.png&type=webp)
University of Massachusets Athletics
Saturday, November 16
Evanston, Ill.
Noon
University of Massachusetts
1-10
6
at
45
Northwestern
2-8
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Massachusetts
3
3
0
0
6
Northwestern
0
21
3
21
45
Massachusetts Downed At Northwestern In Final Road Game
November 16, 2019 | Football
Minutemen pick off two passes, recover one fumble in loss
EVANSTON, Ill. – University of Massachusetts football wrapped up its final road trip of the season with a 45-6 loss to Northwestern at Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois, on Saturday. The Minutemen return home for the final game of the season next with a Sat., Nov. 23 contest against BYU at McGuirk Alumni Stadium.
Redshirt senior Randall West started under center and finished 19-of-36 for 175 yards passing and one interception. Redshirt sophomore Andrew Brito also saw snaps at quarterback and was 6-for-10 with 52 yards. West and Brito spread the ball around to nine receivers, led by redshirt sophomore Zak Simon's 58 yards over six receptions. Redshirt junior Brennon Dingle followed with four catches for 66 yards. Sadiq Palmer and Cam Roberson also hauled in four passes apiece for 38 and 22 yards, respectively.
Redshirt junior Bilal Ally ran the ball 16 times for 66 yards against the Northwestern defensive front.
Defensively, redshirt junior safety Logan Darby led the team with eight tackles. Massachusetts created three Northwestern turnovers on the game as redshirt sophomore linebacker Xavier Steele and freshman cornerback Josh Wallace hauled in interceptions while junior linebacker Chinedu Ogbonna recovered a Wildcats fumble.
Redshirt senior Cooper Garcia finished 2-for-3 on field goal attempts, including conversions from 23 and 32 yards away.
Aidan Smith finished 7-of-13 for 76 yards with two interceptions at quarterback for Northwestern. All seven receptions went to Riley Lees. Evan Hull carried the Northwestern offense throughout the game to the tune of 24 rushing attempts for 220 yards and four touchdowns. Paddy Fisher paced the Wildcats on defense with nine tackles.
Massachusetts scored first via Garcia's first of two made field goals on the day. After the defense forced a three-and-out, West and Ally's 31-yard rushing play marched UMass into the Northwestern redzone before the drive stalled. Garcia stepped onto the Ryan Field grass and put through a 32-yard attempt for a 3-0 lead with 10 minutes, 44 seconds to go in the opening quarter.
Northwestern used special teams to move in front during the first play of the second quarter as the Wildcats blocked Garcia's next field goal try. Chris Bergin scooped up the bouncing ball and returned it 85 yards for a 7-3 advantage only 13 seconds in the frame.
Supported by four pass plays of 15 or more yards, the Minutemen worked their way into the Northwestern redzone for Garcia's second make of the day. West dolled out passes to Dingle (14 yards), Palmer (16), Roberson (15) and Simon (15), with Dingle's grab putting the ball at the Northwestern 10 yard line. However, Massachusetts was unable to find paydirt and sent Garcia on for a 23-yard conversion.
It marked Garcia's fifth career game with multiple field goals and second of the season following the 3-for-3 effort in the win over Akron on Sept. 28.
The Wildcats pushed the advantage into double digits with back-to-back scores before the half. Hull ran in from six yards out and 38 yards away for the touchdowns and the Wildcats sprinted to the locker room with a 21-6 lead at the break.
Northwestern expanded on its lead in the third and fourth quarters via two Hull touchdowns, a Raymond Niro rushing score and a Charlie Kuhbander 31-yard field goal.
Massachusetts concludes its 2019 season at home with Senior Day against BYU on Sat., Nov. 23. The game will be broadcast live from McGuirk Alumni Stadium on NESN and FloFootball.com at Noon.
Follow Massachusetts football on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@UMassFootball).
Redshirt senior Randall West started under center and finished 19-of-36 for 175 yards passing and one interception. Redshirt sophomore Andrew Brito also saw snaps at quarterback and was 6-for-10 with 52 yards. West and Brito spread the ball around to nine receivers, led by redshirt sophomore Zak Simon's 58 yards over six receptions. Redshirt junior Brennon Dingle followed with four catches for 66 yards. Sadiq Palmer and Cam Roberson also hauled in four passes apiece for 38 and 22 yards, respectively.
Redshirt junior Bilal Ally ran the ball 16 times for 66 yards against the Northwestern defensive front.
Defensively, redshirt junior safety Logan Darby led the team with eight tackles. Massachusetts created three Northwestern turnovers on the game as redshirt sophomore linebacker Xavier Steele and freshman cornerback Josh Wallace hauled in interceptions while junior linebacker Chinedu Ogbonna recovered a Wildcats fumble.
