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University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Liberty
UMass Football Heads To Liberty On Saturday
October 27, 2021 | Football
Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. on ESPN3
| University of Massachusetts Football Game Notes & Information | |
| Game 8 | Massachusetts (1-6) vs. Liberty University (6-2) |
| Date | Time | Saturday, October 30 | 12 p.m. |
| Location | Lynchburg, Va. | Williams Stadium |
| Tickets | Purchase Tickets Here |
| Game Notes & Team Information | Massachusetts: Game Notes | Game Program | Record Book Liberty: Game Notes | Record Book |
| Watch | ESPN3 |
| Listen | WEEI 105.5 FM | WCRN 830 AM App: Download The Varsity Sports Network on your mobile device |
| Live Statistics | StatBroadcast |
| @UMassFootball | @CoachWaltBell | |
| UMass Football | |
| UMass Football | |
SERIES HISTORY
The Minutemen and the Flames are meeting for the fourth time in program history, with Liberty holding a 1-2-0 advantage in the all-time series.
The teams are meeting for only the second time in Lynchburg, Va. (Liberty leads, 0-1), as the Minutemen look for their first win over the Flames since 2018.
OLSON DAZZLES IN COLLEGIATE DEBUTWith Tyler Lytle out with an undisclosed injury since starting the season opener at Pitt, Brady Olson stepped in against Boston College to make his first collegiate start, and earned the start in each of the following five games, as well.
Olson was 14-of-29 for 214 yards and three touchdowns, marking the first time a UMass quarterback has thrown for three touchdown passes since Ross Comis on Nov. 3, 2018 against Liberty.
He followed it up with a 22-of-38 performance with two touchdowns and an interception against Eastern Michigan on Sept. 18, as well as a 25-yard reception on a pass thrown by Isaac Ross.
In the win over UConn, Olson completed 10-of-22 passes for 162 yards, including a 49-yard strike to Eric Collins.
Out of 130 FBS schools, there are 20 current starting quarterbacks who are classified as freshmen. Olson is one of eight true freshmen on that list.
ELLIS MERRI' GO 'ROUNDRedshirt junior Ellis Merriweather carried the load in the backfield for the Minutemen in 2020, rushing 42 times for 115 yards (42% of the team's total rushing yards) in his first season after transferring from Garden City Community College.
Merriweather was aided earlier this season by Rutgers transfer Kay'Ron Adams. Adams played two seasons with the Scarlet Knights in 2019 and 2020, compiling 320 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 83 carries in 18 career games, in addition to six catches for 120 yards and a touchdown.
With Adams seeing limited action before being declared out for the season with an ankle injury, Merriweather has been the go-to back yet again, and ran for a career-high 144 yards on 23 carries against Eastern Michigan on Sept. 18. It was the most yards on the ground since Bilal Ally against UConn on Oct. 26, 2019 (159 yards).
Merriweather improved upon that performance with a monster showing in the win over UConn, carrying the ball 39 times for 171 yards and two touchdowns, his first two rushing TDs of his career and first multi-touchdown game.
At Florida State, Merriweather was limited on the ground, but was UMass' top receiver with 65 yards on four catches.
Merriweather's new career single game bests (39 attempts, 71 yards) are more than double his single game highs from last season (16 attempts at Georgia Southern on 10/17/20 and 48 yards at FAU on 11/20/21). He's nearly doubled his average yards per carry and has 416 yards on 97 attempts over seven games compared to 155 yards on 42 attempts in four games in 2020.
Merriweather is the only player on the UMass roster with a 100-yard rushing game to his name and now has two on the year.
TO THE HOUSE! (TWICE)
Josiah Johnson had a pair of touchdowns for Massachusetts on Sept. 18 against Eastern Michigan: a one-yard dash into the end zone in the second quarter before hauling in a 29-yard pass from Brady Olson late in regulation.
He was the first Minuteman with a rushing and a receiving touchdown in the same game against an FBS opponent since Marquis Young on Dec. 2, 2017 vs. FIU.
O-C, TRIPLE OC
After seeing his streak of 17 straight games with a catch come to an end against Boston College on Sept. 11, wide receiver Jermaine "OC" Johnson, Jr. got back on track with a grab against Eastern Michigan and two more at No. 17 Coastal Carolina. He has at least one catch in 20 of his 22 career games.
BALL!
The Minutemen have been quick to pounce on the loose ball so far this season, recording two fumble recoveries in each of the first two games, and one each against EMU, UConn and at Florida State.
It was the first time in the FBS era, and first time overall since 2009, that Massachusetts has logged two fumble recoveries in each of its first two games of the year.
It was also the first time since Oct. 21, 2017 (Georgia Southern) and Oct. 28, 2017 (Appalachian State) that the Minutemen recorded at least two fumble recoveries in consecutive games.
Avien Peah, Uchenna Ezewike, Bryson Richardson, Javon Batten, Viczaril Alobwede and Gerrell Johnson all have recoveries this season for UMass, making the Minutemen tied for 25th in the nation in fumble recoveries.
UMass has at least one takeaway in 28 of the last 33 games dating back to Sept. 8, 2018 at Georgia Southern. The lone exceptions in the span is the Sept. 14, 2019 game against Charlotte, Nov. 7, 2020 at No. 16/15 Marshall, Nov. 27, 2020 at RV/RV Liberty, Sept. 25, 2021 at No. 17/17 Coastal Carolina and Oct. 2, 2021 vs. Toledo.
Gerrell Johnson forced two fumbles at Florida State, the first time a Minuteman did so since Jovan Santos-Knox had two vs. Akron on Nov. 7, 2015.
AVIEN TAKES FLIGHTGraduate defensive lineman Avien Peah had 6.0 TFLs for 18 yards lost among his 19 tackles in 2020 and is the second-leading returning tackler on the team this season behind only Tanner Davis (24).
Peah is tie for third on the team this far this season with 34 tackles (11 solo, 23 assisted), one tackle for loss and one fumble recovery.
Peah converted to defensive end from tight end/fullback ahead of the 2019 season but missed the year due to injury. He played on the defensive front for the first time in 2020 after previously appearing at tight end and fullback as a redshirt freshman and redshirt sophomore in 2017 and 2018.
