Massachusetts Falls 41-28 To Miami (OH) In Home Opener

AMHERST, Mass.– The University of Massachusetts football team opened the home schedule, faltering to Miami University (Ohio) 41-28 at McGuirk Alumni Stadium after a near six-hour cumulative severe weather delay.

The game was kicked off by a ceremonial coin toss from UMass chancellor, Javier Reyes.

In his first career FBS start, quarterback Carlos Davis was 22-for-32 in the passing game, throwing for 244 yards and three touchdowns. Davis threw for an impressive 69% completion percentage, while recording a 163.7 quarterback rating.

Junior quarterback Brady Olson made his 2023-24 season debut midway through the fourth quarter.

Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams led UMass' offensively on the ground with 57 yards of his own on 16 rushing attempts.

George Johnson III hauled in a team-high seven receptions, accumulating 50 yards and a touchdown. Greg Desrosiers Jr. followed behind with 40 total yards off of one reception and three rushing attempts, while Mark Pope paced the Minutemen with four receptions for 70 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown reception.

Dashaun Jerkins tallied his first touchdown and interception as a Minuteman, adding three total tackles and a pass break up.

Defensively, Jerkins pulled down a pick six, one of two turnovers recovered on the game. Gerrell Johnson led UMass in tackles, (8) while Billy Wooden added a forced fumble and fumble recovery.

How It Happened

The RedHawks came out with a quick four-play scoring drive to take a 7-0 lead. After the game's second severe weather delay, Miami answered back with pair of touchdowns to complete the first quarter, highlighted by a 99-yard reception by the RedHawks' Gage Larvadain.

Deshaun Jerkins put the Minutemen on the board to start the second quarter. Jerkins picked off a deflection at the UMass 37-yard line, to rush for a 63-yard touchdown; his first interception and touchdown with UMass.

Miami's Larvadain collected his third touchdown on the day in a six-play drive to close the first half, 28-7.

UMass tightened the contest with quarterback Carlos Davis completing a 32-yard touchdown pass to Greg Desrosiers Jr. in a brisk 2:17, five-play drive.

Continuing off this momentum, the Minutemen cut the Redhawks lead to seven in the waning minutes of the third quarter. Mark Pope caught Davis' 50-yard touchdown pass to sew up the nine-play, five-minute drive for a 28-21 score.

The RedHawks added a field goal capping off a 2:32, six-play drive late in the third quarter.

Billy Wooden kick started the final frame with a forced fumble and recovery after Miami (OH) quarterback, Brett Gabbert's sack. The play catapulted the Minutemen to an efficient two-play, 43 second drive, highlighted by a five-yard touchdown pass caught by George Johnson III.

Miami (OH) responded immediately with a 69-yard completion to Gage Larvadain. Larvadain fumbled the ball into the endzone, which was recovered by Cade McDonald for a RedHawks touchdown, extending their lead to 38-28.

The RedHawks made it 41-28, converting a 44-yard field goal with 3:32 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Notes

Billy Wooden and Josh Atwood served as the Massachusetts captains.
The start of the game was delayed two hours due to lightning within an eight-mile radius of the stadium with the game officially kicking off at 5:39 p.m.
The game was stopped with 2:42 left in the first quarter due to an additional lighting strike within eight miles.
The game resumed at 9:42 p.m. for a 3:38 delay.
Redshirt senior quarterback Carlos Davis made his first start with the Minutemen.
Tyler Rudolph's first quarter interception was the third of his career (first of the season).
Dashaun Jerkins posted his fifth career interception and first at UMass (3 INT's with Vanderbilt, 1 INT with Ole Miss).
It was the second pick six of the season for UMass, with Isaiah Rutherford having returned an interception for a TD at New Mexico State.
Greg Desrosiers Jr. caught his first career receiving touchdown (third career touchdown overall).
Mark Pope caught his fifth career receiving touchdown and first at UMass (four at Miami).
Billy Wooden recorded his third forced fumble and fumble recovery over his five-year UMass career.
George Johnson III recorded his second career receiving touchdown.
Junior quarterback Brady Olson made his first appearance of the season midway through the fourth quarter.

Next Up
The Minutemen head to Ypsilanti, Michigan, to take on Eastern Michigan at 2 p.m., on Saturday, September 16 on ESPN+.

Scoreboard

Next Event

Team Stats

Carlos Davis

Brady Olson

Players Mentioned

Josh Atwood

Carlos Davis

Greg Desrosiers Jr.

Gerrell Johnson

George Johnson III

Brady Olson

Mark Pope

Tyler Rudolph

Isaiah Rutherford

Billy Wooden

Players Mentioned

Josh Atwood

Carlos Davis

Greg Desrosiers Jr.

Gerrell Johnson

George Johnson III

Brady Olson

Mark Pope

Tyler Rudolph

Isaiah Rutherford

Billy Wooden

Scoreboard

University of Massachusets Athletics