Amherst College (4-1) vs. Tufts University (3-2)
October 28, 2006 * Pratt Field
Amherst, MA * 1 p.m.
THE SERIES
Amherst holds the overall advantage over Tufts, winning 46 of 75 games since the first match-up back in 1877 and 10 of the last 13 games. Three of the last four games have been decided by seven points or fewer, with two of them requiring overtime to determine a winner. Home field has hardly been an advantage as of late, with Amherst standing at an even 2-2 against Tufts at Pratt Field dating back to 1998, while winning three of four on Tufts' home field in that span. Amherst dominated the last meeting with Tufts, 37-6.
SCOUTING AMHERST
The Amherst College football sits second in the current NESCAC standings with a 4-1 record after last week's shutout of NESCAC and Little Three archrival Wesleyan University. The Jeffs have had great play on both sides of the ball in their first five games, as senior quad-captain and starting quarterback Nick Kehoe has thrown for 1,163 yards and eight touchdowns thus far, while his favorite target, utility-back Mark Hannon, has racked up five touchdowns and 369 yards in the air. The two other quad-captains, defensive lineman Brendan McKee and defensive back Mike Salerno anchor the nation's best defense in terms of points allowed per game. After last weekend's shutout, the Jeff defense is surrendering a mind-blowing 4.6 points-per-game.
TUFTS head coach BILL SAMKO
Thirteenth-year head coach Bill Samko came to Tufts in 1994 after rebuilding a struggling University of the South program in Sewanee, Tenn. The Tigers were 6-21 in three seasons prior to his arrival, then posted a 35-26-1 mark during his seven-year tenure (1987-1993), including a 23-5-1 mark from 1990 to 1992. He was the Southern College Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 1990 and 1992, and earned Josten's National Coach of the Year honors in 1992 when Sewanee finished 8-1.
Samko has succeeded at Tufts since taking on the head coaching job in 1994, earning Coach of the Year honors from three different organizations in 1998, the first year that four classes were recruited by Samko and his staff. The Jumbos finished in third place in the NESCAC in 2001 and 2003 with records of 6-2 and 5-3, respectively.
A native of Worcester, Mass., Samko graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1973, where he played on both the football and baseball teams. Bill and his wife, Mary Kay, live in Arlington, Mass. with their children Tracey, Kristin, Peter, and Michael.
LAST MEETING
Amherst snapped a two-year losing streak to the Jumbos and tacked on their fourth straight win of the season with a 37-6 victory over Tufts in snowy Medford, Mass. Senior Ngai Otieno gave the Jeffs a quick lead, scampering 59 yards on Amherst's second play from scrimmage to go ahead 6-0. Senior Justin Roemer stretched the Jeffs' advantage to 9-0, capping the ensuing drive with a career-long 40-yard field goal just before the seven-minute mark of the opening frame. Tufts got on the board on its next possession, driving 73 yards on nine plays for the score to cut the lead to 9-6, but it was all Amherst the rest of the way, with the Jeffs scoring 28 unanswered points.
Rookie Eric NeSmith led the Amherst rushing attack for the third consecutive week, earning 92 yards on 14 carries, while Otieno posted similar numbers, finishing with 90 yards on 13 touches. Junior Nick Kehoe completed 11-of-17 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns, while classmate Mark Hannon finished with four catches for 97 yards. Senior tri-captain nose guard L.J. Spinnato paced the Jeff defense with seven tackles, while Roemer and senior tri-captain Nick Zieler tallied six takedowns apiece and junior Mike Salerno added five tackles and a pass breakup.
Senior tailback Scott Lombardi, who came into the game ranked third in the NESCAC in rushing, was held to just 46 yards for the Jumbos. Junior tight end Mark Jagiela and rookie receiver David Halas each had two catches for 55 and 51 yards, respectively. Junior Chris Decembrele notched a game-high 11 tackles, followed closely by junior teammate Bryan McDavitt with 10.
AMHERST LAST TIME OUT
The Amherst College Lord Jeffs shutout NESCAC and Little Three archrival Wesleyan to spoil the Cardinals hopes of a homecoming win last Saturday. Amherst was boosted to a 23-0 victory riding a solid offensive performance from senior captains Nick Kehoe (23-of-31 for 226 and 2 TD-1 INT) and Mark Hannon (11 recs. for 98 yards and 2 TD). Amherst's #1 ranked nationally overall defense closed down the Cardinals offense for their first shutout of the season, while sacking the Wesleyan quarterback three times and picking off one of his passes, and forcing one fumble.
