.png&type=webp)
University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Wagner
Massachusetts Football Hosts Wagner On Saturday
October 21, 2024 | Football
Minutemen and Seahawks kickoff at 3:30 p.m. at McGuirk Alumni Stadium on ESPN+.
| University of Massachusetts Football Game Notes & Information | |
| Game 8 | Massachusetts (1-6) vs. Wagner (4-4) |
| Date | Time | Saturday, October 26 | 3:30 p.m. |
| Location | Amherst, Mass. | McGuirk Alumni Stadium |
| Series History | Massachusetts leads, 2-0-0 Last Meeting | Oct. 29, 2016 | McGuirk Alumni Stadium, Amherst, Mass. | Massachusetts 34, Wagner 10 |
| Game Notes & Team Information | Massachusetts: Game Notes | Game Program | Record Book Wagner: Game Notes |
| Watch | ESPN+ |
| Listen | WHMP 101.5 FM, 1240AM & 1400AM | WCRN 830 AM App: Download The Varsity Sports Network on your mobile device |
| Live Statistics | StatBroadcast |
| @UMassFootball | @FBCoachDBrown | |
| UMass Football | |
| UMass Football | |
AMHERST, Mass. -- University of Massachusetts football welcomes Wagner to McGuirk Alumni Stadium on Saturday, October 26. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
SERIES HISTORY
In a series that dates back to 1931, Massachusetts and Wagner have met twice, with UMass holding the all-time series edge 2-0, with both games having been played at home.
The teams most recently met on Oct. 29, 2016, with the Minutemen prevailing 34-10. Quarterback Andrew Ford led the Minutemen with 355 passing yards and three touchdowns on the day.
The Minutemen (then the "Aggies") also won game one of the series, 77-0, on Nov. 13, 1931. All-time great Lou Bush tied for the most touchdowns in a single game with five in that win, as well as the most points scored in a single game (30 points). The Minutemen set the school record for touchdowns (12) and tied the program record for points in a game (77) while also setting the record for scoring margin (+77).
QUICK HITS
Massachusetts ranks tied for 51st in FBS (of 133 ranked) in total defense, allowing 343.7 yards per game.
The Minutemen rank ninth in the country in average time of possession (33:20).
The Minutemen are tied for 21st in FBS with six turnovers lost on the season (four interceptions and two fumbles lost).
Taisun Phommachanh ranks 57th in FBS in total offense, averaging 237.7 yards per game. Phommachanh also ranks 65th with 1,412 passing yards this season.
In the NCAA's toughest schedule metric, UMass ranks tied for 55th (only accounts for games played thus far). According to ESPN.com, the Minutemen's remaining Strength of Schedule ranks 34th.
Five Minutemen have rushed for a touchdown this season, including CJ Hester (2), Taisun Phommachanh (1), Jalen John (1), Brandon Campbell (1) and Jackson Paradis (1).
Trivia: Entering week nine (Oct. 21-27), UMass is the most recent team to defeat currently undefeated Army West Point (21-14 on Oct. 28, 2023 at Michie Stadium) and the most recent team to defeat now Vanderbilt starting quarterback Diego Pavia in a home game (41-30 on Aug. 26, 2023 when he started for New Mexico State at Aggie Memorial Stadium).
Wagner head coach Tom Masella previously served two stints as the UMass defensive coordinator in 2002-03 and 2014-16
PASS DEFENSE
The Massachusetts defense is holding opponents to 172.0 passing yards per game, which ranks 18th in FBS, just behind No. 17 Rice (169.3) and ahead of No. 19 Houston (173.9).
The Minutemen posted four pass breakups against CCSU, marking their third game of the season with at least four pass breakups (also had vs. Eastern Michigan on Aug. 31 and nine at Toledo on Sept. 7).
Massachusetts has totaled 21 pass breakups on the season, led by Tyler Rudolph (3) and Time Grant-Randall (3).
Isaiah Rutherford came up with UMass' most recent interception when he picked off Ethan Hampton of Northern Illinois on Oct. 5 for his first pick of the season and second of his career.
Jalen Harrell (at Miami on Sept. 28) and Ryan Barnes (vs. CCSU on Sept. 21) have each recorded their first career interceptions this season.
