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University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Maine
UMass Football Hosts Maine for Senior Day
November 10, 2021 | Football
Minutemen and Black Bears kickoff at 12 p.m. at McGuirk Alumni Stadium.
| University of Massachusetts Football Game Notes & Information | |
| Game 10 | Massachusetts (1-8) vs. Maine (4-5) |
| Date | Time | Saturday, November 13 | 12 p.m. |
| Location | Amherst, Mass. | McGuirk Alumni Stadium |
| Tickets | Purchase Tickets Here |
| Game Notes & Team Information | Massachusetts: Game Notes | Game Program | Record Book Maine: Game Notes | Record Book |
| Watch | NESN+ | FloSports |
| 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 Rams are meeting for the 60th time in program history, with UMass holding a 42-17-1 advantage in the all-time series.
The two programs, once CAA foes, have met twice since UMass made the jump to FBS, in 2013 (24-14, Maine) and in 2017 (44-31, UMass).
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 then-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.
The Alpharetta, Georgia native ran for 149 yards on 24 carries at Liberty with two plays for 20+ yards. Out of UMass' eight rushing plays going for 20 or more yards this season, Merriweather has six of them.
Against Rhode Island, Merriweather ran for 118 yards on 30 carries and scored his third touchdown on the ground this season.
Merriweather's new career single game bests (39 attempts, 171 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 683 yards on151 attempts over nine 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 four on the year. It marks the most for a Minuteman since Marquis Young had four in both his sophomore (2016) and junior (2017) campaigns.
BIG PLAYSThrough eight games, UMass already has 35 plays go for 20 or more yards on offense (eight rushes, 20 passes, seven kick returns).
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, at Florida State and at Liberty.
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 23rd in the nation in fumble recoveries.
UMass has at least one takeaway in 29 of the last 35 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, Oct. 2, 2021 vs. Toledo and Nov. 6, 2021 vs. Rhode Island.
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.
COACHING AT THE ALMA MATER
UMass employs two alumni in a full-time coaching role in 2021 in defensive backs coach Jason Tudryn and interim head coach Alex Miller. Tudryn is a 1996 graduate of the University of Massachusetts and is the son of the late-Frank Tudryn, who coached Northampton (Mass.) High School to four Massachusetts Super Bowl appearances in 29 seasons.
Miller developed into one of the most celebrated offensive lineman during his playing days at Massachusetts. His four years starting on the line culminated with multiple first team all-America awards following the team's appearance in the 2006 National Championship Game. Miller cemented his legacy as a durable and reliable centerpiece for the Minutemen with starts in all 50 games played during the 2003-06 seasons
One additional staff member earned a degree from UMass in Chief of Staff Matt Gordon.
ROLE CHANGES
Two returning members of the coaching staff adjusted certain coaching roles prior to the 2021 season and more staff changes were made on Nov. 7:
Dan Carrel
Carrel was a defensive analyst in 2020 and is now the linebackers coach in 2021 - As of Nov. 7, he is now the defensive coordinator/linebackers coach
Jamey McClendon
McClendon was a defensive analyst in 2020 and is now the defensive ends coach in 2021
As of Nov. 7, Walker is now the pass game coordinator /quarterbacks coach
As of Nov. 7, Segler is now the run game coordinator/tight ends coach
