Massachusetts Minutemen

Badgers Blast Minutemen

August 31, 2013

Game Report Posted: September 02, 2013 17:21  

Four Wegzyn interceptions and a Blanchflower fumble equated to five turnovers for the Minutemen en route to a beatdown at the hands of the #23 Wisconsin Badgers. After trailing just 14-10 at halftime, the Minutemen were unable to find a rhythm on offense and score a single point.

Maine Deals Crushing Blow To Minutemen

September 7, 2013

Game Report Posted: September 02, 2013 21:03  

In UMass' home opener against the Maine Black Bears, the Minutemen get stunned by a score 35-28. QB Mike Wegzyn threw a crucial interception in the waning moments of the game as he had his offense marching down the field. A score would have tied up the game and forced overtime, but his second interception of the game sealed the deal on the 0-2 start on the season.

The schedule doesn't get any easier with the Minutemen packing their bags and heading to Kansas State. The following week, the SEC's own Vanderbilt Commodores will come marching into Gillette to put a beatdown on UMass.

Hubert Looks Like Heisman Hopeful Against Minutemen

September 14, 2013

Game Report Posted: September 03, 2013 01:09  

Kansas State throttles UMass on the back of John Hubert's 4 TD performance. He ran like a man possessed, carrying the ball just 13 times to accumulate 242 rushing yards on his way to three scores. He added another six-point play through the air as well.

The UMass offense was stifled right from the beginning. The running game managed a measly 31 yards on 21 attempts. Mike Wegzyn struggled to stay upright, taking 4 sacks throughout the night. When he did have time, his receivers let him down with five costly, sometimes drive-killing, drops.

#17 Vanderbilt Escapes With A Win

September 21, 2013

Game Report Posted: September 04, 2013 01:37  

Vanderbilt, with a little help from the referees, escapes the Northeast with a win. Early in the 3rd quarter, with a 17-10 lead, the Commodores faced a big 3rd down and 17 to go on their own 24-yard line. An errant Austyn Carta-Samuels pass led his receiver to the wide side of the field. The receiver caught the pass and was out of bounds when he landed, forcing a 4th down and a huge punt...or did it?

The referees called down to the field to get another look at it. Every replay was inconclusive, some even showing he clearly stepped out of bounds. Coach Molnar was sending his punt return team on the field when the referee had concluded that there was significant evidence to overturn the ruling on the field, giving Vanderbilt a first down. The drive would end in a touchdown for the visiting team, giving them a 14-point lead that the Minutemen would not be able to overcome.

Coach Molnar refused to talk to the media following the game, livid at the call that turned the entire game around.

UMass Blows MAC Opener

October 5, 2013

Game Report Posted: September 05, 2013 03:17  

Tied up at 10 a piece, Mike Wegzyn throws an untimely interception with less than a minute to go in the first half on UMass' side of the 50, leading to a big touchdown right before the half. From that point on, it was all down hill for the Minutemen. Four turnovers later, Bowling Green put a hurtin' on UMass to the tune of 38-17. Adding injury to insult, starting HB Jordan Broadnax was injured late in the game. The diagnosis is broken ribs that will sideline him for the rest of the season. This should allow other backs to step up in his absence.

UMass Wins First Game of Season!

October 12, 2013

Game Report Posted: September 05, 2013 14:08  

In a tightly contested battle, UMass takes down MAC opponent Miami (OH) at home, 17-7. The win is the first of the season for the Minutemen and brings their conference record to 1-1. Stacey Bedell, in his first start at HB of his career, played tremendously and will continue to start while fellow freshman Lorenzo Woodley will spell him throughout the game and on the goal line.

Sophomore QB Mike Wegzyn is still having issues turning the ball over, but luckily the defense bailed him out with two interceptions of their own, including one in the endzone. The defense seems to be gelling now and hopefully the game-changing plays will continue to rear their head in our favor.

The defense had their backs against the wall. With 3:30 left in the game and a ten point lead, the Miami (OH) offense was on the the doorstep, looking to pound in a TD. After allowing a first down on the 1-yard line, the defense held strong, forcing a turnover on downs as they registered their 2nd sack of the afternoon on 4th down!

Zordich, Buffalo Dominates First Half

October 19, 2013

Game Report Posted: September 05, 2013 15:22  

Alex Zordich torches the UMass defense for five passing TD, all of which came in the first half. With the Minutemen not able to get any offense going in the first two quarters, the game was unofficially over at the break. The UMass run game never got on track, yielding just nine total yards on 13 carries. There wasn't a need to run it, though, once they got down 21+ points so early.

Minutemen Hit New Low

October 26, 2013

Game Report Posted: September 05, 2013 23:57  

The Western Michigan Broncos came into Gillette Stadium winless and leave with a win. Unbelievable.

