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University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Central Connecticut State
Football Welcomes Central Connecticut State For Homecoming Weekend
September 16, 2024 | Football
Massachusetts returns to McGuirk to take on the Blue Devils at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
| University of Massachusetts FootballĀ Game Notes & Information | |
| Game 4 | Massachusetts (0-3) vs. Central Connecticut State (2-1) |
| Date |Ā Time | Saturday, September 21 | 3:30 p.m. |
| Location | Amherst, Mass. | McGuirk Alumni Stadium |
| Tickets | Purchase Tickets Here |
| Series History | Massachusetts leads, 3-0-0 Last Meeting | Oct. 18, 2011 | McGuirk Alumni Stadium, Amherst, Mass. | MassachusettsĀ 42, CCSU 26 |
| Game Notes & Team Information | Massachusetts: Game Notes Ā | Ā Game Program Ā | Ā Record Book Central Connecticut State: Game Notes |
| Watch | ESPN+ |
| Listen | WHMP 101.5 FM, 1240AM & 1400AM Ā |Ā WCRN 830 AM App: Download The Varsity Sports Network on your mobile device |
| Live Statistics | StatBroadcast |
| @UMassFootballĀ |Ā @FBCoachDBrown | |
| UMass Football | |
| UMass Football | |
AMHERST, Mass. --Ā University of Massachusetts football returns to McGuirk Alumni Stadium on Saturday, September 21, as the team welcomes Central Connecticut StateĀ for Homecoming Weekend. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on ESPN+.Ā
SERIES HISTORY
In a series dating back to 2002, Massachusetts and Central Connecticut State have met three times, with the Minutemen holding a 3-0 record in the series. All three wins have come at McGuirk Alumni Stadium including victories in 2002, 2003 and 2011.Ā
Massachusetts' last win in the series came on their most recent meeting, October 8, 2011 when the Minutemen posted a 42-26 win over the Blue Devils. Redshirt freshman Brandon Hill passed for 169 yards, including one touchdown in the game, with no interceptions in the win for the Minutemen. Tailback Jonathan Hernandez led the UMass ground attack with 20 rushes good for 87-yards and two touchdowns.
In the UMass records book, in the 2011 win free safety Darren Thellen set a single-game record for most interception yards in a game, with 128 yards on two interceptions and a touchdown return for the win over Central Connecticut.Ā
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The Minutemen are one of 31 FBS teams without a fumble lost this season.
Against Buffalo last Saturday, UMass came away with its first turnover of the season, when 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.
At No. 97, Jacquon Gibson (4.3) has cracked the top 100 in the FBS receptions per game rankings. That mark is also good for third among the Independent ranks (Notre Dame, UConn, UMass, Oregon State and Washington State). Ā
UMass played at Buffalo without starters Anthony Simpson (WR), Dominick Mazotti (TE), Luke Painton (OL) and Aaron Beckwith (DL), as well as possible starter Shambre Jackson (DL), due to injury.Ā
POWER FOUR TRANSFERS FOR 2024
Massachusetts added 14 transfers into the program with previous power four experience:
Owen Anderson - Illinois
Brandon Campbell - Houston/USC
Sterling Galban - Texas Tech
Mao Glynn II - Cincinnati
Jaylen Hudson - Wake Forest
Frank Ladson Jr. - Miami/Clemson
Jaelyn Lay - Clemson
Jacob Lurie - Vanderbilt
Brandon McElroy - Arizona State
Etinosa Reuben - Georgia Tech/Clemson
Brayden Rohme - California
Benjamin Roy Jr. - UCLA
Sam Staruch - Michigan\
Paul Tchio - Georgia Tech/Clemson
Additional players on the 2024 roster who previously joined from the Power Four include:
Ryan Barnes ā Notre DameĀ
John Burton ā ArizonaĀ
RJ Edwards ā ArizonaĀ
Jalen Harrell ā MiamiĀ
Zukudo Igwenagu ā RutgersĀ
Shambre Jackson ā Florida StateĀ
Jalen John ā ArizonaĀ
Steven Ortiz ā Arizona/MinnesotaĀ
Taisun Phommachanh ā Clemson/Georgia TechĀ
Tyler Martin ā Arizona Ā
Tyler Rudolph ā Penn StateĀ
Isaiah Rutherford ā Notre DameĀ
Anthony Simpson ā ArizonaĀ
Matt Smith ā DukeĀ
Tyson Watson ā Michigan State Ā
Jermaine Wiggins Jr. ā ArizonaĀ
CONTROLLING THE CLOCK
MassachusettsĀ ranks second in FBS in time of possession (109:48), trailing only fellow independent Oregon State (111:28). Ā Ā
Oregon State (37:09) and UMass (36:36) also rank No. 1-2 in average time of possession per game.
MINUTEMEN IN THE NFL
Former cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (2016-19) signed with the Eagles after three seasons with Indianapolis.
Former running back Ellis Merriweather (2020-22) was elevated to the Packers' active roster from the practice squad ahead of their season opener against the Eagles in São Paulo, Brazil. It was his first career regular season game on an active NFL roster, but he did not appear in the contest.
Former long snapper Evan Deckers (2018-21) won the Tampa Bay Buccaneers job out of camp and made his season debut in week one.Ā
Former offensive lineman Elijah Wilkinson (2013-16) is on the practice squad for the Atlanta Falcons.
The NFL coaching ranks also include a lot of former Minutemen, including Tampa Bay Offensive Coordinator Liam Cohen (2004-08) and Chiefs Defensive Line Coach Joe Cullen (1986-89).
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RECEIVING OPPORTUNITIES
Wide receivers Jakobie Keeney-James (GS) and Jacquon Gibson (R-So.) stepped up for the Minutemen to turn in career-best days in the loss at Toledo.
Keeney-James caught six passed for 93 yards and a touchdown, which was his first as a Minuteman and the fifth of his career. His six receptions marked a career-high total. Ā
Gibson hauled in a career-high six receptions to go along with a career-high 72 yards while also grabbing a career-long 39-yard reception in the second quarter (previous long was a 29-yard catch against Arkansas State on Nov. 11, 2022).Ā
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.Ā
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.Ā Ā
COACHING AT THE ALMA MATER
UMass employs two alums inĀ full-time coaching roles in 2024, includingĀ 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.Ā
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 AssistantĀ Garrett Dzuro '23.
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