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Date: November 5, 2005
Contact: Bill Sodoma

 

Colby football at 6-1 after win over Tufts

WATERVILLE, Maine --- Colby College running backs Aaron Stepka (Bristol, Conn.) and Chris Bashaw (Rutland, Mass.) combined for 226 yards of rushing and the Mules' defense held Tufts University to just 35 yards of total offense in the second half in taking a 28-16 victory on Saturday in New England Small College Athletic Conference football at Seaverns Field.

Colby improved to 6-1 overall and coupled with last season's 6-2 record had the first back-to-back seasons with six or more wins in nearly 100 years. Colby's 1908 (6-1) and 1909 (7-0) teams were the only other squads to have six or more wins in back-to-back seasons since the program started in 1892.

Stepka had 26 carries for 117 yards and two touchdowns, while Bashaw rushed 18 times for 109 yards. Meanwhile, wide receiver Michael Tomich (Houston, Texas) caught six balls for 131 yards and had two touchdown catches. Colby quarterback Justin Smith (Rockland, Mass.) was 17-for-25 for 202 yards and two touchdowns.

Tufts (2-5) had the better of play in the opening half with 237 yards of total offense in opening up a 16-7 lead at the break. The Jumbos went up 3-0 in the first quarter on a 34-yard field goal by Bryan McDavitt (Holden, Mass.).

Colby took the lead briefly in the second quarter when Smith hooked up with Tomich on a 44-yard scoring play with 13:01 left to halftime.

Tufts, though, got back in the game in a hurry when David Halas (Southbury, Conn.) took a short pass from Casey D'Annolfo (West Hartford, Conn.) and rambled 73 yards for the score with 9:01 remaining.

Halas made it 16-7 at the half when he caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from D'Annolfo with 1:01 remaining.

While the defense held Tufts to 35 yards of total offense in the second half, Colby's offense exploded for 254 yards in the final 30 minutes. Stepka got the Mules within two points on a 5-yard scoring run with 7:47 left in the third quarter.

Colby went ahead to stay about three minutes later when Tomich caught a 38-yard touchdown pass from Smith. Stepka's 1-yard scoring run with 12:11 left in the game sealed the win for the Mules.

Andrew Heaney (Reading, Mass.) led Colby's defense with 11 tackles. Mike Bracco (North Hampton, N.H.) had nine tackles and one interception, while Paul Howanitz (Reading, Pa.) had six stops, including one sack.

Sean Mullin (Duxbury, Mass.) led Tufts on defense with 13 tackles. McDavitt had 12 tackles and one interception.