Coach Molnar took a huge gamble right before halftime. With the game tied 7-7 and the Minutemen facing 4th and goal on the 1-yard line with three seconds remaining, he decided to go for it. Lorenzo Woodley was stoned at the goal line and no points were awarded to the Minutemen.

UMass ended up chasing those points the rest of the game and it bit them in the butt. Decisions like this are what costs teams games...and sometimes coaches their jobs.

Minutemen Give Away The Game

November 2, 2013

Game Report Posted: September 09, 2013 20:29  

In a game in which UMass led almost exclusively, they come out on the losing end 31-24. It all started when the game was tied at 24 a piece. The Minutemen drive stalled on their own 22-yard line, forcing a 39-yard FG for kicker Blake Lucas. He has just snuck one inside the uprights from the same distance in the second quarter, but this time it hit the crossbar and fell short.

After both teams failed to create any scoring opportunity, the Huskies had the ball deep in their own end looking to march down the field for the win with about three minutes remaining. The drive started off with a false start and then a sack, bringing up 2nd and 26. After an incomplete pass, the Huskies figured they would run the ball and keep the playcall conservative. UMass could not wrap up the back and he took it 50 yards for the first down. On the very next play, QB Lynch threw a ball that hit Kharey Bailey-Smith in the numbers. The strong safety dropped the sure interception that would have seen him take it the distance for the win. On the very next play, the Huskies scored on a 40-yard strike.

With the game on the line, UMass moved the ball well down the field,. The Minutemen had incorporated some option into their offense and Mike Wegzyn had played beautifully all night. His only turnover thus far came on an end-of-the-half-heave that got picked off in the endzone. He scampered up the middle for a 12-gain but got popped before he could slide safely. The ball was popped loose and recovered by Northern Illinois to sure up the win.

This loss will be very tough to swallow as the Minutemen had opportunity after opportunity to seal up a home victory.

Turnovers Ruin UMass' Chance at Win

November 16, 2013

Game Report Posted: September 10, 2013 02:10  

When you turn the ball over four times, you aren't going to win many games. When you're the 1-8 UMass Minutemen, you almost have zero chance at getting that W. Backup QB AJ Doyle, who has been seeing some action lately as an option quarterback, had two costly fumbles in this game. The second fumble was on a dive into the endzone, costing the team seven points right before the half and killing all momentum. A late surge by the Minutemen offense gave UMass life, but the defense could not force a punt on the final drive and it ended up costing them the game.

Comeback OT Win for Minutemen!

November 23, 2013

Game Report Posted: September 10, 2013 23:27  

After giving up a 58-yard rushing TD and a 72-yard passing TD in the first two minutes of the game, most figured UMass would roll over and die. Then Mike Wegzyn took the field. The sophomore signal caller had his best game of the season, throwing for 300+ yards, 3 TDs and running for over 90 yards and scoring the game-winning TD on the ground.

Mike Wegzyn led two beautiful drives down the stretch. He was in a flow so coach Charley Molnar let him get in the hurry up and call his own plays. Wegzyn was masterful, finding open men and threading the needle between defenders. Reality set in on the Chippewas when Wegzyn hit seldom used TE Sharif Custis down the seem for the game-tying score with just 41 seconds remaining. After CMU went 3-and-out, UMass took a knee and took it to overtime.

In overtime, the Minutemen won the toss and decided to play defense first. After a couple quick strikes through the air, the Chippewas were inside the six yard line when UMass' defense dug in and kept them away from pay dirt, forcing an overtime field goal. Wegzyn took the field and hit Derek Beck on the right side for a 15-yard pickup. On the second play, Tajae Sharpe hauled in a 5-yard pass on a crossing route. The following play, Wegzyn called for 5-wide, spreading the defense thin across the field. He dropped back, didn't see anything he liked and took off. He eluded the defensive end and took a big hit from the middle linebacker, plunging into the endzone for the win!

For his performance, QB Mike Wegzyn has earned MAC Offensive Player of the Week honors!!!

Season Ends On Losing Note

November 29, 2013

Game Report Posted: September 11, 2013 01:41  

After Mike Wegzyn threw 2 INTs and his offense failed to score a single point in the first half, AJ Doyle and his option-style offense took the field to start the second half.

Points immediately hit the board on the very first drive as Lorenzo Woodley needed to plunge into the endzone on 4th down. Another score early in the 4th quarter made it a 14-13 UMass lead.

A little more than a minute later, Ohio was in the endzone once again. The 2-point conversion failed, leaving the Bobcats up 19-14.

After Wegzyn completed two beautiful passes, he made one horrendous one that prompted Coach Molnar to go back to the option game. Working against the clock, AJ Doyle drove the Minutemen down the field. It was now 2nd and goal on the 7-yard line, Doyle called for a speed option right. As he turned the corner, the MLB came out of nowhere and blew him up, causing a fumble and ending the comeback attempt.