Colby Comeback Falls Just Short, 27-26

Football Drops to 2-5

WATERVILLE, Maine — The Colby College football team lost their final home game of the season to the visiting Tufts Jumbos Saturday afternoon at Seaverns Field, 27-26.

Both teams traded scoreless drives for most of the first quarter. With just under a minute to play in the opening quarter the Jumbos blocked a Matt Smith (Middlebury, VT, `00) punt and Bryan Pitko (Arlington, Mass., `03) fell on the ball at the Colby 14. On the first play from scrimmage, Tufts senior quarterback Chris Fahy (Kensington, MD) hit the Jumbo's leading receiver Jon Troy (Melrose, Mass., `00) with the 14-yard strike for the games opening score.

Tufts added to their score, capitalizing on a Colby fumble with a 42-yard field goal from sophomore Howie Rock (Waltham, Mass.) at 5:09 of the 2nd quarter. Colby would answer back on the next drive with a 2-yard pass from Smith to tight-end Pete Hans (Ridgewood, N.J., `00). On the ensuing kickoff, sophomore Keith Jonassen (Albion, Maine) booted the ball out of bounds. Instead of opting for the ball at their own 35, the Tufts elected to penalize the Mules five yards and rekick. Tufts junior kick-returner Brian Holmes (Newport, N.H.) eliminated any potential second-guessing by returning Jonassen's second kickoff 75 yards for the touchdown, putting the Jumbos up 17-7 with 1:35 remaining in the first half.

Colby freshman Matt York (Pittsfield, Maine) temporarily took over the kicking duties for Jonassen who injured himself covering the last kickoff of the first half. York opened the third quarter with an attempted onside kick. Tufts was not prepared for it, but still managed to recover. The Jumbos would go to their own bag of tricks on their first play of the second half, calling the flea-flicker that was stopped just short of success only by the hustle of Colby defensive back Jared Beers (Kittery, Maine) who tackled Scott Treacy (Wakefield, Mass.,'03) at the Colby seven. The Colby defense stood tough and allowed only a Rock field goal on the drive.

Tufts would tack on another touchdown and lead 27-7 after three quarters. That's when the Colby offense would kick in, scoring once with 9:57 left, recovering the onside kick and scoring again less than a minute later. Colby would score again with 1:46 left to pull within one and with Jonassen out of the game, the Mules decided to go for a two-point conversion and the win, but holder Dan Noyes' (Silver Lake, N.H., `02) pass attempt was picked off. Tufts recovered the ensuing onside kick and was able to run out the clock for the 27-26 victory.