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University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
2-4
Ohio
2-2
Massachusetts Football Upended At Ohio
September 29, 2018 | Football
Isabella posts 12 receptions, 198, three touchdowns; Rodgers tallies 13 tackles, interception
Andrew Ford finished the game 27-of-38 for 355 yards passing and four touchdowns while Ross Comis was 3-for-5 with 55 yards and one touchdown.
Isabella, making his return to his home state, set career bests with his receptions and receiving yards. His 12 receptions rank tied for the ninth-most in a single game in team history. The 198 receiving yards stands tied for the fourth-most alongside Rasheed Rancher (198, Fordham, 2007).
Sadiq Palmer added six receptions for 98 yards, including a score while Zak Simon had three catches covering 57 yards and Samuel Emilus made his first two collegiate receptions for 29 yards and a touchdown.
Isaiah Rodgers posted 13 tackles, a career high, and had 2.0 TFLs for seven yards lost. He added two pass breakups and a 55-yard interception returned for a touchdown. Bryton Barr eclipsed double-digits as well with 11 stops, including an assisted-TFL.
Ford returned to the starting lineup at quarterback after he missed the win over Charlotte due to injury and put together a six-play, 75-yard series that resulted in an early 7-0 advantage for the Minutemen. Isabella hauled in an over-the-shoulder grab and tiptoed inside the front-left pylon for the points only one minute, 41 seconds into the game.
Four plays later, Rodgers doubled the advantage when he picked off Ohio quarterback Nathan Rourke and raced the ball back 55 yards for his second collegiate interception returned for a touchdown.
However, the Ohio offense settled in following the interception en route to a 35-28 lead at the half.
Massachusetts offset Ohio's first scoring drive as Isabella added his second touchdown catch of the game and made it 21-7 with 5:28 remaining in the first quarter. The Bobcats followed with three consecutive touchdown drives as Ohio went in front 28-21.
Palmer snapped the run when the junior wide receiver snagged a four-yard reception from Ford on the end of a 16-play, 90-yard series. It marked Palmer's first touchdown catch of the season.
The Bobcats ended the half with another score as A.J. Ouellette pulled in a 14-yard pass from Rourke and ran in for the touchdown with five seconds remaining.
Isabella collected his career-high-tying third touchdown reception of the game in the third quarter and Samuel Emilus earned his first career touchdown on a 19-yard catch in the fourth, but Ohio's offense strung together five scoring series to distance itself.
Massachusetts plays at home next with a game against USF at McGuirk Alumni Stadium on Sat., Oct. 6.
It marks the Hall of Fame Game, during which Massachusetts will celebrate its 2018 Hall of Fame inductions, Jennifer Butler (women's basketball), James Ihedigbo (football), Zack Simmons (men's soccer), Norm Smith (men's lacrosse) and the 1998 I-AA National Championship-winning football team.
The contest against USF will also be the team's Breast Cancer Awareness Game. All breast cancer survivors receive a complimentary ticket to the contest.
Follow Massachusetts football on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@UMassFootball).
Team Stats
UMASS 7, OHIO 0
UMASS - ISABELLA, Andy 39 yd pass from FORD, Andrew (GARCIA, Cooper kick) 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:41
UMASS 14, OHIO 0
UMASS - RODGERS, Isaiah 55 yd interception (GARCIA, Cooper kick)
UMASS 14, OHIO 7
OHIO - WHITE, P. 19 yd pass from ROURKE, N. (ZERVOS, L. kick) 8 plays, 60 yards, TOP 4:39
UMASS 21, OHIO 7
UMASS - ISABELLA, Andy 37 yd pass from COMIS, Ross (GARCIA, Cooper kick) 3 plays, 69 yards, TOP 0:49
UMASS 21, OHIO 14
OHIO - ROURKE, N. 2 yd run (ZERVOS, L. kick), 7 plays, 68 yards, TOP 3:08
UMASS 21, OHIO 21
OHIO - IRONS, M. 16 yd run (ZERVOS, L. kick), 5 plays, 44 yards, TOP 1:38
UMASS 21, OHIO 28
OHIO - WHITE, P. 12 yd pass from ROURKE, N. (ZERVOS, L. kick) 8 plays, 88 yards, TOP 4:33
UMASS 28, OHIO 28
UMASS - PALMER, Sadiq 4 yd pass from FORD, Andrew (GARCIA, Cooper kick) 16 plays, 90 yards, TOP 5:45
UMASS 28, OHIO 35
OHIO - OUELLETTE, A. 14 yd pass from ROURKE, N. (ZERVOS, L. kick) 9 plays, 78 yards, TOP 1:52
UMASS 28, OHIO 42
OHIO - OUELLETTE, A. 49 yd run (ZERVOS, L. kick), 4 plays, 85 yards, TOP 2:38
UMASS 35, OHIO 42
UMASS - ISABELLA, Andy 55 yd pass from FORD, Andrew (GARCIA, Cooper kick) 1 plays, 55 yards, TOP 0:08
UMASS 35, OHIO 45
OHIO - ZERVOS, L. 36 yd field goal 8 plays, 62 yards, TOP 4:44
UMASS 35, OHIO 52
OHIO - IRONS, M. 6 yd run (ZERVOS, L. kick), 5 plays, 67 yards, TOP 2:27
UMASS 35, OHIO 55
OHIO - ZERVOS, L. 22 yd field goal 8 plays, 50 yards, TOP 4:03
UMASS 42, OHIO 55
UMASS - EMILUS, Samuel 19 yd pass from FORD, Andrew (GARCIA, Cooper kick) 6 plays, 70 yards, TOP 2:04
UMASS 42, OHIO 58
OHIO - ZERVOS, L. 25 yd field goal 7 plays, 64 yards, TOP 2:57
