University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Eastern Michigan
Massachusetts Football Kicks Off 2024 Season At McGuirk Against Eastern Michigan On Saturday
August 26, 2024 | Football
Minutemen face the Eagles at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
| University of Massachusetts Football Game Notes & Information | |
| Game 1 | Massachusetts (0-0) vs. Eastern Michigan (0-0) |
| Date | Time | Saturday, August 31 | 3:30 p.m. |
| Location | Amherst, Mass. | McGuirk Alumni Stadium |
| Tickets | Purchase Tickets Here |
| Series History | Eastern Michigan leads, 3-2-0 Last Meeting | Sept. 16, 2023 | Rynearson Stadium, Ypsilanti, Mich. | Eastern Michigan 19, Massachusetts 17 |
| Game Notes & Team Information | Massachusetts: Game Notes | Game Program | Record Book Eastern Michigan: Game Notes | Media Guide |
| 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. -- The 141st season of Massachusetts football kicks off against Eastern Michigan at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 31 in Amherst, Massachusetts, at McGuirk Alumni Stadium in a game that will also be broadcast on ESPN+.
It will mark the 13th FBS season for UMass and its ninth as an independent.
SERIES HISTORY
The Minutemen are 2-3 all-time against Eastern Michigan and it will be the fourth consecutive season the future Mid-American Conference foes will play. It will be EMU's second trip to McGuirk Alumni Stadium.
Last season, the teams met on Sept. 17 at Rynearson Stadium in Ypsilanti, Michigan with the Eagles edging the Minutemen 19-17. Massachusetts scored with 2:42 left in the fourth quarter to take a 17-13 lead but EMU answered with a touchdown with 1:20 remaining. After Eastern Michigan missed the extra point, UMass was unable to get within field goal range as the Eagles held on for the win.
Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams finished with 129 yards rushing to lead the Minutemen, while quarterback Carlos Davis made his second consecutive star. Davis completed 23-of-41 passes for 340 yards and a touchdown but also had three interceptions. He spread the ball around to eight receivers, with Anthony Simpson totaling 101 yards on four catches.
The teams also played a close game at Rynearson Stadium on October 1, 2023, with EMU coming out on top 20-13. Then quarterback Gino Campiotti rushed for 118 yards and two touchdowns while adding 87 yards passing on 8-for-18.
The teams also met during the 2014, 2015 and 2022 seasons. On Sept. 18, 2022, Eastern Michigan earned a 42-28 victory at McGuirk Alumni Stadium. Ellis Merriweather posted his first career 100-yard rushing game in that contest (142 yards on 23 carries).
Prior to the 2022 meeting, the teams played on November 14, 2015 when Massachusetts posted a 28-17 win in Ypsilanti, Michigan. In that win, UMass ran for 330 yards including 200 rushing yards in the first half. Marquis Young led all rushers with 168 yards on 32 carries and he scored UMass' first touchdown of the afternoon.
In the first meeting in series history, the Minutemen posted a 36-14 win on Oct. 18, 2014 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. Shadrach Abrokwah rushed for a career-high 135 yards and four touchdowns. UMass finished with 562 yards of total offense, recorded four sacks.
BORN AND BRED IN THE COMMONWEALTH
This season's rosters features 24 student-athletes from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
2024 - 24
2023 - 25
2022 - 27
2021 - 31
2020 - 29
2019 - 30
2018 - 25
2017 - 27
2016 - 31
SIMP SUPREME
Wideout Anthony Simpson returns for his final season, looking to build off an impressive 2023 campaign – his first with the Minutemen. A 2023 Phil Steele All-Independent First Team selection and College Football Network's All-Independent's Wide Receiver of the Year, Simpson made all 12 starts for the Minutemen last year while totaling 57 receptions for 792 yards and three touchdown catches.
Simpson, a transfer from Arizona, recorded four games with 100-plus yards receiving last season (101 - at Eastern Michigan, 9/16; 104 - vs. New Mexico, 9/23; 140 - vs. Toledo, 10/7; 107 - vs. UConn, 11/25). He also had 11 rushes for 93 yards and a touchdown (at New Mexico State 8/26).
MINUTEMEN ON THE MAP
Two Minutemen in graduate students Frank Ladson Jr. and Dominick Mazotti earned a spot on the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000, as announced in July.
Additionally, Ladson Jr., landed on 2025 Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List, the organization announced in August.
DUDES WITH DEGREES
Thirty-two Minutemen open the season having already earned undergraduate degrees. Seven of the 32 have degrees from UMass including Josh Atwood, Ethan Mottinger, Aaron Beckwith, Zukudo Igwenagu, Te'Rai Powell, Tyler Rudolph and Myles Turner.
Additional players with undergraduate degrees include Will Jones, Luke Painton, Brayden Rohme, Paul Tchio, Sterling Galban, Jakobie Keeney-James, Frank Ladson, Sam Staruch, Dom Mazotti, Jaelyn Lay, Matt Smith, Taisun Phommachanh, Ben Roy, Tim Grant-Randall, Brandon McElroy, Jaylen Hudson, Etinosa Reuben, Macklin Ayers, Leonard St. Gourdin, John Burton, Lake Ellis, Arsheen Jiles, Isaiah Rutherford, Jay Watkins and Jacob Lurie.
COACHING AT THE ALMA MATER
UMass employs two alums in full-time coaching roles in 2024, including assistant head coach/special teams coordinator/defensive lines coach, Ben Albert, and associate head coach/offensive line coach, Alex Miller.
Albert is a 1995 graduate of the University of Massachusetts and was an All-Conference defensive lineman. During the 2002 and 2003 seasons, he served as the inside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator, where he aided the Minutemen to the 2003 Atlantic 10 Conference championship.
Miller developed into one of the most celebrated offensive lineman during his playing days at Massachusetts. His four years starting on the line culminated with multiple first team all-America awards following the team's appearance in the 2006 National Championship Game. Miller cemented his legacy as a durable and reliable centerpiece for the Minutemen with starts in all 50 games played during the 2003-06 seasons
An additional coaching staff member earned a degree from UMass in Graduate Assistant Garrett Dzuro '23.
