Minutemen Secure Senior Day Win Over Wagner, 34-10

GAME INFORMATION
Massachusetts 34, Wagner10
Records: Massachusetts (2-7) • Wagner (4-4)
Location: McGuirk Alumni Stadium, Amherst, Mass.
Attendance: 8,468
Time of Game: 3:01
Weather: 48 degrees at kickoff, winds S/SE 5 MPH, overcast

MASSACHUSETTS HIGHLIGHTS

Tight end Adam Breneman set a career high with 138 yards receiving and hauled in a pair of touchdowns for the second consecutive game. Breneman earned his yards and TDs on eight receptions.

Quarterback Andrew Ford finished the afternoon 25-of-39 with 355 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. It marked his highest yardage total in a single game as a Minuteman.

Ford also ran in a 16-yard touchdown during the victory, his second consecutive and career game with a rushing score.

Wide receiver Andy Isabella also reset his personal best for receiving yards as Isabella reeled off 123 yards gained on eight receptions. He scored once against Wagner on a 55-yard catch-and-run TD.

Sha-Ki Holines tied his career high with seven tackles, including a 12-yard combined sack of Wagner QB Alex Thomson with co-defensive lineman Peter Angeh.

Isaiah Rodgers collected his first career interception during the first Wagner play from scrimmage of the second half. Rodgers also led the Minutemen with nine tackles, including an assisted-TFL.

Steve Casali posted seven stops, including 2.0 TFLs for seven yards lost. Casali notched a five-yard solo sack of Thomson in the win.

The rushing committee of Bilal Ally, Andrew Ford, Malik Lee, Sekai Lindsay and Marquis Young averaged a combined 6.0 yards per carry with 143 gained on 24 attempts. Lindsay led the way with 58 yards over 10 carries and Ally followed with five on six career, including a career-long 34-yard rush.

Massachusetts posted 507 yards of total offense, its first game with 500 or more total offensive yards on the season. The last time UMass posted 500+ total offensive yards was at Bowling Green (516) on Oct. 10, 2015.

Massachusetts kept Wagner off the scoreboard until 2:42 remained in the third quarter as the Seahawks failed to convert during their opening nine drives. Those nine drives break down to five punts, two turnovers on downs, one interception and the end of the first half.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Massachusetts elected to receive possession to start the game and marched down the field for a game-opening touchdown. Ford closed the drive with a 28-yard strike to Breneman.

Andrew Ford and Adam Breneman connected on their second scoring play of the day in the final minute of the first quarter. On the sixth play of an 84-yard drive, Ford hit Breneman in the endzone for a six yard touchdown.

Ford aired the ball out for the next score, his third touchdown pass of the day. Ford hit Andy Isabella streaking down the left side of the field and Isabella outpaced the Wagner secondary en route to a 55-yard touchdown that pushed the lead to 21-0.

Logan Laurent added a pair of field goals for the 27-0 halftime advantage. Laurent connected from 33 yards away with six minutes, eight seconds to play in the half before he sent a 22-yard try through the uprights with 12 seconds left in the half.

The UMass defense locked down on Wagner over the course of the half and limited the Seahawks to 167 total offensive yards (30 plays) over the opening 30 minutes while the UMass offense accumulated 403 on 44 plays.

The Minutemen padded the lead during their second drive of the third quarter. After rolling out in search of his fourth TD pass of the day, Ford tucked it and ran in from 16 yards out for the score after he battled a pair of Wagner defenders at the goal line for the rushing score.

Wagner scored on its final two drives after it was denied on its opening nine attempts. James Cooper put points on the board with a 27-yard field goal at the 2:42 mark of the third. John Williams caught a two-yard pass from Thomson with 6:29 to go in the fourth to reach the final score.

UP NEXT
The Maroon and White take to the road for their final three games of the year, starting with a trip to Troy on Sat., Nov. 5. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN3.

Fans are encouraged to contact the UMass Athletics Ticket Office at 1-866-UMASS-TIX or visit the Mullins Center Ticket Office (9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) for all ticket purchasing needs. Questions can be directed to Doug Bean via email (dbean@umass.edu).

For continued coverage of UMass football, follow the program on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@UMassFootball).

Scoreboard

Next Event

Team Stats

Andrew Ford

West Randall

Bernard Davis

Players Mentioned

Bilal Ally

Peter Angeh

Adam Breneman

Steve Casali

Andrew Ford

Sha-Ki Holines

Andy Isabella

Logan Laurent

Malik Lee

Sekai Lindsay

Isaiah Rodgers

Marquis Young

Players Mentioned

Bilal Ally

Peter Angeh

Adam Breneman

Steve Casali

Andrew Ford

Sha-Ki Holines

Andy Isabella

Logan Laurent

Malik Lee

Sekai Lindsay

Isaiah Rodgers

Marquis Young

Scoreboard

University of Massachusets Athletics