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University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Tulane
2016 Homecoming Pits UMass Football Against Tulane
September 26, 2016 | Football
Minutemen take on Green Wave at McGuirk Stadium on Sat., Oct. 1 at 3:30 p.m.
| University of Massachusetts Football Game Notes | |
| Game Five | Massachusetts (1-3) vs. Tulane (2-2) |
| Date | Time | Saturday, Oct. 1 | 3:30 p.m. |
| Location | McGuirk Alumni Stadium; Amherst, Mass. | Gameday A-Z Parking & Traffic | Tailgating Policies | Student Parking |
| Series History | First Meeting |
| Live Statistics | Sidearm Sports |
| Watch Live | NESN | ESPN3 |
| Listen (Radio) | 560 AM WHYN (Western Massachusetts), 830 AM WCRN (Worcester) 95.9 FM WATD (South Shore), 1200 AM WXKS (Boston, Manchester, Providence) |
| Listen (Online) | WEEI Streaming Player | TuneIn App (mobile devices) |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts | Tulane | AAC |
| Team Records | Massachusetts | Tulane |
| @UMassFootball | @CoachWhipUMass | @UMassAthletics | |
| UMass Football | UMass Athletics | |
| Tickets | UMass Ticket Central |
UMass Prepares For Second SEC Opponent In Mississippi State
University of Massachusetts football plays its fourth consecutive home contest with a Sat., Oct. 1 tilt against Tulane at McGuirk Alumni Stadium on NESNplus and ESPN3. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m.
2016 Homecoming pits the Minutemen against another first-time foe as UMass and Tulane square off for the inaugural meeting in the history of the programs. It marks the third of eight new opponents for the Minutemen.
Massachusetts enters following its back-and-forth loss to Mississippi State at Gillette Stadium, the third consecutive home game for the Minutemen. The Maroon and White led by as much as eight points in the first half following touchdowns by Marquis Young (83-yard run) and Jalen Williams (31-yard reception). However, the Bulldogs rallied with 28 third quarter points and held off a late Maroon and White charge for the 47-35 victory.
Quarterback Andrew Ford distributed four touchdown passes while Young rushed for 125 yards on 18 carries. Williams' first of two touchdown grabs against the Bulldogs was highlighted on ESPN as the No.4 Player of the Day. Da'Sean Downey added his fourth sack of the season and third forced fumble on the defensive side of the ball.
Off To The Races
Marquis Young needed only 13 career games to reach the 1,000-yard rushing mark. A sophomore, Young hit the four-digit mark during play at No. 25 Florida with his 13th rushing attempt of the game. Young used 165 career carries to go over the 1,000-yard mark, an average of 6.07 yards per attempt.
He is the first UMass running back to eclipse 1,000 career rushing yards during the FBS era. Only two Minuteman freshmen accumulated better first seasons with the team: Steve Baylark (1,177 yards; 2003) and R.J. Cobbs (1,067 yards; 2002).
The Cedar Cliff Connection
UMass quarterback Andrew Ford and tight end Adam Breneman played together previously as members of the Cedar Cliff High School football program in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.
Ford made his first start for the Minutemen against FIU and targeted Breneman throughout the game, resulting in 10 receptions, 77 yards and one touchdown for the 6-foot-4 tight end. Six of those completions to Breneman went for first downs. Breneman and Ford connected six times against Mississippi State for 79 yards, making Breneman the most targeted receiver by Ford through two games.
Breneman is the all-time leading receiver in Cedar Cliff history and all-time leading tight end in Pennsylvania high school history (in all receiving categories).
Ford was the 2013 Gatorade Player of the Year, football's Mr. Pennsylvania and an Elite 11 QB as a senior. He set Cedar Cliff records in passing yards, touchdowns thrown and completion percentage.
The Camera Adds Six Points
Bernard Davis caught a toe-drag touchdown pass in the fourth quarter against Mississippi State that was initially ruled to be incomplete due to Davis landing out of bounds. Following an official's review of the play, Davis was credited with the 19-yard score as replays showed Davis landed his left foot inches in-bounds before he and the Bulldogs' defender landed on the sideline.
It was Davis' second career touchdown pass and first since Sept. 25, 2013 against Maine. His previous touchdown also came at Gillette Stadium in the South endzone.
ESPN Top-10 Love For Williams
Jalen Williams' 31-yard juggling touchdown catch through the defense of two Mississippi State players while falling to the ground was tabbed the ESPN No. 4 Play of the Day on the night of Sat., Sept. 24. It was Williams' first of two touchdown receptions against the Bulldogs.
Making Sure The First Time Is Memorable
Sadiq Palmer's first collegiate reception went for a 19-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter against Mississippi State. In 2016, Palmer is one of 18 players (10 wide receivers, five tight ends, one fullback, one running back, one quarterback) who had their first career catch go for six points. He is one of only four freshmen to do so.
Depend On The Tight End
Tight end Adam Breneman caught 10 passes against FIU covering 77 yards and one touchdown. It is the most receptions by a UMass tight end since Rob Blanchflower caught 10 ball for 100 yards and one score versus Central Michigan on Nov. 23, 2012.
In the last three games, Breneman owns 19 receptions for 225 yards and two touchdowns.
Forcing The Issue
Junior Ali Ali-Musa owns two forced fumbles in only four games played as a Minuteman. Junior Da'Sean Downey has three in his four games played this year, his third with the team. They represent Downey's only forced fumbles as a Minuteman.
Ali-Musa's first was on running back Lamical Perine at No. 25 Florida. The second came against FIU when he ended the Golden Panthers' final drive with a forced fumble on quarterback Alex McGough.
Downey collected one each against No. 25 Florida (QB Luke Del Rio), FIU (QB Alex McGough) and Mississippi State (QB Nick Fitzgerald).
Knock 'Em Downey
Linebacker Da'Sean Downey had a pair of sacks covering 18 yards lost against FIU. It made him the first Minuteman with multiple sacks in one contest since Kassan Messiah (2.0-14) at Bowling Green on Oct. 10, 2015. The last Minuteman with more sack yards in a single contest was Michael Hanson (2.0-23) at William & Mary on Oct. 27, 2007.
Downey's 4.0 sacks in 2016 tie him with Justin Anderson (4.0-20; 2013) for the most in one season by a Minuteman during the FBS era.
Rodgers Shines In First Start
Freshman Isaiah Rodgers was called into action against FIU as a starter at cornerback in place of an injured Jackson Porter. He finished the day with four tackles in the secondary and three pass breakups. His PBU total marks the most by one Minuteman this season. He added a five-tackle afternoon against Mississippi State in his second start opposite James Allen.
The Grizzled Veteran
Redshirt senior Khary Bailey-Smith is the only Minuteman with appearances in each of the team's five FBS seasons (2012-present). Three additional members of the squad were true freshmen during the inaugural year at the FBS level in Bernard Davis, Vondell Langston and John Robinson-Woodgett. Bailey-Smith made two appearances in 2015 before suffering a season-ending injury that allowed him to redshirt. Davis, Langston and Robinson-Woodgett each redshirted one year without seeing time during it.
