SOMERVILLE, Mass. – Tufts University senior wide receiver Greg Lanzillo celebrated the Jumbos' Senior Day in style by catching three passes from sophomore QB Alex Snyder, all of which went for touchdowns, as the Jumbos defeated Colby 28-7 on a windy and rainy day at Ellis Oval / Zimman Field. The win moved Tufts' record to 4-3 and capped an unbeaten home schedule for the Jumbos.
Lanzillo started the scoring with a 61-yard reception following a Colby miscue. The Mules' Luke Duncklee fumbled a Vince Falk punt at the Tufts 39. Falk pounced on the loose ball and Snyder hit Lanzillo on the first play from scrimmage. Zach Thomas added the PAT for a 7-0 Tufts lead with 2:32 remaining in the opening period.
Tufts' special teams came up strong on the ensuing Colby possession. Following a three and out that gained only one yard, the Jumbos' Matt McCormack broke through the Mules' line and blocked Louw Scheepers' punt. The ball went straight up in the air where it was snared by Tufts' Christian Proctor who went 24 yards untouched to the end zone. Following a high snap, Thomas ricocheted the point after off the left upright and through giving the Jumbos a 14-0 lead with just 41 ticks remaining on the first-quarter clock.
Both teams had trouble moving the ball in the early part of the second stanza. Tufts took over on its own 32 following a Scheepers punt and drove to the Mules' 32. The big play in the drive was a 29-yard Snyder to Harrison Kidd completion taking the ball to the Colby 38. Two Zach Trause runs moved the ball to the 32, and following an incomplete pass Colby called a time-out as the Jumbos faced a fourth and four. Following the break, Snyder located Lanzillo on a short throw to the left and Lanzillo did the rest weaving his way through numerous Colby defenders to the end zone. Thomas again drilled the PAT for a 21-0 halftime lead.
Tufts upped the lead to 28-0 on its first possession of third quarter going 71 yards in eight plays. Snyder was 4-5 on the drive and on first and 10 from the Colby 27 again found Lanzillo to cap the senior's big day. Lanzillo's three touchdown receptions tied the Tufts single-game record. He became the fourth Jumbo to do it and first since David Halas in 2008.
Colby showed life in the ensuing possession as the Mules followed a 41-yard Duncklee kickoff return to the Tufts 45 with a six-play drive to paydirt. Colby quarterback Gabe Harrington completed two passes on the drive for 25 yards and ran for an additional 15. On second and goal from the 13, Harrington looked for Alex Kramer in the end zone. A pass interference penalty against the Jumbos gave the Mules a first down on the Tufts two. Duncklee drove the ball off the right side for the score, and Scheepers' kick brought Colby within 28-7 just over half way through the period.
McCormack returned the kickoff to the 50, but Tufts lost 12 yards on the possession and was forced to punt. Falk boomed a 54-yard kick to pin the Mules at their own eight, and although Colby gained three first downs, the Jumbos' defense stiffened and forced a punt.
Neither team was able to mount another scoring threat throughout the game as the wind and rain picked up again in the fourth quarter.
Tufts dominated the statistics in the game outgaining the Mules 333-190. Snyder, playing in place of injured starter Jack Doll, was 10 of 18 passing for 193 yards and the three scores to Lanzillo. Lanzillo's three catches totaled 120 yards. Trause rushed for 109 yards on 25 carries.
Harrington and Michael Ecke combined for only 10 completions in 33 attempts for 84 passing yards for Colby. Jabari Hurdle-Price led the Mules' rushers with 65 yards on 20 totes.
Defensively Tufts was lead by linebacker Tommy Mead with 11 tackles with two tackles for loss. Mike Stearns had five stops and a 23-yard interception return.
Tony Atkinson made nine tackles for the Mules, followed by Harry Nicholas nad Ryan Puis with eight each.
Tufts travels to Middlebury next week for the season finale with a 12:30 kickoff. Colby (1-6) hosts Bowdoin, also at 12:30.
#