TUFTS LAST TIME OUT
The Tufts University Jumbos fell at the hands of the NESCAC's top team, the Williams Ephs, last Saturday, 38-14. The Jumbo's defense surrendered 352 yards of total offense to the Williams squad, while mustering only 203 yards on offense. Tufts ended the lopsided game on a high note when sophomore Brad Ricketson scampered 89 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Tufts fell to 3-2 on the season with the loss, and sits alone in fifth place in the current NESCAC standings.
2006 AMHERST SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Sept. 23 BATES W 31-6
Sept 30 @ Bowdoin W 20-7
Oct. 7 @ Middlebury L 7-3
Oct. 14 COLBY W 38-3
Oct. 21 @ Wesleyan W 23-0
Oct. 28 TUFTS (fw) 1 p.m.
Nov. 4 @ Trinity 12:30 p.m.
Nov 11 WILLIAMS (hc) Noon
2006 TUFTS SCHEDULE/RESULTS
9/23 HAMILTON W 17-0
9/30 BATES W 21-12
10/7 @ Bowdoin W 16-6
10/14 @ Trinity L 17-0
10/21 WILLIAMS L 38-14
10/28 @ Amherst 1 p.m.
11/4 COLBY 12:30 p.m.
11/11 @ Middlebury 12:30 p.m.
AMHERST PROBABLE STARTERS
LORD JEFF OFFENSE
QB Nick Kehoe 11
FB Chris Gillyard 34
TB Will Beeson 3
WR Jim Eckenrode 14
WR Mark Hannon 1
TE Matt Dunleavy 83
C Justin Wiley 72
LT Dan Guariglia 66
RT Nate Riccardi 59
LG Matt Mascioli 76
RG Ryan Smith 75
LORD JEFF DEFENSE
OLB Guy Matisis 45
OLB Dakota Jones 90
DT Jon Attridge 98
DT Brendan McKee 55
NG Greg Smith 50
ILB Nick Boehm 29
ILB Mike Flanagan 44
CB Chris Mottau 7
CB A.J. Scola 13
SS Rob Grammar 8
FS Mike Salerno 2
TUFTS PROBABLE STARTERS
JUMBOS OFFENSE
QB Matt Russo 9
TB Brian Cammuso 34
FB Kevin Anderson 10
WR David Halas 8
WR Steve Menty 84
TE Mark Jagiela 82
LT Thomas Ames 50
LG David Libardoni 67
C Ryan McGeary 59
RG Tim Lind 73
RT Brian Schurko 70
PK Oliver Snider 80
JUMBOS DEFENSE
DE Chris Decembrele 14
DT Ryan Byrne 92
NT Jeremiah Lechleiter 57
DT John Chappell 62
DE Gary Heffernan 45
LB Stephen Albertine 24
LB Tyson Reynoso 55
CB Brett Holm 5
FS Jourdon Cancienne 28
SS Bryan McDavitt 40
CB Nathan Scott 3
P Bryan McDavitt 40
AMHERST STATISTICAL LEADERS
PASSING
Nick Kehoe (87-for-142/1163yds./8TD/5 int.)
RUSHING
Eric NeSmith (59 att/247 yds./0TD)
Aaron Rauh (53 att/213 yds./3 TD)
RECEIVING
Mark Hannon (33 rec/369 yds./5TD)
Justin Macione (16 rec/271 yds/0TD)
SPECIAL TEAMS
Mark Hannon (12 punt ret./166 yds./1 TD)
TUFTS Statistical Leaders
PASSING
Matt Russo (55-for-95/532 yds./5TD/5 Int)
RUSHING
Brendan Georges (60 att/293 yds./1TD)
RECEIVING
Steve Menty (19 rec/195 yds./1TD)
David Halas (12 rec/176 yds./4 TD)
SPECIAL TEAMS
Will Forde (7 returns/119 yds.)
2006 TEAM STATISTICAL COMPARISONS
Amherst Tufts
Rushing Yards/Per Game 541 yds./108.2 avg. 617 yds./123.4 avg.
Passing Yards/Per Game 1,163 yds./232.2 avg. 533 yds./106.6 avg.
Total Offense/Per Game 1,704 yds./340.8 avg. 1,150 yds./230 avg.
