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University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
0-3 , 0-0
Buffalo
2-1 , 0-0
Massachusetts Football Downed By Buffalo
September 14, 2024 | Football
Louce Julien registered his first career sack, while Derrieon Craig came up with his first career fumble recovery.
Presser: Head Coach Don Brown
BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University of Massachusetts football team dropped a 34-3 decision to Buffalo on Saturday afternoon at UB Stadium (15,204). The Bulls led 10-3 at the half, but created separation in the third quarter with a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Jacquon Gibson led the Minutemen offense with 58 yards on four receptions, including a 24-yard catch. Jakobie Keeney-James followed with 30 yards on three receptions and running back Jalen John caught five for 29 yards, with a career-long catch of 15 yards.
Quarterback Taisun Phommachanh threw for 121 yards on 14-for-29 passing with an interception. Phommachanh also ran for two yards on nine attempts.
For the UMass defense, Gerrell Johnson totaled eight tackles, with six assisted. Derrieon Craig had a team-best six solo tackles and assisted with one for a total of seven, while adding a fumble recovery, a quarterback hurry and pass breakup. Jaylen Hudson, Sahnai Swain-Price and Louce Julien all tallied a tackle-for-loss, with Julien and Swain-Price coming up with sacks for six- and five-yard losses, respectively. Julien also forced a fumble, while Tyler Rudolph had a pass deflection.
How It Happened
Buffalo took a 7-0 lead when JJ Jenkins caught a 40-yard touchdown pass from C.J. Ogbonna at 10:06 of the first quarter.
Massachusetts attempted to answer on the next drive, running 11 plays including a long third-down catch from Jacquon Gibson. But on a third and four at the 35, Phommachanh's pass to Sterling Galban was broken up, leaving a 50-yard field goal attempt from Jacob Lurie that went just wide.
Buffalo took over with good field position after the missed field goal, but the Minutemen defense held the Bulls to a three-and-out.
The UMass defense held Buffalo to a field goal after the Bulls took over at their own 38 following a punt, moving it to a 10-0 game at 11:52 of the second quarter.
The Minutemen got on the board to make it a 10-3 game at 1:50 of the second quarter. UMass began the drive at the 8:52 mark on its own 45-yard line. Brandon Campbell rushed up the middle for two yards for the fourth-and-one conversion to keep Massachusetts' drive alive to the two-minute timeout. Lurie then capped off the 13-play, 39-yard drive with a 34-yard field goal.
On Buffalo's next drive, the Bulls picked up a first down on their own 47-yard line. An incomplete pass made it second-and-10, where Louce Julien sacked Ogbonna for a six-yard loss, marking the first sack of his career, and forcing a fumble, before Derrieon Craig scooped up the loose ball for his first career recovery.
The Minutemen took over at the Buffalo 41, maintaining possession for the remainder of the first half, with an attempted field goal from 45-yards out that went wide for the 10-3 halftime score.
Buffalo received the second half kick and was able to drive down the field for a 34-yard field goal, extending the lead to 13-3 at 11:24 of the third quarter.
The Bulls pulled ahead 20-3 with an eight-yard rushing touchdown by Ogbonna with 4:38 left on the clock.
After the Minutemen drove 75 yards in 10 plays to get down the Buffalo eight, Phommachanh's pass while he was scrambling was picked off in the end zone and run back for a touchdown by Marquis Cooper.
Buffalo tacked on seven more points to lead 34-3 late in the fourth quarter.
Notes
- For the third consecutive game, Josh Atwood, Taisun Phommachanh, Te'Rai Powell and Tyler Rudolph served as the Massachusetts captains.
- UMass came away with its first turnover of the season, as Louce Julien knocked the ball loose on a strip sack and Derrieon Craig made the recovery.
- It marked the first career sack for Julien (six-yard loss), while Craig recorded the first fumble recovery of his career on the play.
- The Minutemen were without starters Anthony Simpson (WR), Dominick Mazotti (TE), Luke Painton (OL) and Aaron Beckwith (DL) due to injury.
Next Up
Massachusetts returns to McGuirk Alumni Stadium for its homecoming game against Central Connecticut State next Saturday. The matchup is slated for 3:30 p.m. on ESPN+ and tickets are available here.
Team Stats
UMS 0, BUF 7
BUF - Jenkins,JJ 40 yd pass from Ogbonna,C.J. (Bellenfant,Upton kick) 6 plays, 85 yards, TOP 02:01
UMS 0, BUF 10
BUF - Bellenfant,Upton 37 yd field goal 6 plays, 18 yards, TOP 02:14
UMS 3, BUF 10
UMS - Lurie,Jacob 34 yd field goal 13 plays, 39 yards, TOP 06:20
UMS 3, BUF 13
BUF - Bellenfant,Upton 34 yd field goal 10 plays, 55 yards, TOP 03:22
UMS 3, BUF 20
BUF - Ogbonna,C.J. 8 yd run (Bellenfant,Upton kick), 2 plays, 20 yards, TOP 00:35
UMS 3, BUF 27
BUF - Cooper,Marquis 100 yd interception (Bellenfant,Upton kick)
UMS 3, BUF 34
BUF - Sperling,Lamar 1 yd run (Bellenfant,Upton kick), 13 plays, 75 yards, TOP 08:07
