Teams: Football: Press Releases

Monday, October 8, 2007

TASSNARI NABS NESCAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK FOR PERFORMANCE AGAINST BOWDOIN

Tom Tassinari is the NESCAC Defensive Player of the Week after the win against Bowdoin

MEDFORD -- Tufts University sophomore strong safety Tom Tassinari (Andover, MA/Phillips Andover) is quickly establishing himself as one of the best defensive players in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC).

Tassinari has intercepted passes in the first three games for Tufts (3-0), including two in the season opener at Hamilton on September 22. He did much more than that in the Jumbo home opener on Saturday at Ellis Oval/Zimman Field against Bowdoin College. In a 21-13 Tufts win, Tassinari had a spectacular 87-yard interception return for a touchdown, caused and forced a fumble in the second half of a tight game and led the Tufts with 12 total tackles (eight solo). His performance has earned him NESCAC Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Tufts had taken a 14-0 lead against Bowdoin with two impressing scoring drives in the first quarter. Bowdoin responded to cut the lead in half at 14-7 with 6:35 to play in the first half. The Polar Bears were driving for a potential tying touchdown when Tassinari intercepted a pass at the Jumbo 13-yard line. His return was the play of the year for Tufts so far, breaking tackles and bullying his way like a running back to the end zone for a 21-7 Tufts lead with 42 seconds to play until half.

Bowdoin impressively scored in those final 42 seconds of the half and it was 21-13 heading into the third quarter. When Bowdoin had the ball early in the fourth quarter, with the score the same, Tassinari forced a fumble that was recovered by Mike Cunningham (Milton, MA/Milton) at the Polar Bear 31-yard line. He would later help lock down the win for Tufts with his special teams play. Bowdoin fumbled a punt and Tassinari won the battle to recover it with 3:00 to play in the fourth quarter. The Jumbos ran out the clock and became just one of three undefeated squads in the NESCAC.

Among Tassinari's 12 total tackles, one was for a loss of two yards. He leads the Jumbos in tackles and is tied for fifth in NESCAC with 29 (9.7 per game). His four interceptions lead the conference. The 87-yard interception return was the longest at Tufts since defensive end Reid Palmer had a 91-yard pick-off return for a touchdown on September 28, 2003.

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