University of Massachusets Athletics

Saturday, September 14
Amherst, N.Y.
1 p.m.

University of Massachusetts

0-3 , 0-0

3
at
34

Buffalo

2-1 , 0-0

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Massachusetts
0
3
0
0
3
Buffalo
7
3
17
7
34
At Buffalo
Photo by: Chris Tucci - UMass Athletics

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 

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
BUF
Total Yards
193
314
Pass Yards
121
185
Rushing Yards
72
129
Penalty Yards
45
21
1st Downs
11
15
3rd Downs
4
6
4th Downs
2
1
TOP
32:04
27:56
1st Quarter
Logo

UMS 0, BUF 7

BUF - Jenkins,JJ 40 yd pass from Ogbonna,C.J. (Bellenfant,Upton kick) 6 plays, 85 yards, TOP 02:01

2nd Quarter
Logo

UMS 0, BUF 10

BUF - Bellenfant,Upton 37 yd field goal 6 plays, 18 yards, TOP 02:14

Logo

UMS 3, BUF 10

UMS - Lurie,Jacob 34 yd field goal 13 plays, 39 yards, TOP 06:20

3rd Quarter
Logo

UMS 3, BUF 13

BUF - Bellenfant,Upton 34 yd field goal 10 plays, 55 yards, TOP 03:22

Logo

UMS 3, BUF 20

BUF - Ogbonna,C.J. 8 yd run (Bellenfant,Upton kick), 2 plays, 20 yards, TOP 00:35

Logo

UMS 3, BUF 27

BUF - Cooper,Marquis 100 yd interception (Bellenfant,Upton kick)

4th Quarter
Logo

UMS 3, BUF 34

BUF - Sperling,Lamar 1 yd run (Bellenfant,Upton kick), 13 plays, 75 yards, TOP 08:07

Game Leaders

CMP
14
TD
0
YDS
121
INT
1

Players Mentioned

OL
/ Football
DT
/ Football
LB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DL
/ Football
RB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
DE
/ Football
K
/ Football
OL
/ Football
DB
/ Football
S
/ Football
WR
/ Football
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