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University of Massachusets Athletics
Football Prepares For Second SEC Test In Mississippi State
September 19, 2016 | Football
Minutemen host Bulldogs at Gillette Stadium on Sat., Sept. 24 at 3:30 p.m.
| University of Massachusetts Football Game Notes | |
| Game Four | Massachusetts (1-2) vs. Mississippi State (1-2) |
| Date | Time | Saturday, Sept. 24 | 3:30 p.m. |
| Location | Gillette Stadium; Foxboro, Mass. | Stadium Guide | Clear Bag Policy |
| Series History | First Meeting |
| Live Statistics | Sidearm Sports |
| Watch Live | NESNplus | ESPN3 |
| Listen (Radio) | 560 AM WHYN (Western Massachusetts), 830 AM WCRN (Worcester) 95.9 FM WATD (South Shore), 1200 AM WXKS (Boston, Manchester, Providence) |
| Listen (Online) | WEEI Streaming Player | TuneIn App (mobile devices) |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts | Mississippi State | SEC |
| Team Records | Massachusetts | Mississippi State |
| @UMassFootball | @CoachWhipUMass | @UMassAthletics | |
| UMass Football | UMass Athletics | |
UMass Prepares For Second SEC Opponent In Mississippi State
University of Massachusetts football continues its four-game homestand with its second trip to Gillette Stadium for its second game against an SEC opponent on the season in Mississippi State. The meeting with the Bulldogs is the first in history between the programs.
UMass faced Mississippi State's SEC compatriot Florida during the opening weekend of the season and fell 24-7 to the No. 25 nationally-ranked Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Massachusetts enters the game coming off of its first win of the season, a 21-13 victory over FIU at McGuirk Alumni Stadium. Andrew Ford started at QB and tossed three touchdown passes during a 28-for-42 afternoon. It marked Ford's first start as a Minuteman. The defense countered with heavy pressure up the middle and sacked FIU quarterback Alex McGough three times among 6.0 TFLs covering 31 yards lost. The Maroon and White also forced FIU into three fumbles and recovered two, including one on the final Golden Panthers drive to seal the win.
Off To The Races
Marquis Young needed only 13 career games to reach the 1,000-yard rushing mark. A sophomore, Young hit the four-digit mark during play at No. 25 Florida with his 13th rushing attempt of the game. Young needed only 165 career carries to go over the 1,000-yard mark, an average of 6.07 yards per carry.
He is the first UMass running back to eclipse 1,000 career rushing yards during the FBS era. Only two Minuteman freshmen accumulated better first seasons with the team: Steve Baylark (1,177 yards; 2003) and R.J. Cobbs (1,067 yards; 2002).
The Cedar Cliff Connection
UMass quarterback Andrew Ford and tight end Adam Breneman played together previously as members of the Cedar Cliff High School football program in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.
Ford made his first start for the Minutemen against FIU and targeted Breneman throughout the game, resulting in 10 receptions, 77 yards and one touchdown for the 6-foot-4 tight end. Six of those completions to Breneman went for first downs.
Breneman is the all-time leading receiver in Cedar Cliff history and all-time leading tight end in Pennsylvania high school history (in all receiving categories).
Ford was the 2013 Gatorade Player of the Year, football's Mr. Pennsylvania and an Elite 11 QB as a senior. He set Cedar Cliff records in passing yards, touchdowns thrown and completion percentage.
Built Ford Tough
Andrew Ford stepped into the starting spot at quarterback for the first time against FIU and provided 278 passing yards and three touchdowns in the 21-13 victory over the Golden Panthers. He became the first Minuteman to debut with at least 275 yards since Richard Lucero had 376 yards against William & Mary on Aug. 31, 2000. The last Minuteman with at least three touchdown passes in his debut was Todd Bankhead (323 yards, four TDs) at Delaware on Sept. 3, 1998.
The Fastest 1,000
Marquis Young reached 1,000 career rushing yards in only 13 games played, which ranks Young among the quickest Minutemen to 1,000 yards in recent team history. The last to reach the plateau faster was Steve Baylark, who did it in 11 games as a freshman in 2003. RJ Cobbs (2001-05) also accomplished it in 11 games, as did Rene Ingoglia (1992-95).
Depend On The Tight End
Tight end Adam Breneman caught 10 passes against FIU covering 77 yards and one touchdown. It is the most receptions by a UMass tight end since Rob Blanchflower caught 10 ball for 100 yards and one score versus Central Michigan on Nov. 23, 2012.
In the last two games, Breneman owns 13 receptions for 146 yards and two touchdowns.
Sharing The Wealth
Quarterback Andrew Ford distributed his 28 completions among nine Minuteman receivers against FIU. It marked the most different players with at least one catch since 10 Minutemen reeled in at least one pass against Ball State on Oct. 31, 2015.
Adam Breneman led the group with 10 catches, followed by six for Andy Isabella and five by Bernard Davis. Dan Jonah caught two passes while Sekai Lindsay, Shakur Nesmith, John Robinson-Woodgett, Jalen Williams and Marquis Young all had one grab.
Forcing The Issue
Junior Ali Ali-Musa owns two forced fumbles in only three games played as a Minuteman. His first was on running back Lamical Perine at No. 25 Florida. The second came against FIU when he ended the Golden Panthers' final drive with a forced fumble on quarterback Alex McGough.
Knock 'Em Downey
Linebacker Da'Sean Downey had a pair of sacks covering 18 yards lost against FIU. It made him the first Minuteman with multiple sacks in one contest since Kassan Messiah (2.0-14) at Bowling Green on Oct. 10, 2015. The last Minuteman with more sack yards in a single contest was Michael Hanson (2.0-23) at William & Mary on Oct. 27, 2007.
Rodgers Shines In First Start
Freshman Isaiah Rodgers was called into action against FIU as a starter at cornerback in place of an injured Jackson Porter. He finished the day with four tackles in the secondary and three pass breakups. His PBU total marks the most by one Minuteman this season.
The Grizzled Veteran
Redshirt senior Khary Bailey-Smith is the only Minuteman with appearances in each of the team's five FBS seasons (2012-present). Three additional members of the squad were true freshmen during the inaugural year at the FBS level in Bernard Davis, Vondell Langston and John Robinson-Woodgett. Bailey-Smith made two appearances in 2015 before suffering a season-ending injury that allowed him to redshirt. Davis, Langston and Robinson-Woodgett each redshirted one year without seeing time during it.
