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University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
2-9 , 0-0
Georgia
9-2 , 6-2
UMass Outlasted At #10 Georgia
November 23, 2024 | Football
Jalen John had a 68-yard run in the third quarter.
ATHENS, Ga. – University of Massachusetts football dropped a 59-21 decision at No. 8/10 Georgia on Saturday afternoon at Sanford Stadium (93,033).
The Minutemen scored on the game's opening drive for a 7-0 lead and Jakobie Keeney-James made a 75-yard highlight reel touchdown grab to make it a 31-21 game in the third quarter, but the Bulldogs were able to pull away for their ninth win of the season.
Massachusetts out gained the Bulldogs on the ground 226-208 with Jalen John rushing for 107 yards and a touchdown and CJ Hester adding 74 rushing yards and a touchdown as well.
It marked the first time Georgia had given up at least 225 yards rushing since Oct. 13, 2018 versus LSU and the 166 rushing yards UMass posted in the first half were the most Georgia has given up in a first half since 2013.
Both Ahmad Haston and AJ Hairston played at quarterback for the Minutemen. Haston was 1-for-1 in the passing game and rushed the ball three times for 50 yards. Hairston was 7-for-16 passing for 121 yards and the touchdown to Keeney-James.
Jalen Stewart led the defense with seven tackles, while Jalen Harrell and Tyler Martin each had six.
How It Happened
The Minutemen took the opening kick and put together a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive capped by a one-yard touchdown run by C.J. Hester. The other big play on the drive, which took 5:45, was a 38-yard rush by Ahmad Haston.
Georgia answered right back to make it 7-7 at 5:05 of the first quarter on a 17-yard Oscar Delp catch. The scoring drive also covered 75-yards.
On the next drive, UMass moved deep into UGA territory, but an offensive pass interference call against the Minutemen and a Georgia sack knocked the Minutemen out of field goal range and forced a punt. Georgia then drove down the field and scored on a fourth-and-four to take the 14-7 lead at 10:30 of the second quarter.
The Bulldogs took over with a short field after a UMass fumble on their first play of the ensuing drive, and then scored three plays later for a 21-7 lead at 8:56.
The Minutemen put together another 75-yard touchdown drive with Jalen Johns' three-yard rushing TD making it a 21-14 game with 1:55 left in the half. Dom Mazotti had a quarterback sneak on a fourth-and-one to setup the John touchdown.
But Georgia added another touchdown to move it to 28-14 at halftime and then the Bulldogs took the opening possession of the second half and turned it into a 53-yard field goal and a 31-14 lead.
Jakobie Keeney-James made the highlight reel grab in double coverage and found the endzone at 12:53 of the third quarter, cutting the lead to 31-21. The 75-yard completion was the longest of his career and marked his fifth receiving touchdown of the season. It also tied for the longest pass the Georgia defense has given up this season.
Nate Frazier scored the game's final three touchdowns on the ground for the Bulldogs as he finished with 136 yards on the day and to make the final score 59-21.
Notes
- For the 11 consecutive game, Josh Atwood, Te'Rai Powell and Tyler Rudolph served as Massachusetts captains (Taisun Phommachanh also served as a captain for games 1-9 before being injured).
- CJ Hester's one-yard touchdown run on the game's first drive marked his third rushing touchdown of the season/with UMass and the fifth of his career.
- Ahmad Haston's 38-yard run on the first drive tied for the longest rush Georgia had given up to that point, which was then topped by a 68-yard carry by Jalen John.
- Jakobie Keeney-James had a 75-yard touchdown grab to mark the longest catch of his career and it was his fifth touchdown catch of the season and the ninth of his career.
- That touchdown also tied for the longest pass Georgia has given up this season.
- UMass was the first team to post at least 225 yards rushing against the Bulldogs since Nov. 13, 2018 (LSU).
Next Up
Massachusetts closes the season with a noon home game against UConn on Saturday, Nov. 30 (tickets).
Team Stats
MAS 7, UGA 0
MAS - Hester,CJ 1 yd run (Lurie,Jacob kick), 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 05:45
MAS 7, UGA 7
UGA - Delp,Oscar 17 yd pass from Beck,Carson (Woodring,Peyton kick) 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:10
MAS 7, UGA 14
UGA - Jones,Cash 8 yd pass from Beck,Carson (Woodring,Peyton kick) 6 plays, 90 yards, TOP 02:46
MAS 7, UGA 21
UGA - Lovett,Dominic 15 yd pass from Beck,Carson (Woodring,Peyton kick) 3 plays, 28 yards, TOP 01:15
MAS 14, UGA 21
MAS - John,Jalen 3 yd run (Lurie,Jacob kick), 14 plays, 75 yards, TOP 07:01
MAS 14, UGA 28
UGA - Smith,Arian 34 yd pass from Beck,Carson (Woodring,Peyton kick) 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:12
MAS 14, UGA 31
UGA - Woodring,Peyton 53 yd field goal 7 plays, 45 yards, TOP 01:48
MAS 21, UGA 31
MAS - Keeney-James,Jakobie 75 yd pass from Hairston,AJ (Lurie,Jacob kick) 2 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:15
MAS 21, UGA 38
UGA - Frazier,Nate 9 yd run (Woodring,Peyton kick), 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:09
MAS 21, UGA 45
UGA - Frazier,Nate 15 yd run (Woodring,Peyton kick), 13 plays, 60 yards, TOP 06:16
MAS 21, UGA 52
UGA - Frazier,Nate 2 yd run (Woodring,Peyton kick), 8 plays, 65 yards, TOP 03:31
MAS 21, UGA 59
UGA - Cole,Chris 28 yd fumble recovery (Woodring,Peyton kick)