Total Points/Per Game 115 pts./23.0 avg. 68 pts./13.6 avg.
Rushing Allowed/Per Game 290 yds./58.0 avg. 493 yds./98.6 avg.
Passing Allowed/Per Game 680 yds./136.0 avg. 831 yds./166.2 avg.
Total Offense Allowed/Per Game 970 yds./194.0 avg. 1,324 yds./264.8 avg
Total Points Allowed/Per Game 23 pts./4.6 avg. 73 pts./14.6 avg.
THIS WEEK IN THE NESCAC
Bowdoin @ Wesleyan 12:30 p.m.
Middlebury @ Trinity 12:30 p.m.
Colby @ Bates 1:00 p.m.
Tufts @ Amherst 1:00 p.m.
Williams @ Hamilton 1:00 p.m.
2006 NESCAC STANDINGS
1. Williams 5-0
2. Amherst 4-1
Middlebury 4-1
Trinity 2-1
5. Tufts 3-2
6. Hamilton 2-3
Wesleyan 2-3
8. Colby 1-4
9. Bates 0-5
Bowdoin 0-5
ALL-TIME RESULTS
Amherst vs. Tufts All-Time:
Amherst leads 46-25-4 (75 meetings)
1877 Amherst 8 Tufts 4
1885 Tufts 22 Amherst 10
1885 Tufts 8 Amherst 5
1886 Amherst 22 Tufts 12
1886 Amherst 18 Tufts 4
1892 Tufts 18 Amherst 15
1900 Tufts 11 Amherst 0
1906 Amherst 12 Tufts 5
1908 Amherst 6 Tufts 5
1909 Amherst 6 Tufts 3
1912 Tufts 20 Amherst 0
1921 Tie 0-0
1929 Tie 0-0
1938 Amherst 34 Tufts 7
1939 Amherst 26 Tufts 7
1946 Amherst 25 Tufts 20
1947 Tufts 13 Amherst 7
1948 Amherst 14 Tufts 13
1949 Tufts 33 Amherst 14
1950 Amherst 23 Tufts 20
1951 Amherst 21 Tufts 13
1952 Amherst 35 Tufts 0
1953 Amherst 13 Tufts 6
1954 Tufts 7 Amherst 6
1955 Tufts 46 Amherst 26
1956 Amherst 6 Tufts 0
1957 Amherst 19 Tufts 6
1958 Tufts 42 Amherst 7
1959 Tie 0-0
1960 Tufts 12 Amherst 2
1961 Amherst 40 Tufts 6
1962 Amherst 13 Tufts 0
1963 Amherst 22 Tufts 0
1964 Amherst 14 Tufts 8
1965 Amherst 28 Tufts 7
1966 Amherst 28 Tufts 6
1967 Tie 7-7
1968 Amherst 42 Tufts 6
1969 Amherst 37 Tufts 6
1970 Amherst 17 Tufts 7
1971 Amherst 35 Tufts 14
1972 Amherst 49 Tufts 0
1973 Amherst 28 Tufts 0
1974 Amherst 31 Tufts 10
1975 Amherst 11 Tufts 10
1976 Tufts 18 Amherst 17
1977 Amherst 42 Tufts 20
1978 Tufts 10 Amherst 3
1979 Tufts 35 Amherst 21
1980 Tufts 30 Amherst 6
1981 Tufts 34 Amherst 16
1982 Amherst 47 Tufts 28
1983 Amherst 28 Tufts 7
1984 Amherst 30 Tufts 7
1985 Tufts 10 Amherst 0
1986 Tufts 35 Amherst 23
1987 Amherst 14 Tufts 13
1988 Amherst 28 Tufts 25
1989 Tufts 25 Amherst 9
1990 Tufts 28 Amherst 7
1991 Tufts 28 Amherst 17
1992 Tufts 24 Amherst 0
1993 Amherst 23 Tufts 21
1994 Amherst 28 Tufts 19
1995 Amherst 28 Tufts 0
1996 Amherst 31 Tufts 12
1997 Amherst 16 Tufts 6
1998 Tufts 30 Amherst 16
1999 Amherst 10 Tufts 7
2000 Amherst 8 Tufts 0
2001 Amherst 14 Tufts 10
2002 Amherst 27 Tufts 24 (OT)
2003 Tufts 24 Amherst 17 (OT)
2004 Tufts 10 Amherst 3
2005 Amherst 37 Tufts 6