MINUTEMAN IN MEMORIAM: GREG LANDRY
Former Massachusetts all-time great quarterback Greg Landry passed away on Friday, Oct. 4 at 77 years old. Behind Landry's golden arm and running ability, UMass won two Yankee Conference Championships in his three seasons as a starter. Landry led UMass in passing all three of his seasons and led the Minutemen in both rushing and scoring in 1965 and 1967.
The Detroit Lions selected Landry with the 11th pick of the 1968 NFL draft and he went on have a successful 14-year pro career with the Lions and the Baltimore Colts from 1968-81. He then spent two seasons in the USFL before returning to the NFL to play one game for the Chicago Bears.
Landry was an All-Pro for the Lions in 1971 and started for the NFC in the Pro Bowl. He totaled 16,052 passing yards in his NFL career with 98 touchdowns and 103 interceptions. He also gained more than 2,600 yards on the ground with 21 TDs. In 1976, he earned the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year award after passing for 2,191 yards and 17 TDs.
Landry served as an assistant coach for his former team, the Detroit Lions, after spending several years on the coaching staff at the University of Illinois. He was the offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears when they won Super Bowl XX.
Landry was one of six Minutemen named to the Yankee Conference 50th Anniversary team, announced in June of 1996, and he was inducted into the UMass Athletics Hall of Fame in 1980.
POWER FOUR TRANSFERS FOR 2024
Massachusetts added 14 transfers into the program with previous power four experience:
Owen Anderson - Illinois
Brandon Campbell - Houston/USC
Sterling Galban - Texas Tech
Mao Glynn II - Cincinnati
Jaylen Hudson - Wake Forest
Frank Ladson Jr. - Miami/Clemson
Jaelyn Lay - Clemson
Jacob Lurie - Vanderbilt
Brandon McElroy - Arizona State
Etinosa Reuben - Georgia Tech/Clemson
Brayden Rohme - California
Benjamin Roy Jr. - UCLA
Sam Staruch - Michigan\
Paul Tchio - Georgia Tech/Clemson
Additional players on the 2024 roster who previously joined from the Power Four include:
Ryan Barnes – Notre Dame
John Burton – Arizona
RJ Edwards – Arizona
Jalen Harrell – Miami
Zukudo Igwenagu – Rutgers
Shambre Jackson – Florida State
Jalen John – Arizona
Steven Ortiz – Arizona/Minnesota
Taisun Phommachanh – Clemson/Georgia Tech
Tyler Martin – Arizona
Tyler Rudolph – Penn State
Isaiah Rutherford – Notre Dame
Matt Smith – Duke
Tyson Watson – Michigan State
Jermaine Wiggins Jr. – Arizona
CONTROLLING THE CLOCK
Massachusetts ranks ninth in FBS in average time of possession (33:20), trailing Oregon St. (35:29), Army West Point (34:51), NIU (34:15), Miami (FL) (34:09), Utah (34:07), Syracuse (33:52), Memphis (33:46) and Tulane (33:43).
In total time of possession, UMass ranks 11th (233:21 minutes) but three of the teams ahead of the Minutemen have already played eight games this season (Nevada, N.C. State and Georgia Tech).
MINUTEMEN IN THE NFL
Former cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (2016-19) signed with the Eagles after three seasons with Indianapolis. After working back from a broken hand suffered in the preseason, Rodgers made his season debut against Tampa Bay on Sept. 29 and chipped in with a solo tackle and a blocked kick.
Former running back Ellis Merriweather (2020-22) was elevated to the Packers' active roster from the practice squad ahead of their season opener against the Eagles in São Paulo, Brazil. It was his first career regular season game on an active NFL roster, but he did not appear in the contest.
Former long snapper Evan Deckers (2018-21) won the Tampa Bay Buccaneers job out of camp and made his season debut in week one but was placed on the IR before week five.
Former defensive back Josh Wallace (2019-22) signed with Los Angeles Rams as a free agent after he graduated from UMass and spent his final season of eligibility with Michigan (2023). He made his debut on Oct. 6 against the Packers and totaled a pair of solo tackles. He has two starts on the season and has added a pass defended.
Former offensive lineman Elijah Wilkinson (2013-16) is on the practice squad for the Atlanta Falcons.
The NFL coaching ranks also include a lot of former Minutemen, including Tampa Bay Offensive Coordinator Liam Cohen (2004-08) and Chiefs Defensive Line Coach Joe Cullen (1986-89).
