Date: Thursday, November 15, 2001
Written by Michael Douglas

SEVEN JUMBOS NAMED TO ALL-NESCAC FOOTBALL TEAMS

MEDFORD- The New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) has announced its All-Conference teams for the 2001 football season. The Tufts Unversity Jumbos were well represented on among the honorees, with seven members of the 6-2 squad earning spots on the two teams.

On the All-NESCAC First Team offense is the 240-pound freight train running back otherwise known as Keven Kelley (Natick, MA/Natick). In his junior season, Kelley rushed for a school-record 1,079 yards on 231 carries, a 134.9 yards per game average that ranked 13th in the nation. He broke the 13-year old record set by Paul Dresens, who rushed for 1,070 yards in 1988. Kelley also scored eight touchdowns in 2001, tops among NESCAC running backs. He ran for a season-high 214 yards on 37 carries against Trinity on October 13.

The record could not have been broken without a strong supporting cast in the form of an offensive line that often dominated opposing defenses this season. Two members of this unit were also honored: senior co-captain Mike Willey (Sherborn, MA/Dover-Sherborn) was named to the First Team, and junior Adam Collette (Westminister, MA/Oakmont) was named to the Second Team. Behind their offensive line, the Jumbos gained 227 yards rushing per game, including two 300-yard games (315 versus Wesleyan on Sept. 22 and 340 versus Bates on Sept. 29). The Jumbos were ranked 21st in the country in rushing offense in the November 10 NCAA Statistics.

Rounding out the First Team selections for the Jumbos were sophomore Mark Tilki (Derby, CT/Derby) on special teams (one player selected) and sophomore defensive tackle Caleb Hudak (White River Jct., VT/Tower Hill). Tilki recovered a fumble, blocked two punts and averaged 23.2 yards returning kickoffs. Also a cornerback, he led the defense with four interceptions, including three against Colby on Nov. 3. Hudak likewise had an outstanding sophomore showing on a Jumbo defense that ranked fourth in the nation allowing just 10.4 points per game. He led the team with seven tackles for losses, including a team-high four sacks for 47 yards lost. He also forced a fumble, recovered a fumble, picked off a pass, and was fourth on the team with 41 tackles (27 solo).

Representing the Jumbos on the Second Team defense were senior co-captain linebacker Scott Mittenthal (Atlanta, GA/Westminister) and junior cornerback Evan Zupancic (Lake Oswego, OR/Lakeridge). Mittenthal led the Jumbo defense with 59 tackles (32 solo), including three for losses and one sack. A cornerback, Zupancic led the team with 11 passes defended and was sixth on the squad with 37 tackles (33 solo). He also collected three interceptions this season, raising his career total to 13, two shy of the school record.

Head Coach Bill Samko's Tufts Jumbos finished the 2001 season with a 6-2 record, with close losses to conference champion Williams (8-0) and second-place Amherst (7-1) the only blemishes on an otherwise outstanding season. They succeeded with a combination of hard-nosed defense and a bruising rushing attack, which was made evident by their representation to the All-Star teams (four defenders, two linemen and a running back).

Jumbo fans can hope for more of the same in 2002, as five of the seven newly-crowned NESCAC All-Stars will return to the team next fall.

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