Massachusetts Minutemen

Bordner, Kimble rock Minutemen

September 27, 2014

Game Report Posted: September 29, 2013 11:48  

The Boston College Eagles run over the UMass Minutemen in Chestnut Hill as QB Josh Bordner and HB Tahj Kimble have their way. With the running attack gashing the Minutemen, the UMass defense continued to focus their efforts on stopping it, leaving big windows for Bordner to throw through. They were able to pick him off twice, but it wasn't enough.

The crushing blow was a 54-yard TD just 17 seconds before the end of the half for BC. UMass had forced a 4th down and put on a punt block formation. The Eagles caught them off guard with a fake punt, throwing a quick screen to the upback. With blockers in front of him, D'Metrius Williams had no shot of taking him down short of the goal line.

U Game Dominated By Connecticut

September 13, 2014

Game Report Posted: September 21, 2013 10:32  

After coming off back-to-back wins, UMass got dominated at home by rival UConn. They were just out of their league against the Huskies. Although the score doesn't indicate it, this game wasn't close at all. The Minutemen's first two touchdown drives were only the result of two big option runs. The first was a 55-yard scamper by Jordan Broadnax that set up UMass with a 1st and Goal on the two-yard line which Lorenzo Woodley pounded it in. The second was a 75-yard touchdown run by Jamal Wilson.

Looking at the rushing stats for UMass, it's very easy to assume that the coaches made a bad decision to not run the ball more. On just 18 attempts, they accumulated 174 yards, but 130 of those yards came on just two carries. Take those big plays out and you get 17 carries for 44 yards, something much less gaudy.

After a bye week, the Minutemen will visit their other rival, the Boston College Eagles, before starting their slate of MAC games.

Wegzyn Dominates Monarchs for 5 TDs In Win

September 6, 2014

Game Report Posted: September 14, 2013 13:18  

In easily his best performance over the past two seasons, Mike Wegzyn was a maestro on the field, orchestrating his offense to five passing touchdowns. He completed 30 of his 38 attempts for 331 yards, spreading the love around to nine different receivers. This was also the first game in the past two seasons that he has not thrown an interception. After struggling in Week 1, it was great to see him come out here and throw the ball all over the field with great confidence.

Minutemen Exact Revenge On Maine In 2OT

August 30, 2014

Game Report Posted: September 13, 2013 22:29  

After losing to Maine last season, UMass eagerly awaited their return to Gillette Stadium for their opening game of the 2014 season. In the first quarter, it didn't look good for the Minutemen. Maine was able to force a 3-and-out to start the game then promptly marched down the field to score a touchdown. After a horrible decision by QB Mike Wegzyn, resulting in an interception, the Maine QB kept it on a read-option and took it 78-yards to the house. Just like that, UMass was down 14-0.

The game would be tied going into the half. Lorenzo Woodley, who continues to be the goal line back for this team, pounded in a 4-yard touchdown early in the 2nd quarter. After both teams traded punts and turnovers, UMass had the ball with under a minute to go. A couple of plays later, Wegzyn took the snap on the 26-yard line and fired a jump ball to his big WR Bernard Davis. Davis, who was injured most of last season, is the tallest and best athlete of the receiving core. He climbed up over the top of the DB and hauled in a big TD with just 31 seconds left in the half to tie it up.

The second half started with both teams punting the ball. AJ Doyle then saw his first action of the season, running some option offense and resulting in a Stacey Bedell 1-yard touchdown run to take a 7-point lead. Maine would answer back with a TD run of their own just a minute and a half later.

The fourth quarter was a defensive struggle. UMass found themselves with the ball, staring down a 4th-and-1 on their own 25-yard line with just 2:30 left in the game. Kris Murphy decided to go for it...and got stuffed in the backfield leading to a turnover on downs. His first game and he makes a call like that?!?

Maine would drive down the field in 40 seconds for seven points. With one timeout and the need to score a touchdown, UMass got a great return from D'Metrius Williams to the 40-yard line. Mike Wegzyn completed pass after pass, but the receivers couldn't get out of bounds. With 15 seconds left, Tajae Sharpe was tackled at the 2-yard line and the Minutemen had to use their last timeout. The next play, Wegzyn split out 4 receivers with Jordan Broadnax in the backfield. When the play broke down, Wegzyn took off and dove in the endzone for the game-tying score, leading to OT.

In OT, Maine started with the ball and scored in just two plays, forcing the Minutemen offense back on to the field. It took 10 plays from the 25-yard line, including a 4th-and-Goal from the 1, for Lorenzo Woodley to pound in his 2nd TD of the game, sending us to a second OT period.

On the first play of 2nd OT, Jamal Wilson ripped off a 25-yard TD. The defense needed to keep Maine out of the endzone. After a first down sack, Maine took a shot to the endzone, but Jaurice Jones was there to pick it off, ending this classic season opener!