Massachusetts Returns Home To Host Toledo Saturday

University of Massachusetts Football Game Notes & Information
Game 5	Massachusetts (0-4) vs. Toledo (2-2)
Date \| Time	Saturday, October 2 \| 12 p.m.
Location	Amherst, Mass. \| McGuirk Alumni Stadium \| New Parking Information \| Gameday 101
Tickets	Purchase Tickets Here
Game Notes & Team Information	Massachusetts: Game Notes \| Game Program \| Record Book Toledo: Game Notes \| Media Guide
Watch	NESN \| FloSports
Listen	WEEI 105.5 FM \| WCRN 830 AM App: Download The Varsity Sports Network on your mobile device
Live Statistics	SIDEARM
Twitter	@UMassFootball \| @CoachWaltBell
Instagram	UMass Football
Facebook	UMass Football

THE SERIES WITH TOLEDO

The Minutemen and Rockets are meeting for the sixth time in program history, with Toledo owning a 4-1 advantage in the all-time series. The teams are meeting for just the second time in Amherst, and first time since 1976.

AIRING IT OUT

Through just four games, UMass quarterbacks have already completed passes to 15 different receivers, led by 12 catches for 181 yards by Rico Arnold.

On Sept. 11 against Boston College, Brady Olson connected with Arnold for a 56-yard touchdown strike, the longest passing touchdown for the Minutemen since Nov. 9, 2019 at Army (Andrew Brito to Kyle Horn). The score was the longest of Arnold's career and his first touchdown since the 2018 season when he was playing at Charlotte.

MOVING THE CHAINS

The Massachusetts offense has shown its ability to move the ball early this season, highlighted by stacking up 519 yards of total offense on Sept. 18 against Eastern Michigan. It was the most total offense in a game since Nov. 3, 2018 in a triple overtime win against Liberty, and the most in regulation against an FBS opponent since Dec. 2, 2017 vs. FIU (548 yards).

UMass also recorded 30 first downs against the Eagles, which hasn't happened since that Liberty game, and hasn't happened in regulation against an FBS opponent since Oct. 21, 2017 against Georgia Southern (33).

ELLIS MERRI' GO 'ROUND

Redshirt 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 will be aided 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 with an undisclosed injury each of the last three weeks, Merriweather has been the go-to back, 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 is the only player on the UMass roster with a 100-yard rushing game to his name.

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's 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.

BIG PLAYS

Through four games, UMass already has 15 plays go for 20 or more yards on offense (five rushes, seven passes, three 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 another against EMU.

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 and Viczaril Alobwede all have recoveries this season for UMass, making the Minutemen tied for 10th in the nation in fumble recoveries.

UMass has at least one takeaway in 26 of the last 30 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 and Sept. 25, 2021 at No. 17/17 Coastal Carolina.

ON THE HUNT

Freshman linebacker Gerrell Johnson had a game-high 13 tackles (five solo, eight assisted) on Sept. 11 against Boston College. He is the only active player on the roster with a 10+ tackle game in his career.

BORN AND BRED IN THE COMMONWEALTH

This season's rosters features 31 student-athletes from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the most since the 2016 season

KEEPING TABS ON AN OLD FRIEND

Redshirt sophomore tight end Josiah Johnson has been hearing the name of a former teammate on the airwaves throughout New England over the last few months. Johnson, formerly a quarterback, attended the Bolles School in Jacksonville, Fla. where he was the backup to current New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones.

Scoreboard

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Players Mentioned

Viczaril Alobwede

Rico Arnold

Javon Batten

Andrew Brito

Uchenna Ezewike

Gerrell Johnson

Josiah Johnson

Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams

Ellis Merriweather

Brady Olson

Avien Peah

Bryson Richardson

Scoreboard

University of Massachusets Athletics