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MAC Football

UMass races past Stonehill, 36-14

The Minutemen worked through some early struggles to pull away late and get a crucial win.

Omar-Rashon Borja

Omar-Rashon Borja

— 2 min read
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UMass races past Stonehill, 36-14
Photo credit: UMass Athletics

For the first time since 2007, the UMass Minutemen are 3-0– though FCS opponent Stonehill certainly made sure UMass earned the feat, keeping UMass close at a 13-7 margin at the halftime break before the home team pulled away by a final score of 36-14 win on Saturday.

Pop Watson III had his worst performance of the three-game season so far against the Skyhawks, completing 15 of his 25 passes for 169 yards, with his first interception of the season and more than double the incomplfooetions he had in his first two games combined.

Nevertheless, the UMass defense held strong, holding Stonehill to 161 total yards, including just 27 rushing yards. The Minutemen forced three turnovers and sacked the Skyhawks’ quarterbacks twice.

After a Derek Morris field goal on UMass’ opening drive, Stonehill stunned the Minutemen by taking an early 7-3 lead on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Jack O’Connell to Alijah Turner.

UMass resorted to trickery to take a 10-7 lead, with wide receiver T.Y. Harding taking a reverse 56 yards for a touchdown on the ensuing drive.

Derek Morris then kicked a 55-yard field goal with 1:38 left in the first to make it a 13-7 game. The kick was Morris’ second 50+ yard kick of the season. He is an early Lou Groza candidate.

After entering halftime with a 13-7 lead, UMass added 23 more points before the Skyhawks scored a last-ditch touchdown with 3:32 left in the fourth quarter.

Along with T.Y. Harding, three other Minutemen (Elijah Faulkner, Curtis Kimmons IV and Jordan Washington) ran for at least 38 yards. In all, UMass ran for 195 yards as a unit.

On defense, the consistent Timmy Hinspeter led the Minutemen in tackles with eight. Defensive end William DePaepe burst onto the scene with two sacks. After Stonehill’s touchdown drive in the first quarter, UMass allowed just 81 yards the rest of the game.

The Minutemen have an excellent chance to start 4-0 when they travel to California to take on MAC newcomer Sacramento State. Kickoff is scheduled for 9 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday night.

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