AMHERST – UMass introduced an unfathomable array of miscues into the locker room at halftime of Saturday’s Rivalry Weekend conflict with UConn at McGuirk Stadium.
The Minutemen gave up a decide six, misplaced two fumbles, turned the ball over on downs on their facet of the sphere and had two punts partially blocked, all within the first half. The Huskies constructed a 19-0 lead on the break and rolled to 31-18 victory in a battle of FBS independents.
“Complementary football usually breeds success and when we’ve been successful, we’ve been a positive in the turnover margin,” mentioned UMass coach Don Brown. “We literally gave them field position inside the 40 and we just didn’t play complementary football.”
UConn netted 414 yards of offense with 24 first downs. The Huskies’ offense was managed by twin risk quarterback Ta’Quan Roberson, whereas tailback Cam Edwards rushed for 102 yards and two touchdowns. UMass quarterback Taisun Phommachanh accomplished 18-of-30 passes for 230 yards with a landing.
Both groups completed the season at 3-9 within the 77th assembly between the faculties, with UMass up 38-37-2 within the collection. UMass blew a possibility to document 4 wins in a season for the second time since becoming a member of FBS in 2012.
“I would have been really excited if we had gotten that fourth win today so we’d have matched the best thing that’s been done here in FBS football,” mentioned Brown. “I’m somewhat loopy, however I’m not unfavorable and I transfer on actually rapidly.
“We are going in the right direction and I really felt good about our opportunity we had for the fourth. The men I am coaching do not quit.”
Phommachanh turned the ball over on the Minutemen’s first two possessions however the second resulted in factors. Phommachanh’s cross to George Johnson was intercepted by sophomore cornerback Mumu Bin-Wahad and returned 45 yards for a landing with 10:04 to play. The PAT kicked was blocked.
UMass dedicated its third turnover of the primary quarter when tailback Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams fumbled on the Minutemen 28. UConn reached the UMass purple zone however needed to accept a 31-yard subject purpose by Joe McFadden that made it 9-0 with 13:42 to play within the second.
The Huskies obtained one other quick subject when Lynch-Adams was stuffed on a fourth and two on the UMass 45. The drive stalled on the 12 and McFadden made it 12-0 with a 30-yard subject purpose with 8:46 to play.
{A partially} blocked punt mixed with a holding penalty in opposition to the kicking crew gave the Huskies the ball on the UMass 27. Tailback Victor Rosa scored on a 17-yard run to make it 19-0 with 6:02 to play.
“I thought we were winning our matchups but you can’t overcome turnovers,” mentioned Brown. “I hate to say it but four is a lot and those things are difficult.”
UMass caught its first break when Roberson fumbled on the UConn 37 on the opening snap of the third quarter. UMass scored on a 10-yard cross from Phommachanh to tight finish Gino Campiotti with 11:58 to play. The PAT cross failed and UMass trailed, 19-6.
Edwards scored on a 4-yard run to make it 25-6 with 1:08 to play within the third. The Huskies’ two-point cross try failed. Phommachanh accomplished three passes for 64 yards in a 73-yard scoring drive that made 25-12 with 11:52 to play. Lynch-Adams scored on a purpose line dive however the PAT cross failed.
“It was too little too late but in terms of schemes and how we went about it,” mentioned Brown. “I thought we had a good plan in all three phases but that turnover thing will bite you right in the butt.”
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