack defense. Coach (Mark) Harriman is a tough coach to go up against, and I have tremendous respect for their program.’’
UNH’s backup plan
New Hampshire is building momentum after posting a character-testing 29- 26 victory at Richmond in its Colonial Athletic Association opener.
Starting quarterback Sean Goldrich, last week’s Gold Helmet Award winner, left with a MCL knee injury late in the contest, But Andy Vailas, who had made 13 starts over last two seasons, came off the bench to rescue the Wildcats (21). Vailas engineered a 13play, 75-yard march that consumed over six minutes and culminated in a gamewinning 2-yard run by Nico Steriti with two seconds remaining.
The game-winning drive was set up when safety Hayden Knudsen stripped the ball from Spiders receiver Rashad Ponder as he was heading for the end zone. It was Knudsen’s second straight game with a stripped-ball play.
“Great team effort,” coach Sean McDonnell said of his seventh-ranked squad. “You know we’ve beaten them three times down there and the points differential in those games is only nine points.
“Goldrich played well before being hurt and it’s great to see Vailas coming off the bench and distributing the ball. It’s something that we’ve been preaching to our guys that when your number is called you have to step up. We’re keeping our fingers crossed on Goldrich. We’re waiting for the swelling to come down. We’ll take him to the doctors (today) and get him Xrayed.’’
Wildcats wideout R, J. Harris had eight catches for 119 yards, his third consecutive 100-yard receiving game, and leads the CAA with a 125.7-yard average.
Spears ‘D’-ominates
Joining Stearns as co-NESCAC Defensive Player of the Week was Amhert’s Jaymie Spears of Haverhill, who finished with 11 tackles, two interceptions and a blocked field goal in a 14-6 win against Bates.
For the Bobcats, David Kurey was names NESCAC Special Teams Player of the Week after averaging 42.3 yards on nine punts and dropping three inside the 12-yard line. . . .
Congratulations to former Wesleyan captain Drew Marrochello of Arlington on being named new athletic director at Boston University.