Week 6 Preview: Amherst vs. Tufts

Contact: Ben Badua

Amherst College (4-1) vs.
Tufts University (0-5)
Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013
Ellis Oval/Zimman Field
Somerville, MA * 1 p.m.

PHOTO GALLERY VS. WESLEYAN

LIVE COVERAGE
Saturday's game will feature a webcast and live stats courtesy of Tufts sports information.

THIS WEEK IN THE NESCAC
Wesleyan @ Bowdoin ( 12:30 p.m.)
Bates @ Colby (1 p.m.)
Amherst @ Tufts (1 p.m.)
Trinity @ Middlebury (1 p.m.)
Hamilton @ Williams (1 p.m.)

THE SERIES
Amherst holds a 52-26-4 edge in 82 meetings dating back to 1877. Clinging to a 6-5-2 margin over the first 13 matchups, the Jeffs enjoyed their most dominant stretch from 1961-75, going 14-0-1 during that span. The Jumbos responded by taking 11 of the next 17 showdowns from 1976-92, which included a pair of four game win streaks from 1978-81 and 1989-92. Amherst has since regained control, posting a 16-4 record against Tufts since 1992, winning five straight while outscoring their rivals 188-76 during that stretch.

LAST MEETING
Quarterbacks Jonathan Pieterse '16 and Max Lippe '13 went a combined 27-of-33 for 338 yards and three touchdowns in a dominating 51-7 victory at Pratt Field. Racking up 538 yards, the Jeff offense enjoyed its most productive day since gaining 632 yards in a 70-49 win over the Jumbos on Oct. 30, 2010. Amherst's 338 yards through the air were also the most since picking up 340 yards against Bowdoin on Oct. 2 of that same season.

Completing 14-of-17 passes, Pieterse threw for 177 yards, which included a 44-yard strike to Jake O'Malley '14. Lippe was equally efficient, going 13-for-16 for 161 yards and a rushing touchdown. O'Malley led the Jeff receiving corps with seven catches for 112 yards. Gene Garay '15 also had a big day, pulling down 10 catches for 91 yards, while Brian Ragone '16 chipped in with three catches for 72 yards.

Outgaining Tufts 200-103 in the rushing game, Kenny Adinkra '16 and Steven Jellison '14 combined for 78 yards and two touchdowns, while Sean Wilson '16 picked up 43 yards on just six touches (7.2 ypc). Scoring early and often, Amherst led 27-7 at the half, before outscoring the Jumbos 24-0 in the second, which included three touchdowns in the third quarter.

Keeping what had been the league's second-ranked passing attack under wraps for most of the afternoon, the Jeffs limited Tufts to just 88 yards through the air and under 200 yards of total offense. Danny Chun '14 made his first career interception in the win, returning it 72 yards for a score.

AMHERST LAST TIME OUT
Plagued by turnovers, Amherst suffered its first loss of the 2013 season, falling to Wesleyan University on Pratt Field, 20-14. Scoring a touchdown on their opening possession, the Jeffs surrendered 20 unanswered points and trailed 20-7 entering the fourth quarter. The Purple & White made it a one possession game with just over five minutes remaining in regulation, but a Cardinal interception on what was effectively the Jeffs' final possession sealed the victory.

Amherst outgained Wesleyan 355-310, but three costly interceptions and a lost fumble stalled four Jeff drives. Holding the league's best rushing attack over 100 yards below its season average, the Amherst defense surrendered 160 yards on the ground on 46 carries (3.5 ypc).

Kenny Adinkra '16 headlined the Amherst ground game with 84 yards on 14 touches (6.0 ypc). Max Lippe '15 added 20 rushing yards as the Jeffs piled up 115 as a team. Lippe finished 20-or-35 for 195 yards through the air, with two touchdowns and a pair of picks. Hauling in a game-high 10 receptions, Gene Garay '15 racked up 77 yards and a touchdown. Jake O'Malley '14 added 64 yards, which included a 5-yard TD catch that pulled Amherst within six late in the fourth.

