Monday, November 1, 2004

McDAVITT IS NESCAC FOOTBALL'S DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

MEDFORD – Sophomore Bryan McDavitt (Holden, MA/St. Peter-Marian) has made the most of the playing time he's received for the Tufts University Football team in the last two weeks. Earning his way into the starting line-up at strong safety, he was named the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Defensive Player of the Week and the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Northeast Defensive Player of the Week after an outstanding performance in the Jumbos' 10-3 win at Amherst on Saturday (Oct. 30).

Tufts, 1-4 entering the Amherst game, upset the previously unbeaten Lord Jeffs behind a stellar defensive effort. Amherst had been averaging 33.8 points and 421 yards per game. The Jumbos held them to three points and 221 yards for their second straight win in the series.

McDavitt was a play-maker all day for the Jumbos. He finished with six tackles (four solo), including two for losses of 13 yards. He also forced a fumble, broke up three passes, had a sack and punted nine times for an average of 37.1 yards in the game.

His 11-yard sack of Amherst quarterback Marsh Moseley early in the second quarter caused a fumble that the Jumbos recovered at the Lord Jeff 19. Tufts turned that into a 3-0 lead on a 31-yard field goal by junior kicker Phil Scialdoni (Salem, MA/Hamilton-Wenham).

Later in the second, it was McDavitt's pass break-up on third down and three that forced an Amherst punt. The offense turned that into the game's only touchdown and a 10-0 lead. With Tufts leading 10-3 late in the game, McDavitt had another clutch pass break-up on a Lord Jeffs' second down play from the Tufts 15-yard line.

His award-winning play followed a strong effort in his first start against Williams a week earlier (Oct. 23). He was credited with nine tackles (five solo) and two pass break-ups. The team's starting punter since he arrived on campus last year, he's now a fixture on defense after two fine performances.

"It's just a matter of a kid doing everything we ask, waiting to get a chance, and then taking advantage of it when he gets it," said Tufts defensive coordinator John Walsh. "We knew he'd be a good player for us eventually, but he was behind some guys. He showed us something and now he's earned the right to start."

For the season, McDavitt has 18 tackles (nine solo) and five pass break-ups.

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