Logo: Wesleyan Athletics

at Wesleyan 51, Tufts 33

Saturday, September 20, 1997 at Middletown, Conn.

Game Notes:

Scoring on its opening five possessions en route to a 30-14 halftime lead, Weleyan maintained at least a 10-point edge throughout the second half on its way to a 51-33 victory of visiting Tufts in the opening game of the season for both teams.

Wesleyan had both its starting running backs go over the 100-yard mark on the afternoon as fullback John Pascucci collected 144 yards on 19 carries, including TD runs of four and 62 yards, while tailback Tom Themistocles rushed for 110 yards on 16 attempts, including a 52-yard scoring scamper. Pascucci also had three catches for 28 yards with one going for a 10-yard TD.

Wesleyan's Matt Perceval set a team record for kickoff return yards in a game as he rolled up 2009 yards on seven runbacks, including an 85-yarder for a TD. He also caught an 84-yard TD pass in the game.

Tufts, which had 410 yards of offense to Wesleyan's 483, got 295 yards of total offense from QB Dan Morse, who completed 17 of 31 passes for 228 yards and a TD while he netted 67 yards rushing on 18 attempts and scored a pair of TDs on the ground. Jon Troy paced the Tufts receiving corps with six catches for 97 yards. Tim Kaufman ran 17 times for 88 yards and two TDs to lead Tufts on the ground.


SCORING SUMMARY 

1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr - Total
Tufts (0-1) 7 7 13 6 - 33
Wesleyan (1-0) 10 20 7 14 - 51

1st Quarter 
Wesleyan - Ben Kozik 35 field goal 10:36 
Tufts - Tim Kaufman 3 run (Nate Herpich kick) 5:47 
Wesleyan - John Pascucci 10 pass from Jake Fay (Ben Kozik kick) 1:38

2nd Quarter 
Tufts - Dan Morse 10 run (Nate Herpich kick) 13:47 
Wesleyan - Matt Perceval 85 kickoff return (Ben Kozik kick) 13:31 
Wesleyan - John Pascucci 4 run (Ben Kozik kick) 9:23 
Wesleyan - Matt Perceval 84 pass from Jake Fay (kick blocked) 6:26

3rd Quarter 
Tufts - Tim Kaufman 6 run (run failed) 7:47 
Wesleyan - John Pascucci 62 run (Ben Kozik kick) 7:26 
Tufts - Dan Morse 5 run (Nate Herpich kick) 1:19

4th Quarter 
Wesleyan - Tom Themistocles 52 run (Ben Kozik kick) 14:51 
Tufts - Jon Wilson 27 pass from Dan Morse (kick failed) 9:22 
Wesleyan - Mark Schofield 1 run (Ben Kozik kick) 3:36 

TEAM STATISTICS 
WESLEYAN TUFTS
First Downs (Run-Pass-Penalty) 16 (11-5-0) 20 (7-12-1)
Rushing Attempts 44 40
Positive Yards Rushing 300 199
Negative Yards Rushing 14 17
Net Total Yards Rushing 286 182
Net Total Yards Passing 195 228
Passes Attempted-Completed-Intercepted 12-8-0 31-17-0
Total Offensive Plays 56 71
Total Net Yards 481 410
Average Gain Per Play 8.6 5.8
Penalties: Number-Yards 6-48 8-50
Fumbles: Number-Lost 2-1 1-1
Interceptions By: Number-Yards 0-0 0-0
Punts: Number-Yards-Average 3-145-48.5 4-152-38.0
Punt Returns: Number-Yards 1-3 3-43
Kickoff Returns: Number-Yards 7-209 7-129
Fumble Returns: Number-Yards 1-0 1-0
Time of Possession 29:53 30:07
Third-Down Conversions 8 of 12 6 of 12
Fourth-Down Conversions 1 of 2 1 of 2
Sacks by: Number-Yards 2-14 1-1

 


INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: Tufts - Tim Kaufman, 17-88, 2 TDs; Dan Morse, 18-67, 2 TDs; John Routhier, 5-27.Wesleyan - John Pascucci, 19-144, 2 TDs; Tom Themistocles, 16-110, 1 TD; Mark Schofield, 4-33, 1 TD; Rashaan Wareham, 2-4; Jake Fay, 3-(-5)

PASSING: Tufts - Dan Morse, 31-17-0, 228 yards, 1 TD. Wesleyan - Jake Fay, 11-7-0, 191 yards, 2 TDs; Mark Schofield, 1-1-0, 6 yards.

RECEIVING: Tufts - Jon Troy, 6-97; John Routhier, 5-43; Matt Godfrey, 3-34; John Wilson, 1-27, 1 TD; Tim Kaufman, 1-15; Brad Wolk, 1-12. Wesleyan - John Pascucci, 3-28, 1 TD; Nate Moore, 2-54; Matt Perceval, 1-84, 1 TD; Sahe Doyle, 1-23; Kevin Labbe, 1-6.

PUNTING: Tufts - Nate Holtey, 4-132, 38.0 average. Wesleyan - Rob Stager, 3-145, 48.3 average.

Attendance: 2,800