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University of Massachusets Athletics
Friday, November 20
Boca Raton, Fla.
8 p.m.
University of Massachusetts
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FAU
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Massachusetts
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UMass Football Defense Shines In Loss At FAU
November 21, 2020 | Football
Minutemen post most TFLs in team’s FBS history, record six sacks
BOCA RATON, Fla. – University of Massachusetts football defense reset the team's FBS record with 14.0 tackles for loss and notched six sacks at Florida Atlantic University; however, it was not enough as the Minutemen fell to the Owls, 24-2 at FAU Stadium on Friday evening.
Seven players combined for the 14.0 TFLs as the entire UMass defense frequented the FAU backfield throughout the night. Senior Jake Byczko and redshirt senior Avien Peah each posted 3.0 TFLs for 13 and 10 yards, respectively. Redshirt sophomore Uchenna Ezewike added 2.5 TFLs, including a seven-yard sack, and forced a fumble.
The 14.0 TFLs are also tied for the second-most across all of FBS this season. It is the highest single-game total at UMass since Sept. 27, 2003 when Massachusetts posted 15.0 TFLs against James Madison.
Cole McCubrey led the defense with 11 total tackles, which also included a five-yard sack among 1.5 TFLs. It marked McCubrey's fourth career game with 10 or more tackles – all accomplished in the last two seasons.
Tanner Davis, a sophomore, spearheaded the distruption by the seconday unit with 1.5 TFLs among his six total tackles and he blocked an FAU punt through the back of the endzone for a team safety.
Four Minuteman defenders notched a pass breakup each in true-freshmen Gerrell Johnson and Cody Jones, sophomore Josh Wallace and redshirt sophomore Noah Boykin. Johnson also had a nine-yard sack while Boykin forced a fumble.
Freshman Will Koch started at quarterback and went 12-for-22 with 67 passing yards while he added 16 rushing yards over eight carries. Redshirt freshman Garrett Dzuro stepped into the lineup late in the game and finished 2-of-7 for 23 yards. Sophomore wide receiver Jermaine "OC" Johnson, Jr. hauled in a game-high six passes covering 42 yards. Ellis Merriweather led the ground game with 48 yards on 11 carries.
Defense dictated the first half as each team's respective group stymied the offensive production of its opponent. For the Minutemen, Ezewike provided the spark with 2.0 TFLs, including a strip-sack. Overall, Massachusetts had 5.0 TFLs, three pass breakups and two forced fumbles in the half while it limited FAU to 143 total offensive yards.
Ezewike set the tone early in the quarter when, on 3rd-and-10 at the UMass 40, Ezewike crashed into the FAU backfield from his spot on the left edge and knocked down an unaware Javion Posey. Ezewike's blind-side hit forced the ball out and Lindsey dove on it at the UMass 47 yard line to get the ball back to the offense.
FAU broke open the game during the third quarter with back-to-back scoring drives that pushed the Owls' lead to 21-0 late in the frame. Nick Tronti found Brandon Robinson from 13 yards out with six minutes, 47 seconds to go in the frame before Posey scampered 70 yards for the three-score lead less than three minutes later.
Davis put UMass on the board near the end of the third quarter when the sophomore broke through the FAU formation and turned aside a Matt Hayball punt from the endzone with 1:55 to go in the frame.
The Massachusetts defense continued to provide big plays behind the FAU line of scrimmage throughtout the fourth quarter, but the offense was unable to break through against the Owls' defensive front. The Minutemen had 6.0 TFLs (4.0 sacks) in the quarter alone.
Massachusetts plays its final game currently scheduled for the 2020 season at Liberty on Fri., Nov. 27. Kickoff in Lynchburg, Virginia, is set for Noon and the game will air on ESPN3.
Follow UMass football on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@UMassFootball).
Seven players combined for the 14.0 TFLs as the entire UMass defense frequented the FAU backfield throughout the night. Senior Jake Byczko and redshirt senior Avien Peah each posted 3.0 TFLs for 13 and 10 yards, respectively. Redshirt sophomore Uchenna Ezewike added 2.5 TFLs, including a seven-yard sack, and forced a fumble.
