Upset Bid Falls Just Short At UMass

The Central Connecticut State football team took the lead twice in the second half, but could not complete the upset of FBS host Massachusetts, on Saturday afternoon, falling 35-31.

The Blue Devils recovered an onside kick to open the second-half when the score was tied 21-21. CCSU would drive 52 yards and take the lead when Brady Olson found Paul Marsh, Jr. in the back corner of the endzone for a 28-21 lead.

After UMass tied the score with 1:38 to play in the third quarter, the Blue Devils drove deep into UMass territory. Jack Barnum kicked a 25-yard field goal 49 seconds into the final period to give CCSU a 31-28 lead

The Minutemen mounted a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that took 4:53 off the clock and put them back on top 35-31. After forcing a three-and-out the UMass offense mounted a 6:26 drive that CCSU stopped on 4^th-and-1 to give them one last chance.

The Blue Devils scored on four consecutive drives, the final three of the second quarter and the first of the third quarter, after falling behind 14-0 early in the second quarter.

Kimal Clark made 18 tackles, which entering the week is the second most in a single-game in the FCS.

The Blue Devils have a bye next Saturday, before traveling to Yale for a game on October 5^th.

GAME INFORMATION

Score: UMass 35, CCSU 31

Records: CCSU (2-2): UMass (1-3)

Location: McGuirk Stadium | Amherst, MA

KEY MOMENTS

• On its first drive, UMass converted a fourth-down at midfield and turned that into a 10-play scoring drive, capped by Jackson Paradis scoring from a yard out
• UMass had a 3^rd-and-7 late in the first quarter when Jack Stoll sacked Taisun Phommachanh for a seven-yard loss and forced a UMass punt
• The Blue Devil defense held UMass in a drive that bridged the opening quarters and forced a field goal attempt that was missed from 49 yards in the opening minute of the second quarter
• The Minutemen found the endzone for the second time with 9:10 to play in the opening half when Phommachanh found Jakobie Keeney-James for a 15-yard TD, to finish off an 82-yard drive
• Brady Olson went 2-2 for 52 yards passing to Paul Marsh, Jr. and David Pardo to put the Blue Devils into scoring position, and Ricky Ortega went in from 3 yards out
• Deon McLean intercepted a Phommachanh pass on the next drive and returned it 34-yards to the UMass two=yard line
• Two plays later Elijah Howard spun into the end zone from one yard out to tie the score, 14-14
• Phommachanh capped an 11-play drive with a two-yard TD pass to Owen Anderson with 39 seconds to play before intermission to put UMass in front 21-14
• Jadon Turner returned the squib kick 53 yards to the UMass 27-yard line
• Jamir Robertson went for eight yards around the left side on first down and then Olson found Howard twice through the air, sandwiched around a 5-yard run, with the second a two-yard game-tying touchdown with seven seconds left
• Jack Barnum executed the onside kick perfectly to open the second half, recovering the ball at the CCSU 48-yard line
• The Blue Devils took advantage and took the lead when Olson found Marsh, Jr. in the back corner of the endzone for a 28-21 lead
• After the teams traded drives four drives that combined for negative yardage, UMass struck big with a 57-yard TD pass from Phommachanh to T.Y. Harding to tie the score 28-28 with 1:38 left in the third quarter
• Olson found Plaskon for a 56-yard reception that put the Blue Devils deep in UMass territory as the third quarter came to an end
• Barnum hit a 25-yard field goal 49 seconds into the final period for a 31-28 lead
• UMass answered with a 75-yard drive that was capped by a three-yard touchdown run from Brandon Campbell to put the Minutemen back on top 35-31 with 9:18 to play

NUMBER TO KNOW

37:40 – UMass time of possession in Saturday's game

NOTES

• Clark had 10 of his game and a career-high 18 tackles, in the opening half
• Olson finished 12-26 passing, for 157 yards and two touchdowns
• Malachai Wright also recorded a career-high 12 tackles including six solo stops
• The Blue Devils had 3.0 TFL and a sack on defense
• The Central offensive line did not allow a sack for a third consecutive game
• Phommachanh finished 20-30 passing for 287 yards and three touchdowns for UMass
• CCSU was 5-5 in the red zone Saturday night

UMass accumulated 450 yards of total offense