Redshirt senior Cooper Garcia finished 2-for-3 on field goal attempts, including conversions from 23 and 32 yards away.
Aidan Smith finished 7-of-13 for 76 yards with two interceptions at quarterback for Northwestern. All seven receptions went to Riley Lees. Evan Hull carried the Northwestern offense throughout the game to the tune of 24 rushing attempts for 220 yards and four touchdowns. Paddy Fisher paced the Wildcats on defense with nine tackles.
Massachusetts scored first via Garcia's first of two made field goals on the day. After the defense forced a three-and-out, West and Ally's 31-yard rushing play marched UMass into the Northwestern redzone before the drive stalled. Garcia stepped onto the Ryan Field grass and put through a 32-yard attempt for a 3-0 lead with 10 minutes, 44 seconds to go in the opening quarter.
Northwestern used special teams to move in front during the first play of the second quarter as the Wildcats blocked Garcia's next field goal try. Chris Bergin scooped up the bouncing ball and returned it 85 yards for a 7-3 advantage only 13 seconds in the frame.
Supported by four pass plays of 15 or more yards, the Minutemen worked their way into the Northwestern redzone for Garcia's second make of the day. West dolled out passes to Dingle (14 yards), Palmer (16), Roberson (15) and Simon (15), with Dingle's grab putting the ball at the Northwestern 10 yard line. However, Massachusetts was unable to find paydirt and sent Garcia on for a 23-yard conversion.
It marked Garcia's fifth career game with multiple field goals and second of the season following the 3-for-3 effort in the win over Akron on Sept. 28.
The Wildcats pushed the advantage into double digits with back-to-back scores before the half. Hull ran in from six yards out and 38 yards away for the touchdowns and the Wildcats sprinted to the locker room with a 21-6 lead at the break.
Northwestern expanded on its lead in the third and fourth quarters via two Hull touchdowns, a Raymond Niro rushing score and a Charlie Kuhbander 31-yard field goal.
Massachusetts concludes its 2019 season at home with Senior Day against BYU on Sat., Nov. 23. The game will be broadcast live from McGuirk Alumni Stadium on NESN and FloFootball.com at Noon.
Follow Massachusetts football on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@UMassFootball).
Team Stats
UMASS
NU
Total Yards
310
410
Pass Yards
227
76
Rushing Yards
83
334
Penalty Yards
55
0
1st Downs
16
16
3rd Downs
6
7
4th Downs
0
0
TOP
30:08
29:52
1st Quarter
UMASS 3, NU 0
UMASS - GARCIA, Cooper 32 yd field goal 10 plays, 38 yards, TOP 3:16
2nd Quarter
UMASS 3, NU 7
NU - Bergin, Chris 85 yd blocked field goal return (Kuhbander, C kick)
UMASS 6, NU 7
UMASS - GARCIA, Cooper 23 yd field goal 11 plays, 69 yards, TOP 3:30
UMASS 6, NU 14
NU - Hull, Evan 6 yd run (Kuhbander, C kick), 8 plays, 60 yards, TOP 3:11
UMASS 6, NU 21
NU - Hull, Evan 38 yd run (Kuhbander, C kick), 5 plays, 95 yards, TOP 1:38
3rd Quarter
UMASS 6, NU 24
NU - Kuhbander, C 31 yd field goal 4 plays, -1 yards, TOP 1:26
4th Quarter
UMASS 6, NU 31
NU - Hull, Evan 46 yd run (Kuhbander, C kick), 1 plays, 46 yards, TOP 0:12
UMASS 6, NU 38
NU - Hull, Evan 31 yd run (Kuhbander, C kick), 6 plays, 56 yards, TOP 3:04
UMASS 6, NU 45
NU - Niro, Raymond 11 yd run (Luckenbaugh, D kick), 5 plays, 33 yards, TOP 3:27
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
19
TD
0
YDS
175
INT
1
CMP
6
TD
0
YDS
52
INT
0
Players Mentioned
RB
/ FootballQB
/ FootballS
/ FootballWR
/ FootballK/P
/ FootballLB
/ FootballWR
/ FootballWR
/ FootballLB
/ FootballCB
/ FootballQB
/ Football2025 Massachusetts Football - Week 3 (Iowa) Monday Press Conference
Monday, September 08
UMass FB | Joe Harasymiak Post Game Press Conference vs Bryant | 09.06.25
Saturday, September 06
2025 Massachusetts Football - Week 2 (Bryant) Monday Press Conference
Monday, September 01
UMass FB | Jacquon Gibson Postgame Press Conference vs. Temple | 08.30.25
Saturday, August 30