Hartford, Conn. - Junior QB Spencer Fetter (Winter Park, Fla.) completed 21 of 24 passes for 278 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Trinity College Bantams to a 42-28 victory over the visiting Tufts University Jumbos in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) football action this afternoon at Jessee/Miller Field.  The game was the season opener for both teams, which missed the 2020 campaign due to COVID-19.  The Bantams jumped to a 35-7 lead at halftime and withstood a 21-point fourth quarter by the Jumbos to avenge a 14-8 setback to them two years ago.

Tufts struck early when Trevon Woodson connected with Jackson Butler for a 72-yard touchdown pass that was nearly intercepted in the game's opening minute. Trinity answered with back-to-back touchdown runs by sophomore RB William Kirby (Darien, Conn.), who finished his collegiate debut with 98 yards on 21 carries.  Kirby added his third score at the 9:45 mark of the second frame, followed by two touchdown tosses from Fetter to senior captain WR Jonathan Girard (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) to make the score, 35-7, at the break.

The second half continued much like the first, as Fetter found Girard in the end zone for a third time to make it, 42-7.  Tufts backup QB Matt Crowley threw three scoring strikes in the fourth quarter, including two to Billy Dunn and one to Philip Lutz.  The third, a 64-yarder to Dunn, cut the Jumbo deficit to two scores at 42-28 but Trinity recovered the ensuing onsides kick and ran out the clock.

Girard finished with 10 catches for 118 yards, while Butler had eight catches for 164 yards and Dunn added three grabs for 115 yards.  Woodson and Crowley combined for 377 passing yards.  Trinity senior captain WR DeVante Reid (London, England) added three catches for 50 yards.  Junior LB Michael Masse (Dedham, Mass.) had four tackles and a sack, while classmate Justin O'Neil-Riley (Dorchester, Mass.) added four tackles, a pass breakup, and a blocked kick.  Tufts' Spencer Alligood led all tacklers with 10.