Massachusetts Falls To Toledo At McGuirk Alumni Stadium

AMHERST, Mass.– University of Massachusetts football dropped a 41-24 decision to Toledo on Saturday afternoon at McGuirk Alumni Stadium (9,623).

After two closely contested quarters where the Minutemen held the lead going into halftime, the Rockets pulled away in the second half, collecting three touchdowns and a field goal.

Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams continued to dominate the ground game, rushing 20 times for a career-high 157 yards and a touchdown. It marked the most single-game rushing yards for any Minuteman since Ellis Merriweather ran for 171 vs. UConn on Oct. 9, 2021.

Lynch-Adams with his 4th 100-yard rushing game of the season and his 3rd in the last 4 games

10 rushes for 120 yards and a TD ??@Kayronadams22 ?? #Flagship ?? pic.twitter.com/hNxxnNlbN8
— UMass Football (@UMassFootball) October 7, 2023

Anthony Simpson also had a big game through the air, bringing in seven receptions for a career-high 140 yards, marking Simpson's third 100-plus receiving yard game out of the last four.

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The Phommachanh ?? Simpson connection links up for the 71-yard TD!#Flagship ?? pic.twitter.com/kMLQPq71d7
— UMass Football (@UMassFootball) October 7, 2023

George Johnson III contributed 60 yards and a touchdown in the receiving game before exiting with an injury.

Quarterback Taisun Phommachanh, who made his second consecutive start after returning from injury, finished the day 20-of-31 for 272 yards and a career-high two passing touchdowns.

Defensively, Noah Boykin led the squad with seven tackles, five of which were solo. Juan Lua picked up his first career interception in addition to five tackles and two pass breakups.

GIMME DAT! ??

First career INT for Juan Lua and it's UMass ball!#Flagship ?? pic.twitter.com/LEjOhrcMrw
— UMass Football (@UMassFootball) October 7, 2023

How It Happened

Massachusetts received the kickoff to begin action, quickly completing the game's first scoring drive. After Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams' 32-yard rush for a UMass first down, he followed up with a 47-yard dash up the middle and into the endzone to cap the efficient three-minute, six-play opening drive.

Toledo answered back with a drive of their own before the UMass defense limited the Rockets to field goal contention. Toldeo kicker, Luke Pawlak fired a 38-yard field goal, making it 7-3 with 8:34 remaining in the first frame.

The Rocket's Peny Boone spearheaded a subsequent 21-yard scoring run at 3:37, lending Toldeo their first touchdown of the game.

A pair of catches from George Johnson III and Anthony Simpson earned the Minutemen yet another first down in the waning seconds of the first quarter.

Toldeo opened up the second quarter with a 10 play, 80-yard scoring drive elapsing in an eight-yard touchdown connection, making the score 17-7 with the clock reading 8:43.

UMass quarterback, Taisun Phommachanh fired a deep pass to Anthony Simpson for a 71-yard touchdown reception– marking his eighth-passing play of more than 20 yards this season. The brisk one play, nine second drive put Massachusetts within three points of the Rockets, the score 17-14 with 8:26 remaining in the second quarter.

The Minutemen continued their offensive prowl, Johnson III collecting a touchdown of his own off the second scoring pass of Phommachanh. The 31-yard reception marked Johnson III's third career touchdown, providing UMass their first lead of the quarter for a 21-17 score.

Juan Lua picked up the game's first interception at the Toledo 43 to give Massachusetts possession of the ball with 2:54 remaining in the half.

The second quarter concluded with an incomplete 58-yard field goal attempt by UMass' Cameron Carson.

The Rockets launched scoring in the second half of play. Dequan Finn completed a 56-yard rush, making the score 24-21 with 13:53 remaining in the third quarter.

Boone added a second touchdown to his stat line in a 49-yard rush, making the score 31-21 at 10:11.

UMass added to the scoreboard with Carson's career-high 49-yard field goal completion, putting the Minutemen within a touchdown of Toledo.

The visiting team quickly answered back with a scoring drive of their own, earning Toldeo's Jerjuan Newton his second touchdown of the game. The score read 38-24 entering the fourth and final quarter.

Toledo added to their lead by a 36-yard field goal with 11:08 remaining in the game, cementing the final score of 41-24.

Notes

Billy Wooden and Josh Atwood served as the Massachusetts captains for the seventh consecutive game, while quarterback Taisun Phommachanh joined as a game captain versus the Rockets.

With a 47-yard touchdown on the game's opening drive, Kay'ron Lynch-Adams recorded his sixth rushing touchdown of the season and 10th of his career. The play marked his fourth rush of 20-plus yards of the season.
Lynch-Adams broke his career-high rushing yards in a single game record, collecting 157 yards on the day, (his previous single-game record was 129 yards).
Anthony Simpson reeled in a 71-yard touchdown in the second quarter, his third receiving touchdown of the season and his career. The 71-yard catch bested his previous career-high of 67 yards.
Simpson finished with a career-high, 140 yards (his previous career high was 104 versus New Mexico). It was his third 100-yard receiving game of the season.
George Johnson III grabbed a 31-yard touchdown reception at the end of the first half, marking his third receiving touchdown of his career.
The 31-yard reception was the third connection between Phommachanh and Johnson III of 20-plus yards this season and first for a touchdown.
With the 31-yard touchdown, Phommachanh recorded his third passing touchdown of the season and fourth of his career. The play marked his ninth passing play of 20 yards or more this season.
Juan Lua's second-quarter interception was the first of his career.
Cameron Carson hit a career-long, 49-yard field goal in the third quarter (his previous long was 48 yards).

Next Up

The Minutemen head to University Park, Pennsylvania, to take on sixth-ranked Penn State next Saturday at 3:30 p.m. (BTN).

Scoreboard

Next Event

Team Stats

Taisun Phommachanh

Players Mentioned

Josh Atwood

Noah Boykin

Cameron Carson

George Johnson III

Juan Lua

Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams

Ellis Merriweather

Taisun Phommachanh

Anthony Simpson

Billy Wooden

Players Mentioned

Josh Atwood

Noah Boykin

Cameron Carson

George Johnson III

Juan Lua

Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams

Ellis Merriweather

Taisun Phommachanh

Anthony Simpson

Billy Wooden

Scoreboard

University of Massachusets Athletics