University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
FIU
Massachusetts Football Jets South To FIU On Saturday
November 27, 2017 | Football
Minutemen and Panthers kick off from Riccardo Silva Stadium at Noon
| UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS FOOTBALL WEEKLY RELEASE | |
| Game 12 | Massachusetts (4-7 overall) at FIU (7-4) |
| Date | Time | Sat., Dec. 2 | Noon |
| Location | Riccardo Silva Stadium; Miami, Fla. |
| Series History | Massachusetts leads, 2-0. Last meeting: Massachusetts 21, FIU 13; Sept. 17, 2016 |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts | FIU | Conference USA |
| Live Statistics | Sidearm Sports |
| Listen (Online) Listen (Radio) |
105.5 FM WEEI | TuneIn Radio App (Josh Maurer, Peter Brock and Matt Goldstein) 105.5 FM WEEI (Western Mass./Springfield), 95.9 FM WATD (South Shore) & 830 AM WCRN (Worcester) |
| Tickets | 866-UMASS-TIX |
| Watch | CUSA.tv (subscription required) |
| Team Information | Massachusetts | FIU |
| @UMassFootball | @UMassAthletics | @CoachWhipUMass | |
| UMass Football | UMass Athletics | |
Steady Targets
Two Massachusetts receivers sport catch streaks of 20 or more games through the opening 11 contests of the season. Andy Isabella sits at 23 consecutive games (12 in 2016; 11 in 2017) while Adam Breneman is at 22 consecutive games (12 in 2016; 10 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 four teams with a pair of receivers on the list. It also includes Clemson (Deon Cain, Hunter Renfro), Florida (Antonio Callaway, Brandon Powell) and Illinois (Mike Dudek, Malik Turner).
Young Is Restless In The Backfield
In the last five games, Marquis Young recorded 500 rushing yards over 77 carries (6.5 ypc), including four for touchdowns, during wins over Georgia Southern (10/21), Appalachian State (10/28), Maine (11/11) and BYU (11/18) and the near-upset at No. 21 Mississippi State (11/4). He had more than 100 yards rushing vs. the Eagles, Mountaineer 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 ahead of his 19-carry, 123-yard, one-touchdown day vs. Maine. His last outing featured 53 yards over 19 rushing attempts at BYU.
Offense Does Numbers
The Massachusetts offense is averaging 36.8 points per game over the last six contests, with 50 against Ohio, 58 versus Georgia Southern, 30 in the win over Appalachian State, 23 at Mississippi State, 44 versus Maine and 16 in the win at BYU. The 50 points against Ohio were the most of the FBS era for the team until UMass posted 58 in their next time on the field.
In that span, the run game averaged 161.7 yards per game, led by 92.7 by Marquis Young and 43.0 from Bilal Ally. Young had four touchdowns and averaged 6.1 yards per carry in that span while Ally totaled three scores and hit for 4.4 yards per attempt. Andrew Ford and Ross Comis are a combined 131-for-217 (.604) with 15 touchdowns against three interceptions. Six receivers have more than 150 receiving yards in that span as well, led by Andy Isabella's 573 on 35 receptions (16.4 per catch).
Take It To The House
Lee Moses became the second Minuteman in as many games with an interception returned for a touchdown, when Moses took a pick 70 yards for the score at the Fenway Gridiron Series meeting with Maine on Nov. 11. It followed Isaiah Rodgers' 29-yard pick-six at No. 21 Mississippi State one week prior.
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.
