Connecticut Pulls Away Late To Top Massachusetts Football 27-10

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. – Despite a career receiving game by Cameron Sullivan-Brown, the University of Massachusetts football team was stymied on the road, 27-10, by Connecticut at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field (23,430).

Sullivan-Brown totaled a career-high 124 receiving yards, including a career long 53-yard catch for a touchdown, while Ellis Merriweather registered 33 yards on the ground. At quarterback, Brady Olson completed 19-of-34 passes for 266 yards and a touchdown.

On defense, Tyler Rudolph led the Minutemen with 10 tackles (five solo), marking a career-high total. Jalen Mackie followed with nine tackles of his own, including a team-best seven solo tackles. Marcus Cushnie had 1.5 tackles for loss and added one sack. Michael Oppong, Uchenna Ezewike and Josh Wallace all recorded a tackle for loss.

How It Happened

The Minutemen took the opening kickoff and drove down the field, including a 17-yard gain by Isaac Ross, but then an Olson pass that was ruled a fumble behind the line of scrimmage was picked up by a UConn player and returned to the UMass 20. But the Minutemen defense held UConn to a field goal attempt which was missed.

On the ensuing drive, Olson hit Cam Sullivan-Brown for a 45-yard pass that eventually set up a 23-yard field goal by Cameron Carson for a 3-0 UMass lead.

Connecticut answered with a 75-yard Devontae Houston touchdown run.

After a 52-yard attempt from Carson fell just short the first quarter ended with the Huskies on top 7-3.

The Huskies next drive stalled at their six-yard line, but they were able to tack on a field goal for a 10-3 lead with 9:23 left in the second quarter.

Massachusetts responded with a five play, 70-yard drive that ended with Sullivan-Brown catching a 53-yard touchdown reception.

The Huskies added another field goal to make it a 13-10 UConn lead at the half.

After UMass held UConn to a pair of three-and-outs to open the second half, the Huskies were able to breakthrough for a 20-10 lead when Victor Rosa rushed for a five-yard touchdown with 4:55 left in the third quarter.

Massachusetts marched down to the UConn 15 on its next drive, keyed by a 24-yard diving catch by Isaac Ross, but was unable to convert on a field goal attempt.

UConn added to its final tally with a 12-yard rushing touchdown capping off a nine play, 74-yard drive in the fourth quarter.

Notes

Isaac Ross had a career-long 17-yard rush in the first quarter
Cameron Sullivan-Brown recorded a career-high 124 receiving yards
Sullivan-Brown caught a career-long 53-yard reception in the second quarter
Sullivan-Brown became the first 100-plus yard receiver for UMass since Andy Isabella (219) on Nov. 17, 2018 at No. 5 Georgia
Tyler Rudolph tallied a career best 10 tackles, becoming the first Minutemen to have 10 tackles since Gerrell Johnson (14) and Da'Shon Ross (10) on Nov. 20, 2021, at Army.

Coach Brown Quotes

Opening Statement …
"There are no moral victories at UMass and there never will be … but at the same time I thought we took some steps as a football team tonight that we can utilize and move forward and feel like we are going in the right direction. I thought we played hard the whole night."

On the defense and Brady Olson …
"Defensively we had the great stop in the beginning of the game when dealt a tough blow in terms of where the ball was and held them without a field goal and then I thought there was good give and take and good balance. The thing I am most encouraged about is Brady Olson, who did some good things tonight and I think he can take this particular game and build on it and that's what we're looking for."
Next Up

Next weekend, the Minutemen will head to Centennial Bank Stadium in Jonesboro, Arkansas for a 3 p.m. ET game on Saturday, Nov. 12 at Arkansas State (ESPN3).

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