Massachusetts Stumbles In Homecoming Loss To Tulane

GAME INFORMATION
Tulane 31, Massachusetts 24
Records: Massachusetts (1-4) • Tulane (3-2)
Location: McGuirk Alumni Stadium, Amherst, Mass.
Attendance: 14,892
Time of Game: 3:14
Weather: 55 degrees at kickoff, overcast with full cloud coverage, winds N/NE at 10 MPH

MASSACHUSETTS HIGHLIGHTS

Andy Isabella provided two touchdown catches over six receptions covering 94 yards – one shy of tying his single-game career high. Both of his TDs covered 12 yards.
Steve Casali led all players with 15 tackles (3-12), a single-game career high. He is the first Minuteman with 15 or more tackles in a game since Jovan Santos-Knox had 20 versus No. 19 Toledo on Oct. 24, 2015.
Colbert Calhoun recorded his first career game with double-digit tackles as he finished with a career-high 12 stops.
Ross Comis returned to quarterback during the fourth quarter following a two game absence due to injury. He finished 5-for-11 for 72 yards passing with six rushing attempts covering 41 yards (6.8 per carry).
Andy Isabella's 52-yard reception was his second-longest grab of the year to only his 53-yard catch at No. 25 Florida. Isabella accounts for two of the three UMass receptions on the year covering at least 50 yards (Adam Breneman, 58 yards vs. Boston College).
Da'Sean Downey added a third Minuteman with 10 or more tackles as he finished with a personal-best 12, including 1.5 TFLs for three yards lost.
Sekai Lindsay scored his first touchdown of the season and second of his career on a two-yard run in the fourth quarter. It came on his second carry of the game.
Ali-Ali Musa was disruptive at the line of scrimmage as the defensive tackle produced nine tackles, including 1.5 TFLs for six yards lost. He had a pass breakup in the fourth quarter on Tulane's second-to-last drive while he also totaled a five-yard sack.

HOW IT HAPPENED

UMass broke out to a 14-0 lead less than four minutes into the game as the Minutemen opened with back-to-back touchdown drives. Andrew Ford found Andy Isabella for the scoring plays, both passes covering 12 yards.
Following Isabella's first touchdown grab, Khary Bailey-Smith gave the offense the ball back with a forced fumble and recovery on Tulane kick returner Devin Glenn.
Tulane put seven points on the scoreboard via a 10-play, 75-yard drive capped by an 11-yard Dontrell Hilliard rumble into the endzone. It cut the UMass lead to 14-7 with six minutes, 37 seconds to go in the first quarter.
The Green Wave cut their deficit to 14-10 at the half as Andrew DiRocco pushed through a 22-yard field goal and continued scoring in the third quarter with a pair of touchdown drives.
Glen Cuiellette found Terren Encalade open on the right sideline for a 36 yard score less than a minute into the third.
On its next drive, Tulane's Lazedrick Thompson fought through tackles for a 19 yard rushing touchdown that posted the Green Wave to a 24-14 advantage with six minutes, 54 seconds to go in the third.
Massachusetts brought in Ross Comis at quarterback during its first drive of the final frame. Comis completed a 52-yard pass to Isabella during the drive and converted on third-and-nine with an 11 yard run. It ended in Logan Laurent's 28 yard field goal conversion with 9:37 left in the game.
Sekai Lindsay chipped away at the disadvantage with a two-yard touchdown run that brought the Minutemen back within 31-24 of Tulane with 2:45 to go in the fourth.
Ali Ali-Musa gave the Minutemen one more shot at the tie when he batted away a Tulane third down pass attempt to force a punt that gave the ball back to the Minutemen with 2:18 left. However, Massachusetts was unable to string together a drive and turned the ball over on downs.

UP NEXT
The Maroon and White hit the road for the first time in a month as the squad heads Old Dominion for the next game. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. on C-USA TV.

Fans are encouraged to contact the UMass Athletics Ticket Office at 1-866-UMASS-TIX or visit the Mullins Center Ticket Office (9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) for all ticket purchasing needs. Questions can be directed to Doug Bean via email (dbean@umass.edu).

For continued coverage of UMass football, follow the program on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@UMassFootball).

Scoreboard

Next Event

Team Stats

Andrew Ford

Ross Comis

Players Mentioned

Ali Ali-Musa

Khary Bailey-Smith

Adam Breneman

Colbert Calhoun

Steve Casali

Ross Comis

Da'Sean Downey

Andrew Ford

Andy Isabella

Logan Laurent

Sekai Lindsay

Jovan Santos-Knox

Players Mentioned

Ali Ali-Musa

Khary Bailey-Smith

Adam Breneman

Colbert Calhoun

Steve Casali

Ross Comis

Da'Sean Downey

Andrew Ford

Andy Isabella

Logan Laurent

Sekai Lindsay

Jovan Santos-Knox

Scoreboard

University of Massachusets Athletics