University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Boston College
#BattleoftheBayState Awaits Minutemen at Gillette Stadium
September 05, 2016 | Football
| University of Massachusetts Football Game Notes | |
| Game One | Boston College (0-1) vs. Massachusetts (0-1) |
| Date | Time | Saturday, Sept. 10 | 12 p.m. |
| Location | Gillette Stadium; Foxboro, Mass. | Stadium Guide | NFL Clear Bag Policy |
| Series History | Boston College leads, 19-5. Last: Boston College 30, UMass 7; Aug. 30, 2014 |
| Live Statistics | Available shortly |
| Watch Live | NESN (Check local listings) | 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 | Boston College |
| Team Records | Massachusetts | Boston College |
| @UMassFootball | @CoachWhipUMass | @UMassAthletics | |
| UMass Football | UMass Athletics | |
The Massachusetts-Boston College Scouting Report
University of Massachusetts football takes on Boston College in the #BattleoftheBayState at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., during the second week of action for both teams. During the opening weekend, UMass challenged No. 25 Florida into the fourth quarter before the Gators pulled away for a 24-7 win while the Eagles dropped a last-second heartbreaker to Georgia Tech, 17-14 in Dublin, Ireland.
The upcoming meeting between the sides marks the 25th all-time in the series, which Boston College leads, 19-5. The teams last met during the 2014 season, a 30-7 win for the Eagles.
A host of newcomers and young Minutemen impacted the strong showing at No. 25 Florida as Massachusetts played 10 first-time starters on offense and defense combined. The Maroon and White will continue to rely on their underclassmen as the team features one of the smallest senior classes in the nation. UMass 13 seniors or graduate students on the roster in 2016, tied for the fourth-fewest among FBS schools nationally.
Quick Snaps
- Sports four Minutemen splitting six national award watch list entries entering the 2016 season, including linebacker Shane Huber (Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Butkus Award), punter/kicker Logan Laurent (Ray Guy Award), tight end Todd Stafford (John Mackey Award) and running back Marquis Young (Doak Walker Award, Maxwell Award).
- Plays Boston College for the 25th time in program history during the 2016 season and second since UMass elevated to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level prior to the 2012 campaign. BC won the lone prior meeting at the FBS level, 30-7 on Aug. 30, 2014.
- Does not have permanent team captains in 2016 and will use game captains throughout the season. The four game captains at Florida were Peter Angeh (DL), Michael Boland (OL), Bernard Davis (WR) and Shane Huber (LB).
- Head coach Mark Whipple enters the 2016 season with 55 wins at the helm of the program, the second-most in UMass history behind only Vic Fusia (1961-70), who posted 59.
- Head coach Mark Whipple led the Minutemen into his 100th game as head coach when the team faced No. 25 Florida in the 2016 season-opener.
- Running back Marquis Young ran for 960 yards as a true-freshmen in 2015, the most yards for a UMass freshman since Steve Baylark (1,177; 2003).
- Running back Marquis Young put up 240 rushing yards and three touchdowns at Buffalo on Nov. 27, 2015. It was the 10th-most yards in on game in UMass football history and marked the second-most rushing touchdowns in a single-game in the team's FBS era.
- Freshman James Allen collected 785 kickoff return yards in 2015, the fourth-most in a single season in program history.
- Running back Marquis Young averaged 6.32 yards per carry as a freshman in 2015 with 960 yards on 152 attempts. It marked the 10th-most yards per carry in team history and the third-highest average by a running back with at least 150 carries.
- Return specialist James Allen posted 238 kick return yards - including a 97-yard touchdown - at Bowling Green on Oct. 10, 2015. It went down as the second-most in one game in UMass football history and the most notched by one player in a contest across FBS during 2015.
- Rookie standout James Allen reeled off a 97-yard kick return touchdown at Bowling Green on Oct. 10, 2015. It went as the seventh-longest kick return in program history.
- Alumnus Tajae Sharpe became the highest-drafted Minuteman of the FBS era when he was taken 140th overall (fifth round, first selection) by the Tennessee Titans in the 2016 NFL Draft.
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 needed only 165 career carries to go over the 1,000-yard mark, an average of 6.07 yards per carry.
He is the first UMass running back to eclipse 1,000 career rushing yards during the FBS era.
Tedrick The Tackler
Junior college transfer Tedrick Lowery notched 11 tackles in his UMass debut at No. 25 Florida. It was the most by a single player on either team. He had three solo stops and eight assisted takedowns.
Speedster Down The Sideline
Sophomore wide receiver Andy Isabella reeled in a 53-yard catch-and-run play down the Florida sideline at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. It set a career long for Isabella, who entered the game with eight career receiving yards.
Isabella finished with three receptions for 95 yards at Florida, the most receiving yards for one player on either team. It reset his single-game bests for receptions and receiving yards.
First Time In The First Play
UMass featured 10 first-time starters on offense and defense at No. 25 Florida. This total does not include tight end Adam Breneman, who made his first start as a Minuteman but previously started for the Penn State program.
On offense, the new starters included Ross Comis (QB), Marquis Young (RB), Jack Driscoll (OL), Jake Largay (OL) and Raquan Thomas (OL).
On defense, Ali Ali-Musa (DL), Steve Casali (LB), Tedrick Lowery (LB), James Allen (CB) and Lee Moses (SS) marked the first-time starters.
Fresh Recruits Called Into Action
Seventeen members of the UMass football program made their first appearances as Minutemen during the 2016 season-opener at No. 25 Florida. These 17 include Ali Ali-Musa, Bilal Ally, James Bowe Jr., Adam Breneman, Colbert Calhoun, Jack Driscoll, Derek Dumais, Andrew Ford, Malik Lee, Tedrick Lowery, Brandon Mangram, Martin Mangram, Sadiq Palmer, Mario Patton, Travis Reynolds, Isaiah Rodgers and Raquan Thomas.
