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University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
1-4
Akron
0-5
Massachusetts Football Defeats Akron, 37-29 For Head Coach Walt Bell’s First Win
September 28, 2019 | Football
Curtis throws two touchdowns, runs for another; defense forces three turnovers in victory
"More than anything else I'm just proud of the guys in the locker room," Bell said. "For all they've been through since we got here and the exponential improvements they've made academically, socially, the amount of lives I feel like we've been able to affect in a positive way. That takes great commitment from those kids. They've done anything and everything we've asked them to do at a really high level. I'm just proud of those guys to be able to get a win and a little bit of validation. Culture wins."
Curtis, a redshirt senior, finished 17-of-31 with 173 passing yards while he ran the ball 10 times for 69 yards. Curtis connected with top-target Samuel Emilus (six receptions, 70 yards) for his first TD before he found Sadiq Palmer (three receptions, 20 yards) for the second. Curtis also ran for a two-yard score in the win.
Redshirt junior running back Bilal Ally led the ground attack with 97 yards over 15 carries, an average of 6.5 per touch. In addition to Curtis' total, freshman Kevin Brown added 50 yards over 10 touches.
Junior defensive lineman Jake Byczko led the squad with seven tackles, including 1.0 TFLs. Senior safety Martin Mangram add five stops, including 1.0 TFLs, and a fumble recovery. James Bowe, Jr., and Cole McCubrey also posted five tackles apiece, which Bowe, Jr., tallied a pass breakup.
Rodgers returned his interception 58 yards for the score and added four tackles in the secondary. Fellow cornerback Jordan Adams picked off an Akron pass as well and brought it back 45 yards to the goal line before he was dragged down from behind on a horse-collar tackle.
Cooper Garcia converted on all three of his field goal attempts, a single-game personal best for the redshirt senior kicker. He pushed through attempts from 30, 34 and 38 yards.
Massachusetts led 37-21 following Garcia's final field goal of the evening, a 34-yard make with 13:15 to play in the game. However, Akron marched down the field and cut the deficit to eight when Zach Gibson hit Nate Stewart for the score and the Zips converted their two-point try.
In need of a sustained drive, Massachusetts handed the ball off to Ally nine times for 78 yards, including runs of 26 and 13 yards and four total first downs. Ally carried the squad from the UMass 25 to the Akron two yard line with his effort as the Minutemen sapped the final 5:24 off the Manganaro Family Scoreboard for the victory.
After Akron scored on its opening possession, the Minutemen marched down the field and evened the game at 7-all with 6:57 to go in the first quarter. During the drive, Curtis connected with Britt for a 21 yard gain before an Akron facemask penalty put the ball at the Zips' 13 yard line. Two plays later, Jessie Britt cleared an endzone path for Emilus' first touchdown reception of the year.
The defense pushed Massachusetts in front with 13:12 left in the second quarter when Rodgers stepped in front of a Kato Nelson pass at the UMass 46 yard line and brought it back 58 yards for the score. It was Rodgers' third career interception returned for a touchdown, the most by one player in program history.
The Minutemen extended their lead to 10 when Garcia pushed through a 30-yard attempt with 8:22 to go in the first half; however, Akron cut its deficit to 17-14 when Nelson found Dustin Burkhardt for three yards away with 2:02 left in the quarter.
Massachusetts methodically worked its way downfield for a 20-14 lead at the break. Garcia closed out a 10-play series 95 seconds later when he sent a 38-yard try through the North uprights.
The Minutemen take back to the road for their next two games, beginning with a Sat., Oct. 5 trip to FIU. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Ticket information is available through 866-UMASS-TIX.
Follow Massachusetts football on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@UMassFootball).
Team Stats
AKRON 7, UMASS 0
AKRON - HICKS, Julian 3 yd pass from NELSON, Kato (SMIGEL, Cory kick) 7 plays, 61 yards, TOP 3:22
AKRON 7, UMASS 7
UMASS - EMILUS, Samuel 6 yd pass from CURTIS, Michael (GARCIA, Cooper kick) 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:46
AKRON 7, UMASS 14
UMASS - RODGERS, Isaiah 58 yd interception (GARCIA, Cooper kick)
AKRON 7, UMASS 17
UMASS - GARCIA, Cooper 30 yd field goal 10 plays, 46 yards, TOP 3:50
AKRON 14, UMASS 17
AKRON - BURKHART, D. 3 yd pass from NELSON, Kato (SMIGEL, Cory kick) 13 plays, 75 yards, TOP 6:20
AKRON 14, UMASS 20
UMASS - GARCIA, Cooper 38 yd field goal 10 plays, 37 yards, TOP 1:35
AKRON 14, UMASS 27
UMASS - PALMER, Sadiq 8 yd pass from CURTIS, Michael (GARCIA, Cooper kick) 12 plays, 72 yards, TOP 4:04
AKRON 14, UMASS 34
UMASS - CURTIS, Michael 2 yd run (GARCIA, Cooper kick), 1 plays, 2 yards, TOP 0:05
AKRON 21, UMASS 34
AKRON - BURTON, Michiah 2 yd run (SMIGEL, Cory kick), 7 plays, 80 yards, TOP 2:55
AKRON 21, UMASS 37
UMASS - GARCIA, Cooper 34 yd field goal 7 plays, 49 yards, TOP 3:33
AKRON 29, UMASS 37
AKRON - STEWART, Nate 17 yd pass from GIBSON, Zach (GIBSON, Zach pass) 11 plays, 98 yards, TOP 3:15
