MEDFORD - Senior Zack Trause returned a kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown and a punt 49 yards for a score just 2:02 apart to help the Tufts football team earn a 42-24 victory over Bates on Homecoming Day at Ellis Oval / Zimman Field Saturday.
The Jumbos, who ended the nation's longest losing streak at 31 games with a 24-17 win against Hamilton last week, are now 2-0 for the first time since 2008. Bates dropped to 0-2.
Tufts accumulated 405 yards of total offense, with senior QB Jack Doll completing 29 of 39 passes for 267 yards and three touchdowns. Sophomore WR Ben Berey caught 14 passes for 117 yards and a touchdown, while junior Jack Cooleen had two touchdown receptions. Sophomore Chance Brady rushed 19 times for 98 yards. Trause added a touchdown run to his two return scores.
Bates was led by junior WR Mark Riley who had nine receptions for 142 yards and two touchdowns. Senior QB Matt Cannone completed 16 of 22 passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns.
In an entertaining back-and-forth game, the visiting Bobcats had taken a 24-23 lead on a six-yard touchdown pass by Cannone to Riley with 1:21 remaining in the third quarter. That ended a nine-play, 71-yard drive that included a 27-yard run by Frank Williams.
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| Senior Zack Trause takes returns a punt 49 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter |
Trause then took the ensuing kickoff at his own 18-yard line and dashed 82 yards for a touchdown to give the hosts a 29-24 advantage with 1:06 left in the third.
That led to a dominant fourth quarter by the Jumbos. The Tufts defense pushed Bates back 16 yards on their next drive, forcing a punt from the six. Trause took it at the Bobcat 49 and brought it to the house for a 35-24 Tufts lead with 14:02 on the clock.
On the Bobcats' first play from scrimmage in the next series, Jumbo sophomore Tucker Mathers forced a fumble and senior tri-captain Tommy Meade recovered at the Bates 23. Four plays later, Doll threw three yards to Colleen for a 42-24 Tufts advantage at 12:33 of the fourth.
The Jumbos outscored Bates 13-0 in the fourth quarter and 29-7 in the second half.
Tufts had taken a 7-0 lead on Trause's four-yard TD run at 5:04 of the first. They converted two third downs on the drive, including a 17-yard pass from Doll to senior Greg Lanzillo. Trause's touchdown came on third down.
Bates senior Lani Eversage returned the Tufts kickoff 80 yards to the Jumbo five-yard line. The Tufts defense held, including a third down tackle for a loss by Meade and Patrick Williams. The Bobcats settled for a 19-yard field goal by Drew Korn at 2:51 of the opening quarter making it 7-3.
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| Junior Jack Cooleen grabs one of his two touchdown receptions |
Cannone and Riley would connect on a 54-yard scoring pass at 6:24 of the second quarter giving Bates its first lead at 10-7. The touchdown came on the third play of the drive after the Bobcat defense forced a punt.
Bates extended its margin to 17-7 when Cannone passed to freshman Mickoy Nichol from six yards out with 2:24 remaining in the first half. They had combined for a 29-yard pass play earlier in the drive.
With Bates receiving the ball in the second half, Tufts marched 69-yards in eight plays for a critical score late in the half. Berey's 13-yard touchdown catch from Doll with 18 seconds on the clock pulled the Jumbos within 17-13 at halftime. Doll and Berey gained 44 yards on pass competions during the drive. Trause had a 19-yard run on a second and 18 play during the possession.
After stopping Bates on its opening drive in the second half, the Jumbos continued their momentum. Doll, who was five for five for 52 yards during the drive, passed 23 yards to Cooleen in the endzone to give Tufts a 20-17 lead with 10:52 remaining in the third.
Williams would intercept Cannone at the Jumbo 22 on Bates' next drive. That led to a 18-yard field goal by Tufts junior Vince Falk that gave Tufts a 23-17 advantage with 5:09 left in the third.
Bates answered with the six-yard score by Riley from Cannone, but Trause took over in the return game and Tufts earned the victory.
Tufts finished the game with 24 first downs and 138 rushing yards. They were eight for 14 on third down. Trause's kickoff return for a touchdown was the first by the Jumbos since Will Forde took one back 97 yards against Williams in 2005. The punt return touchdown by Trause was the first by a Jumbo since Donovan Brown's 89-yard score in the 2001 Middlebury game.
Sophomore Mike Stearns, the conference's Defensive Player of the Week with 18 tackles against Hamilton, had the game-high again with 14 stops for Tufts. Meade was right behind him with 13, including 1.5 for losses. Freshman Doug Harrison also recorded 1.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, sharing a sack with Mathers.
The Bobcats on defense were led by 14 tackles (11 solo) from senior Ryan Newson, including two for losses. Sophomore Trevor Lyons finished with 11. Junior Tucker Oniskey had a sack.
The game saw a total of 17 penalties totaling 167 yards, including nine for 97 by the Jumbos.
Game Photos by Kelvin Ma / Tufts
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