University of Massachusets Athletics

Saturday, August 31
Amherst, Mass.
3:30 p.m.

University of Massachusetts

0-1 , 0-0

14
vs
28

Eastern Michigan

1-0 , 0-0

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Eastern Mich.
0
14
3
11
28
Massachusetts
0
0
7
7
14
FB_John_Jalen_TD
Photo by: Chris Tucci - UMass Athletics

Massachusetts Football Drops Season Opener To Eastern Michigan, 28-14

August 31, 2024 | Football

Phommachanh throws for 177 yards and rushes for 57 for the Minutemen.

AMHERST, Mass. – The Massachusetts football team made it a 14-7 game in the second half, but was unable to get any closer, falling 28-14 in its season opener at McGuirk Alumni Stadium (12,810) on Saturday. 

Quarterback Taisun Phommachanh was 20-for-30 with 177 yards through the air and led UMass in rushing with 57, which included a career-best 31-yard run.  

Jalen John ran for 53 yards on 14 carries and picked up his first collegiate touchdown. CJ Hester had 36 yards on the ground and a TD in his UMass debut.  

Derrieon Craig and Te'Rai Powell each had seven tackles to lead the Minutemen and Tim Grant-Randall recorded a pair of pass breakups. 

How It Happened 

UMass' opening drive stalled but punter CJ Kolodziey pinned EMU deep in their own end at the eight-yard line. 

Massachusetts then stopped EMU on their ensuing drive, including a fourth down pass breakup by Tyler Rudolph.  

The Eagles went up 7-0 with 12:47 left in the first half after a 10 play, 97-yard drive capped by a Cole Schnieder quarterback sneak. Eastern Michigan then took a 14-0 lead to the locker room at halftime.  

The Massachusetts defensive came up big to start the third quarter, holding Eastern Michigan to a three-and-out. On the ensuing drive, UMass made it 14-7 game with the scoring drive capped by John's first career touchdown – a one-yard rushing TD with 8:43 left in the third quarter. 

On the next drive, EMU went back up by two scores with a 20-yard field goal by Jesus Gomez, making it a 17-7 margin.  

UMass attempted to answer the Eagles, but their next drive ended in a 46-yard field goal attempt that fell short.  

EMU then went 59 yards over the next seven minutes and converted on a 31-yard kick that brought the score to 20-7. 

The next UMass drive ended in a turnover on downs to give the Eagles a short field, which resulted in EMU's third TD of the day a six-yard rush by Delbert Mimms, III that made it 28-7. 

The Minutemen capped the scoring with a two-yard rush by Hester after UMass went 74 yards in 2 minutes, 37 seconds.  

Notes 

  • Jalen John scored his first career touchdown, a one-yard rushing TD in the third quarter.  

  • Phommachanh tied a career-long mark with a 31-yard rush with the Minutemen driving late in the third quarter (previous high: 31 yards at Auburn on Sept. 2, 2023). 

  • CJ Kolodziey placed two punts inside the 20. He averaged 39.5 on the day with a long of 42. 

Next Up 

The Minutemen hit the road next week for a 3:30 p.m. game at Toledo on Saturday, September 7.  

Massachusetts is back at McGuirk Alumni Stadium for Homecoming against Central Connecticut State on Saturday, September 21. Tickets are on sale at www.umassathletics.com/tickets, or by calling 1-866-UMASS-TIX. 

Team Stats

EMU
UMA
Total Yards
375
329
Pass Yards
241
177
Rushing Yards
134
152
Penalty Yards
82
99
1st Downs
21
24
3rd Downs
7
10
4th Downs
1
1
TOP
26:37
33:23
2nd Quarter
Logo

EMU 7, UMA 0

EMU - Snyder,Cole 1 yd run (Gomez,Jesus kick), 10 plays, 97 yards, TOP 03:53

Logo

EMU 14, UMA 0

EMU - Singleton,Oran 18 yd pass from Snyder,Cole (Gomez,Jesus kick) 6 plays, 57 yards, TOP 00:31

3rd Quarter
Logo

EMU 14, UMA 7

UMA - John,Jalen 1 yd run (Lurie,Jacob kick), 10 plays, 70 yards, TOP 05:24

Logo

EMU 17, UMA 7

EMU - Gomez,Jesus 20 yd field goal 9 plays, 73 yards, TOP 03:54

4th Quarter
Logo

EMU 20, UMA 7

EMU - Gomez,Jesus 31 yd field goal 13 plays, 59 yards, TOP 07:01

Logo

EMU 28, UMA 7

EMU - Mimms, III,Delbert 6 yd run (Allen,Markus pass), 2 plays, 33 yards, TOP 00:29

Logo

EMU 28, UMA 14

UMA - Hester,CJ 2 yd run (Lurie,Jacob kick), 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:37

Game Leaders

CMP
20
TD
0
YDS
177
INT
0

Players Mentioned

OL
/ Football
LB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
P/K
/ Football
DB
/ Football
S
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