University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
BYU
UMass Football Heads To Fellow Independent BYU Next
November 15, 2017 | Football
Minutemen make second-ever trip to LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday
| UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS FOOTBALL WEEKLY RELEASE | |
| Game 11 | Massachusetts (3-7 overall) at BYUÂ (3-8) |
| Date | Time | Saturday, Nov. 18 | 3 p.m. (ET) |
| Location | LaVell Edwards Stadium; Provo, Utah |
| Series History | BYU leads, 1-0. Last meeting: BYU 51, Massachusetts 9; Nov. 19, 2016 |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts | BYU |
| Live Statistics | StatBroadcast |
| Listen (Online) Listen (Radio) |
105.5 FM WEEI | TuneIn Radio App (Josh Maurer & Peter Brock) 105.5 WEEI FM (Western Massachusetts/Springfield), 95.9 FM (South Shore), 830 AM (WCRN) |
| Tickets | 866-UMASS-TIX |
| Watch | BYUtv | ESPN3/WatchESPN |
| Team Information | Massachusetts | BYU |
| @UMassFootball | @UMassAthletics | @CoachWhipUMass | |
| UMass Football | UMass Athletics | |
Steady Targets
Two Massachusetts receivers sport catch streaks of 20 or more games through the opening nine contests of the season. Andy Isabella sits at 22 consecutive games (12 in 2016; 10 in 2017) while Adam Breneman is at 21 consecutive games (12 in 2016; nine in 2017) as he missed the Tennessee contest due to injury.
Breneman and Isabella's streaks of 20 or more appearances with a reception make Massachusetts one of only five teams with a pair of receivers on the list. It also includes Clemson (Deon Cain, Hunter Renfro), Florida (Antonio Callaway, Brandon Powell), Illinois (Mike Dudek, Malik Turner) and Memphis (Phil Mayhue, Anthony Miller).
Isabella Loves SEC Country
Andy Isabella posed a career-best 158 yards over seven receptions, including a 69-yard score at No. 21 Mississippi State. In five games against SEC competition over the last two seasons, Isabella compiled 24 receptions for 368 yards. It includes games on the road at No. 25 Florida (2016), South Carolina (2016), Tennessee (2017) and the Bulldogs (2017) along with a Gillette Stadium game against Mississippi State (2016).
He had three receptions of 50 or more yards over those five games, including a 53-yard catch at Florida and 52 and 69-yard receptions against No. 21 Mississippi State (11/4/17).
Young Is Restless In The Backfield
In the last four games, Marquis Young recorded 447 rushing yards over 58 carries (7.7 ypc), including four for touchdowns, during wins over Georgia Southern (10/21), Appalachian State (10/28) and Maine (11/11) and the near-upset at No. 21 Mississippi State (11/4). He had more than 100 yards rushing vs. the Eagles, Mountaineers and Black Bears, his first three games with 100+ on the season and his eighth, ninth and 10th career outings in triple digits.
He had 101 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries against Georgia Southern before he posted 132 yards and two scores over 15 carries against Appalachian State. Young added 91 yards over 11 carries at Mississippi State while he again eclipsed triple digits with 123 yards and a TD over 19 carries against Maine.
Current Location: An Endzone Near You
Three Minutemen recently entered or currently approach the career top 10 at UMass in rushing or receiving touchdowns, including Adam Breneman (TE), Andy Isabella (WR) and Marquis Young (RB).Â
Isabella enters the game at BYU with 15 career touchdown receptions, tied for seventh all-time at UMass, while Breneman sits at 11 - one shy of tying Kerry Taylor in 10th. Young enters the weekend with 19 career rushing scores, one away from evening with Frank Alessio (1993-96), Jerome Bledsoe (1988-91) and Paul Metallo (1971-72) in 10th place.
Taking The Long Route
Edge-rusher Da'Sean Downey ranks among the nation's leaders in tackles for loss, standing tied for fourth in TFLs per game (2.0) and total TFLs (18.0).
Downey posted a career-high 4.0 TFLs and tied his personal best with 2.0 sacks in the 55-20 win over Georgia Southern (10/21). The 4.0 TFLs against the Eagles' offensive line marked the 17th-most in a single game across FBS this season and it is one of only 34 individual performances all season with 4.0 TFLs or more.Â
He immediately followed with another 4.0 TFL game against Appalachian State, which made him one of only two players in the nation with multiple games of 4.0 TFLs or more (Brian Womac, Rice).
Downey has at least assisted on a TFL in each of his nine appearances this season.
Ball Hawk
Isaiah Rodgers recorded a pair of interceptions against Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald, including one returned for a touchdown. He was the first Minuteman with multiple interceptions in the same game since Khary Bailey-Smith had two against Miami (Ohio) on Oct. 12, 2013. His pick-six was the first since Jackson Porter accomplished the feat at Kent State on Oct. 11, 2014.
Against Mississippi State, Rodgers returned his first pick for six points on the first play of the Bulldogs' opening drive of the second quarter drive. Including the extra point, it put UMass in front, 13-10. He added a second interception during the third quarter, which he returned 30 yards to the Massachusetts 45 yard line.
Whipple Becomes Program's All-Time Wins Leader
With the 44-31 victory over Maine in the 2017 Fenway Gridiron Series, Mark Whipple became the University of Massachusetts' all-time head coaching wins leader in team history with 60 career victories.
Whipple surpassed Vic Fusia (1961-70) for first in UMass football history. Whipple is one of five coaches in team history with at least five winning seasons. Fusia leads the way with eight while Don Brown (2004-08), Harold "Kid" Gore (1919-27), Mel Taube (1931-35) and Whipple each have five.
