MEDFORD, Mass. – A late AJ Morris '26 interception with 5:39 left and the Cardinals trailing by eight set up a dramatic ending that saw the Wesleyan score a touchdown with 1:57 remaining, but the would-be two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful. Tufts went on to recover the onside kick attempt and ran out the clock in a 22-20 win for the Jumbos on Saturday night from Ellis Oval.
 
Both defenses largely dominated at the start with five straight three-and-outs for the two offenses, until the Cardinal passing game generated some positive plays. QB Matt Fitzsimons '27 found WR Blake Newcomb '27 for 19 yards to start a drive and then connected with TE Jake Saalfrank '29 on a 3^rd-and-3 to keep the sicks moving. RB Tyler Flynn '26 rushed 19 yards down to the 1-yard line and Fitzsimons did the rest, rushing in for the score.
 
Tufts started their next drive in Wesleyan territory following a 47-yard kickoff return from Keller Rogers and needed nine plays to score their first and only offensive touchdown of the game. Christian Shapiro rushed in from 3 yards out on a 3^rd-and-goal play to tie the score.
 
Wesleyan looked to have an immediate answer to the Shapiro touchdown, starting at their own 27-yard line and driving down inside the red zone but a personal foul penalty backed the Cardinals up to a 2^nd-and-19. Two incomplete passed later and Wesleyan was forced into a Gage Hammond '27 43-yard field goal which missed.
 
With the score still tied at 7-7 at halftime, the game took a major turn on the first drive of the second half. Wesleyan had just picked up a 3^rd-and-9 on a 20-yard completion from Fitzsimons to Donte Kelly '29 and on a 1^st-and-10 from the Tufts' 33-yard line, Cameron Pineda intercepted QB Chase Vaughan '27 and ran in a 64-yard pick six to give Tufts their first lead of the game.
 
On the ensuing drive following the pick six, Wesleyan was able to shake off the disappointment and march 60 yards down the field in nine plays, none of which were third downs. The big play was a 21-yard run from RB Angelo LaRose '27 to set up a 1^st-and-goal from the 1-yard line. One play later, Fitzsimons connected with Newcomb for the game-tying score.
 
Another big kickoff return for Tufts, this time a 71-yarder from Rogers, was enough to lead to points as the Wesleyan defense allowed only two yards on the three Tufts offensive plays, but the return was enough to give Vaughn Seelicke a 41-yard field goal which he converted to put the Jumbos in front 17-14.
 
Tufts benefitted from another big special teams play on the next Wesleyan drive. Tufts forced a three-and-out deep in the Cardinals' defense end and with Hammond back to punt, Dazer van Leeuwan blocked the attempt into the Wesleyan end zone resulting in a safety.
 
Now in the fourth quarter, Tufts' offense held the ball for a 13-play, 45-yard drive that went inside the red zone but no further as Seelicke had to come on for a 36-yard field goal which the All-NESCAC kicker connected on to make it 22-14 Tufts.
 
Wesleyan couldn't get anything going on offense and had to punt the ball back to Tufts with 6:31 left. Hammond's 60-yard punt had Tufts starting all the way back on their 20-yard line. After a drive-starting 3-yard loss on the ground, Morris intercepted Justin Keller at the Tufts 25-yard line to give the Cardinals some life down the stretch.
 
Taking the ball with 5:39 left, Fitzsimons hit Kelly for a big 14-yard pickup on a 3^rd-and-11 to keep the drive alive. On a 3^rd-and-10 play, Fitzsimons rushed for 9 yards and the Cardinals chose to go for it on 4^th-and-1 from the Tufts' 3-yard line, giving the ball to LaRose who picked up 2 yards. As the clock wound to the 2-minute warning, Fitzsimons took it in himself for a touchdown to make it 22-20. It was Fitzsimons who tried to rush the ball in for the two-point conversion, but he was wrapped up short of the goal line.
 
The drama continued on the onside kick attempt as Wesleyan recovered an initial attempt, but a flag was thrown for an offsides on the Cardinals. Lining up to re-take the attempt, Tufts secured the second attempt. Then on offense, Tufts needed one first down to close out the game and on a 3^rd-and-7, Shapiro rushed for a game-sealing 42-yard gain.
 
Wesleyan's defense played incredibly well throughout, allowing just nine first downs and 219 yards from the Tufts offense. Dylan Connors '26 led the Cardinals with nine tackles and one tackle for loss. Aiden Nelson '27 broke up two passes and Morris came up with his second interception in as many games to start the year.
 
The Cardinal offense rushed for 124 yards on 32 carries, with four Wesleyan players rushing for at least 25 yards apiece. Fitzsimons went 14-for-24 throwing for 137 yards and 1 TD. Kelly led the pass catchers with five catches for 67 yards.
 
Wesleyan looks to rebound next Saturday with a trip to Bates for a 1 PM kickoff. The Bobcats were the only team to defeat Wesleyan last season in a 24-13 win for Bates in Middletown. That win put an end to a 17-game win streak for Wesleyan over Bates.