Game of the Week: Amherst vs Tufts
Overview: This game of the week features two high profile NESCAC teams going head to head. Both Tufts and Amherst are title contenders and their changes may hinge on their performance this weekend. Amherst has absolutely rolled through their opponents this season, winning each of their contests by double digits. Tufts has also fared well, their only blemish being a loss to an extremely talented Trinity team. This game will decide whether Amherst maintains their control of the conference or whether there will be a 3 team tie for first heading into week 8. All eyes should be on this game this weekend.
Keys for Tufts: Tufts’ Rush Defense
In their last two games the Jumbos have given up a combined 7 touchdowns on the ground, which is an unlikely statistic for a 5-1 team. While their defense has been able to keep the lesser teams in the conference at bay with ease, against Williams and Trinity it was made clear that Tufts does have a few flaws. Amherst is second in the league with 15 rushing touchdowns so this is not an error the Jumbos can overlook. Amherst QB Ollie Eberth has been fantastic not just in the air but on the ground as well so the Tufts secondary will need to be on high alert at all times. This game is make or break for Tufts so they need their defense to lock it down and keep their chances to win and their chances for a title alive.
Keys for Amherst: All They Need is Consistency
While Amherst’s undefeated record is a feat in and of itself, their strength of schedule has been one of the weaker ones in the conference to this point. Their opponents combined record is 10-26 and they have only faced 2 opponents with winning records. While they have clearly proved that they are more than capable of getting a dominant victory over the lower tier teams in the conference, Tufts will be one of the first true tests that the Mammoths will face this season. Amherst needs to prove to the rest of the league, and to themselves, that they not only can hang with the top teams in the league but that they are the top team in the league. A win against Tufts will not only silence any doubters, but also put them in an almost sure-fire position to take the crown at the end of the year. If the Mammoths are able to play consistent to how they have thus far this year, they should have no problem notching their 7th straight victory.
Tufts X-Factor:
LB Greg Holt
Holt has been the heart and soul of the Tufts defense. He leads the team in tackles per game (8.7) by a significant margin, leads the team in forced fumbles (1) and tackles for loss (7) as well as being second on the team in sacks (2.5). Holt terrorizes quarterbacks and linemen alike, always seeming to find a gap in the line. Holt and the rest of the Jumbo defense will need to be on top of their game in order to stop a red hot team like Amherst. If Holt is able to keep up his impressive performance then it will not be an easy day for the Amherst offense.
Amherst X-Factor:
TB Biafra Okoronkwo
Okoronkwo has been an extremely consistent piece of the Amherst offense. With Tufts’ aforementioned rush defense struggles, Amherst will need Okoronkwo to be on top of his game to exploit that weakness. The Junior has run for 83.5 yards per game, which is good for best on the team as well as second best in the NESCAC. He has also tacked on 4 touchdown in Amherst’s 6 games and if he is able to find the back of the endzone against Tufts it will help Amherst’s chances to win exponentially. Nobody has been able to slow down Okoronkwo this year and I would not expect Tufts to be able to shut him down. Okoronkwo is a dominating presence is the backfield and the Tufts defense will need to be on high alert every time that he touches the ball.
Everything else:
In essence, this is it for Tufts. Win and they have an opportunity to overtake Amherst for the league lead but a loss will have them chasing silver (but nothin’s wrong with silver). The Jumbos will need to throw everything that they have at Amherst in order to take down a team that up until now seems to be completely overpowering all of their opponents. Everything is on the line for Tufts so don’t rule anything out on Saturday. For Amherst, this weekend is a chance for them to prove that a double digit win is just another day at the office. There is nothing to prove that anyone in the NESCAC can beat them but there is also nothing to prove that they are significantly better than Trinity or Tufts. They will have the opportunity to disprove that narrative and on their home field nonetheless. Amherst students should get wild and rowdy Saturday afternoon because this is by far their biggest game to date. That is until the Bantams roll into town next weekend.
Score Prediction: Amherst 23 Tufts 14