TUFTS LAST TIME OUT
Williams outscored Tufts 25-7 in the second half en route to a 49-35 victory at Weston Field last Saturday. Jumbos' first-year quarterback Alex Snyder was impressive in his collegiate debut, throwing for 302 yards and four touchdowns. With Tufts down 24-7 in the middle of the second quarter, Snyder threw three touchdown passes within a 5:22 span late in the period to vault the Jumbos to a 28-24 halftime lead.

That score would hold until late in the third. Following a Tufts punt, Williams drove 57 yards on 10 plays for a go-ahead score. With the Jumbo offense stalling, Williams would score on its next possession as well, tacking on a 23-yard field goal. Tufts then handed the ball back over to the Ephs in prime scoring position after a three-and-out followed by a bad punt. It took just two plays before Williams punched it in from nine yards out to go up 42-28.

Greg Lanzillo '15 led all Jumbo receivers with 102 yards. Xavier Frey '16 added five catches for 71 yards, while Nick Kenyon '14 hauled in four passes for 69 yards and a score. On the ground, Zack Trause '15 gained 79 yards on 15 carries. The Jumbos finished with 361 yards of total offense, while their 35 points were the most by a Tufts team since November of 2010.

SCOUTING AMHERST
Amherst enters Saturday's showdown in Medford with the league's second-ranked defense, surrendering just 12.8 points and 308.4 yards per game. Giving up a conference-low 89.0 rushing yards per contest, the Jeffs held Wesleyan, the NESCAC's top rushing attack, over 100 yards below its season average last week. Linebacker Ned Deane '15 sits tied for sixth in the league in tackles with 44 (33 solo), while Chris Tamasi '15 ranks third in tackles for loss (9).

Leading the NESCAC in takeaways, Amherst has picked off 15 passes in 2013, led by Max Dietz '14, Landrus Lewis '14E and Christopher Gow '16 with three apiece. Leading the charge up front, Max Lehrman '15 ranks second in sacks (4.5), while as a unit the Jeffs have gotten to opposing quarterbacks 12 times, good for second in the conference.

Scoring 23.0 points per game, Amherst has relied on a balanced attack that has averaged 213.2 yards per game through the air and 106.2 yards per game on the ground. Junior quarterback Max Lippe ranks third in the NESCAC in yards per game (182.2), completing 92 of his 155 passes (59.4 percent) with eight touchdowns and five interceptions.

Jake O'Malley '14 sits among the league's leaders in yards per game receiving (64.0), while Gene Garay '15 tops the team in receptions with 25. Kenny Adinkra '16 currently leads the squad in rushing, averaging 54.2 yards per game with a touchdown. First-year Myles Gaines has also seen significant time in the backfield, averaging 3.8 yards per carry.

SCOUTING TUFTS
Boasting the league's second-ranked passing attack (240.0 ypg), Tufts sits in the middle of the conference pack in total offense (354.6 ypg). Starting the first four games, quarterback Jack Doll '15 averaged the second-most passing yards per game in the NESCAC (220.2), completing 102 of his 163 attempts (62.6 percent).

But with just one touchdown to eight interceptions, Doll gave way to first-year Alex Snyder last week, who was impressive in his collegiate debut. Helping Tufts put up 35 points, the team's highest scoring output since November of 2010, Snyder finished 22-for-46 for 302 yards and four touchdowns. Greg Lanzillo '15 leads the receiving corps, averaging 53.6 yards per game with two touchdowns, while Xavier Frey '16 sits second on the team, averaging 11.6 yards per catch with 18 receptions. Zack Trause '15 headlines a running game that has piled up 114.6 yards per game, averaging 5.2 yards per touch (66.0 ypg) on 63 carries.

Surrendering a NESCAC-high 35.4 points per game, Tufts has struggled defensively, allowing a conference-high 447.4 yards of total offense per outing. Tied for sixth against the pass (219.4 ypg), the Jumbos rank last in the league in rushing yards allowed, giving up 228.0 yards per game. Matt McCormack '16 leads the team in tackles with 51 (30 solo), including three for a loss. James Brao '15 tops the Jumbos with seven tackles for loss and a pair of sacks.

PROBABLE STARTERS

STATISTICAL LEADERS

2013 STATISTICAL COMPARISON