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University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
0-7 , 0-3
Buffalo
4-3 , 3-0
Football Edged By Buffalo
October 18, 2025 | Football
Brandon Hood recorded 179 rushing yards, including the fourth longest rush in program history.
Joe Harasymiak Postgame Presser
AMHERST, Mass. – Massachusetts football was edged out by Buffalo, 28-21 on Saturday afternoon at McGuirk Alumni Stadium (15,239) in game one of the new Flagship Cup rivalry series.
With the Minutemen leading 21-20, Jeremiah McGill intercepted a pass with 59 seconds left in regulation. But after a three-and-out, the Bulls were able to get the ball back and scored what proved to be the winning touchdown with 21 seconds to play.
Massachusetts redshirt freshman running back Brandon Hood finished the day with a career-best 179 yards rushing and one touchdown. That touchdown came on a career-best 90 yard rush, marking the fourth longest run in program history. AJ Hairston made the start at quarterback for the Minutemen and went 6-for-14 for 119 yards and he threw for a pair of touchdowns.
Tyler Martin and Derrieon Craig tied for the team lead with 12 tackles each, while McGill finished with a pass breakup and interception and Marques White added six tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and a quarterback hurry,
How It Happened
The Bulls took the opening kickoff and drove down to the UMass 35, but David Onuoha had a third down stuff and then Marques White and Derrieon Craig combined to come up with a fourth down stop to turn the ball over on downs.
On the next drive, Buffalo stopped the Minutemen after a first down, but UMass was able to flip the field and pin Buffalo at its 10-yard line. Buffalo then drove down the UMass five-yard line, but Tyler Martin broke up the third-down pass to force a field goal.
On a third-and-13, AJ Hairston rushed for 21 yards, before Brandon Hood ran for 25 and 16 yards, respectively, on back-to-back plays to move the Minutemen into Buffalo territory. A 29-yard touchdown pass by Hairston to Kezion Dia-Johnson, the first of his career, capped the seven-play, 87-yard drive to give Massachusetts a 7-3 lead at the 9:44 mark of the second quarter.
Forcing the Bulls to punt on a fourth-and-five, UMass started its next drive with 4:25 left in the second. A nine second, one-play drive aided the Minutemen to a 14-3 lead, as Hood rushed for a career-high 90-yard touchdown. It marked the fourth longest rush in program history.
Buffalo responded with a touchdown of its own on the next drive when Victor Snow caught a 23-yard TD to cap a five-play, 55-yard drive, as UMass held on to a 14-10 halftime lead.
The Bulls took the lead at 7:02 of the third on a one-yard rushing touchdown by Terrance Shelton, Jr.to finish off a 13 play, 76-yard drive of 5:53 that moved the score to 17-14.
Hairston then completed a 77-yard touchdown pass to Max Dowling, finishing a three-play, 75-yard drive with 5:37 on the clock in the third quarter, to reclaim the lead at 21-17. It marked a career-long reception for Dowling and his second score of the season.
Jeremiah McGill had a key third down pass breakup near the end of the third quarter to help the Minutemen hold the Bulls to a 47-yard field goal, which moved the score to 21-20 UMass with 18 seconds left in the third quarter.
After a no-good field goal attempt for UMass with 3:06 left in the fourth from 54 yards, McGill came away with his first interception of the season on Buffalo's drive. But the Bulls forced Massachusetts to punt to start a drive with 41 seconds remaining, which started at the 50-yard line. A 16-yard touchdown pass from Roberson to Snow allowed Buffalo to take back the lead at 28-21.
Notes
- It marked the 16th all-time meeting between the two teams (Buffalo enters the day leading 9-6) and but the first time since establishing The Flagship Cup presented by Milton CAT to cement the budding rivalry between the two MAC schools.
- A new rivalry series logo featuring Buffalo, UMass and Milton CAT branding debuted for the game and a traveling trophy to reside with each year's winner until the following year's contest will soon be unveiled.
- Shymell Davis, Rocko Griffin, Jovoni Borbon and Keegan Andrews served as the UMass game captains.
- Kezion Dia-Johnson snagged his first career touchdown on his third career catch at 9:44 of the second quarter, which came on a 27 yard pass by AJ Hairston.
- Hairston's touchdown pass to Dia-Johnson was his second touchdown pass of the season and the seventh of his career.
- In the second quarter, Brennen Bailey notched first pass breakup at UMass and the 10th of his career.
- Brandon Hood had a career-long rush of 90 yards for a touchdown at the 4:12 mark of the second quarter, marking his second career touchdown.
- It marked the fourth longest rushing play in program history, while becoming the longest rush since Marquis Young's 95-yard rush against Appalachian State in 2017.
- Hood finished the day with 179 rushing yards to become UMass' first 100-yard rusher since Jalen John had 107 yards at 10th-ranked Georgia on Nov. 23, 2024.
- Max Dowling caught a career-long 77-yard pass to score his second touchdown of the season.
- The 77-yard receiving play was the first 75-yard-plus reception by a Minuteman since Jakobie Keeney-James 75-yard connection from Hairston at No. 10 Georgia in the 2024 season.
- Late in the third quarter, McGill posted his first career pass breakup on a Buffalo third down play (30th career game) and then he added his first interception of the season and the second of his career.
Next Up
Massachusetts hits the road to play against Central Michigan at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 25 in Mount Pleasant, Michigan (ESPN+).
Team Stats
BUF 3, UMA 0
BUF - Howes,Jack 23 yd field goal 10 plays, 85 yards, TOP 03:52
BUF 3, UMA 7
UMA - Dia-Johnson,Kezion 27 yd pass from Hairston,AJ (Morris,Derek kick) 7 plays, 87 yards, TOP 03:14
BUF 3, UMA 14
UMA - Hood,Brandon 90 yd run (Morris,Derek kick), 1 plays, 90 yards, TOP 00:13
BUF 10, UMA 14
BUF - Snow,Victor 23 yd pass from Roberson,Ta'Quan (Howes,Jack kick) 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:17
BUF 17, UMA 14
BUF - Shelton, Jr.,Terrance 1 yd run (Howes,Jack kick), 13 plays, 76 yards, TOP 05:53
BUF 17, UMA 21
UMA - Dowling,Max 77 yd pass from Hairston,AJ (Morris,Derek kick) 3 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:25
BUF 20, UMA 21
BUF - Howes,Jack 47 yd field goal 9 plays, 28 yards, TOP 03:12
BUF 28, UMA 21
BUF - Snow,Victor 16 yd pass from Roberson,Ta'Quan (McMillan,Nik pass) 3 plays, 50 yards, TOP 00:22
