Amherst College preserved their unbeaten record with a hard-fought 24-21 victory against Tufts University in a New England Small College Athletic Conference fixture at Ellis Oval on Saturday. A crowd of 2,545 spectators watched the visitors secure the result through an explosive fourth-quarter touchdown pass from quarterback Marek Hill to wide receiver Jadon Davis.
The win lifts Amherst to a 7-0 record for the season, while Tufts dropped to 4-3 following a competitive contest that featured multiple lead changes. Hill orchestrated the decisive drive early in the final quarter, finding Davis for a 53-yard scoring play that broke a 21-21 deadlock and proved decisive.
Amherst started brightly in sunny conditions, marching 99 yards in the first quarter, capped by a rushing touchdown from Demitrius Smith. Tufts responded in the second quarter when Christian Shapiro ran in from 11 yards out, before quarterback Nate Johnson scrambled eight yards following a fumble recovery to give the hosts a 14-7 advantage.
Amherst drew level just before halftime as Hill kept the ball himself for a three-yard rushing score as time expired in the second quarter. Tufts regained the lead early in the third period when Johnson connected with Matt Rios on a 51-yard touchdown pass, extending the margin to 21-14.
Hudson Fulcher-Melendy reduced the deficit with a 38-yard field goal for Amherst later in the third quarter. Despite controlling possession for longer periods and gaining 150 rushing yards, Tufts failed to score again as the Amherst defense stiffened in the closing stages.
Johnson finished the game completing 11 of 17 passes for 163 yards and a touchdown, while adding 32 rushing yards and another score. Shapiro led the Tufts ground attack with 91 yards on 23 carries, supported by Keller Rogers, who contributed 76 receiving yards from four catches.
Defensively, Tufts recorded seven tackles for loss and three sacks, with Ryan Horigan registering a game-high 12 tackles. Patrick Keeley also excelled for the hosts, posting 1.5 sacks and forcing a fumble that was recovered by teammate Johnny Ferrelli.
Amherst countered with an efficient offensive display directed by Hill, whose 270 passing yards and connection with Davis proved decisive. Davis finished with 141 receiving yards from six receptions, including two long touchdown plays that stretched the Tufts secondary.
Tufts will look to bounce back from the narrow defeat when they travel to face Colby College in Waterville, Maine, for their final away fixture of the 2026 campaign. Amherst aims to extend their winning streak as the conference season reaches its closing stages.
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