The 14.0 TFLs are also tied for the second-most across all of FBS this season. It is the highest single-game total at UMass since Sept. 27, 2003 when Massachusetts posted 15.0 TFLs against James Madison.
Cole McCubrey led the defense with 11 total tackles, which also included a five-yard sack among 1.5 TFLs. It marked McCubrey's fourth career game with 10 or more tackles – all accomplished in the last two seasons.
Tanner Davis, a sophomore, spearheaded the distruption by the seconday unit with 1.5 TFLs among his six total tackles and he blocked an FAU punt through the back of the endzone for a team safety.
Four Minuteman defenders notched a pass breakup each in true-freshmen Gerrell Johnson and Cody Jones, sophomore Josh Wallace and redshirt sophomore Noah Boykin. Johnson also had a nine-yard sack while Boykin forced a fumble.
Freshman Will Koch started at quarterback and went 12-for-22 with 67 passing yards while he added 16 rushing yards over eight carries. Redshirt freshman Garrett Dzuro stepped into the lineup late in the game and finished 2-of-7 for 23 yards. Sophomore wide receiver Jermaine "OC" Johnson, Jr. hauled in a game-high six passes covering 42 yards. Ellis Merriweather led the ground game with 48 yards on 11 carries.
Defense dictated the first half as each team's respective group stymied the offensive production of its opponent. For the Minutemen, Ezewike provided the spark with 2.0 TFLs, including a strip-sack. Overall, Massachusetts had 5.0 TFLs, three pass breakups and two forced fumbles in the half while it limited FAU to 143 total offensive yards.
Ezewike set the tone early in the quarter when, on 3rd-and-10 at the UMass 40, Ezewike crashed into the FAU backfield from his spot on the left edge and knocked down an unaware Javion Posey. Ezewike's blind-side hit forced the ball out and Lindsey dove on it at the UMass 47 yard line to get the ball back to the offense.
FAU broke open the game during the third quarter with back-to-back scoring drives that pushed the Owls' lead to 21-0 late in the frame. Nick Tronti found Brandon Robinson from 13 yards out with six minutes, 47 seconds to go in the frame before Posey scampered 70 yards for the three-score lead less than three minutes later.
Davis put UMass on the board near the end of the third quarter when the sophomore broke through the FAU formation and turned aside a Matt Hayball punt from the endzone with 1:55 to go in the frame.
The Massachusetts defense continued to provide big plays behind the FAU line of scrimmage throughtout the fourth quarter, but the offense was unable to break through against the Owls' defensive front. The Minutemen had 6.0 TFLs (4.0 sacks) in the quarter alone.
Massachusetts plays its final game currently scheduled for the 2020 season at Liberty on Fri., Nov. 27. Kickoff in Lynchburg, Virginia, is set for Noon and the game will air on ESPN3.
Follow UMass football on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@UMassFootball).
Team Stats
UMASS
FAU
Total Yards
147
368
Pass Yards
85
228
Rushing Yards
62
140
Penalty Yards
69
20
1st Downs
8
16
3rd Downs
3
7
4th Downs
0
2
TOP
25:10
34:50
1st Quarter
UMASS 0, FAU 7
FAU - EMMONS, BJ 1 yd run (RIVAS, Vladimir kick), 8 plays, 57 yards, TOP 3:04
3rd Quarter
UMASS 0, FAU 14
FAU - ROBINSON, B 13 yd pass from TRONTI, Nick (RIVAS, Vladimir kick) 15 plays, 65 yards, TOP 8:13
UMASS 0, FAU 21
FAU - POSEY, Javion 70 yd run (RIVAS, Vladimir kick), 1 plays, 70 yards, TOP 0:13
UMASS 2, FAU 21
UMASS - TEAM 9 yd safety
4th Quarter
UMASS 2, FAU 24
FAU - RIVAS, Vladimir 30 yd field goal 5 plays, 53 yards, TOP 1:53
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
Players Mentioned
DB
/ FootballDL
/ FootballS
/ FootballQB
/ FootballDL
/ FootballLB
/ FootballDB
/ FootballLB
/ FootballRB
/ FootballDL
/ FootballCB
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