The jumbos opened the scoring in the first quarter when backup running back Renato DePaolis (N. Attleboro, MA) swept around to the right, scampering 72 yards for the touchdown. Kicker Howie Rock (Waltham, MA) added the extra point to make the score 7-0 with 13:57 to go in the quarter. Hamilton answered back with a 16 play, 69-yard drive, capped off by a two-yard touchdown run by sophomore Chris McCarthy (Somerville, MA). Greg Bemis (Enfield, CT) added the extra point, making the score 7-7.
The Continentals opened the scoring in the second quarter with another two-yard run from McCarthy, after the Hamilton defense recovered a Tufts fumble, making the score 14-7. Tufts answered back with another DePaolis touchdown run, this time from eight yards out, tying the game at 14-14. Five minutes later DePaolis scored his third touchdown of the afternoon, this time from one yard giving Tufts a 21-14 lead at the half.
Hamilton opened the scoring in the second half when Bemis capped off an 11, play, 51-yard drive with a 39-yard field goal, making the score 21-17, Tufts. The Jumbos came back with a Chris Fahy (Kensington, MD) one yard touchdown plunge, making the score 28-17 at the end of the third quarter.
The lone score in fourth quarter came with just over three minutes remaining when Hamilton quarterback Robbie Peters (East Hampton, NY) connected with sophomore Charles Martin (Hartsdale, NY) on a 75-yard pass. The Continentals converted the two-point try on a catch from Peters to Jay Morrell (Charlotte, NC), making the score 28-25. The Continentals got the ball back but failed to convert on fourth down, sealing the victory for Tufts.
Hamilton is 0-1 on the season and host Wesleyan University next Saturday at 1:30. Tufts is 1-0 and plays Bates College next Saturday afternoon.
