LEWISTON, Maine -- The visiting Tufts University Jumbos put up 21 points in the second quarter on their way to a 35-7 victory over the Bates football team Saturday afternoon at Garcelon Field. 

The Bobcats (0-2) struggled offensively, as Tufts (1-1) held Bates to 203 yards of total offense and just 76 passing yards. Tufts quarterback Michael Berluti was efficient, completing 18-21 passes for 237 yards and two touchdowns. He did throw one interception, when Bates junior cornerback Johnny Walker (Brooklyn, N.Y.) ripped the ball out of the intended receiver's hands at midfield late in the first quarter.

In addition to his passing prowess, Berluti ran the ball six times for 35 yards and a touchdown. Tufts' Jackson Butler rushed just twice, but made the most of it, tallying a game-high 70 yards and a touchdown. Cade Moore caught six passes for a game-high 81 yards to pace the Tufts receivers. 

The Bobcats didn't complete a pass until sophomore quarterback Colton Bosselait (Westminster, Mass.) came off the bench and found senior Mohamed Diawara (Philadelphia, Pa.) for a 20-yard gain early in the third quarter. Bosselait finished the contest completing 7-14 passes for 76 yards and an interception. He also scored a rushing touchdown late in the game for Bates.

Senior Reza Badiee (La Jolla, Calif.) ran 10 times for 50 yards and senior Jack Bryant (Falmouth, Maine) carried the ball eight times for a team-high 63 yards, including a 52-yard run in the fourth quarter. 

Diawara caught a team-high three passes for 28 yards and senior Christian Olivieri (Hull, Mass.) added two catches for a team-high 29 yards. 

Defensively, senior captain Tony Hooks (New Rochelle, N.Y.) led the way with a game-high 11 total tackles, including five solo stops. Cam O'Brien paced Tufts with 10 total tackles. 

The Bobcats got the ball to start the game but went three-and-out. Then Tufts marched 53 yards in 11 plays, scoring a touchdown when Berluti found Phil Lutz wide open in the back of the end zone on third and goal for a five-yard TD and a 7-0 lead for the visitors. 

Badiee got the Bates offense going on the ensuing drive with an 18-yard rush to the Bates 43. The Bobcats kept moving and a big pass interference call gave them first and 10 at the Tufts 30. They got the ball to the Tufts 22 but the Bobcats could not get the first down on 4th and 2 as O'Brien and Johnathan Oneal combined to stop the rush short of the line to gain.

Walker's interception put Bates back in business as the first quarter concluded with the Bobcats trailing just 7-0.

However, the offense went three-and-out, and Tufts hit a big play when Berluti found Jaden Richardson for a 53-yard touchdown reception and a 14-0 lead. 

Tyler Roach picked up a third down sack for the Tufts defense on the ensuing Bates drive and the Jumbos added to their lead thanks to a 10-play, 69-yard drive that took 5:36 off the clock. A Berluti five-yard rushing touchdown made the score 21-0 in favor of the Jumbos after the extra point.

Another Bates three-and-out allowed the Jumbos to tack on one more score before the half, with Beluti finding Lutz for 40 yards and Moore for 16 before Tyler Johnson rushed it in from five yards out for the third Tufts touchdown of the second quarter.

Down 28-0 at the half, the Bobcats saw their deficit increase to 35-0 early in the third quarter when Butler took a direct snap and took it to the house for a 41-yard touchdown run. 

But the Bates defense held the Jumbos scoreless for the remainder of the contest. And the Bobcats got on the board in the fourth quarter when Bryant's 52-yard run to the Tufts two set up a short Bosselait rushing touchdown. 

The Bobcats look to get their first win of the season next Saturday when they travel to NESCAC rival Colby for a battle under the lights. Kick is set for 7pm.