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University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Appalachian State
Football Welcomes Appalachian State For Rematch Of 2006 FCS National Championship
October 25, 2017 | Football
Minutemen and Mountaineers kick off at 3:30 p.m. live on NESN and Eleven Sports Network
| UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS FOOTBALL WEEKLY RELEASE | |
| Game Eight | Massachusetts (1-6 overall) vs. Appalachian State (5-2) |
| Date | Time | Saturday, Oct. 28 | 3:30 p.m. (ET) |
| Location | McGuirk Alumni Stadium |
| Series History | Appalachian State leads, 1-0. Last meeting: Appalachian StateĀ 28, Massachusetts 17; Dec. 15,Ā 2006 |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts | Appalachian StateĀ | Sun Belt Conference |
| Live Statistics | Sidearm Sports |
| Listen (Online) Listen (Radio) |
105.5 FM WEEI | TuneIn Radio AppĀ (Josh Maurer & Peter Brock) 105.5 WEEI FM (Western Massachusetts/Springfield), 95.9 FM (South Shore), 830 AM (WCRN) |
| Tickets | 866-UMASS-TIX | Buy Online |
| Watch | Eleven Sports | NESNĀ | UMass All-Access |
| Team Information | Massachusetts | Appalachian State |
| @UMassFootball | @UMassAthleticsĀ | @CoachWhipUMass | |
| UMass Football | UMass Athletics | |
| Gameday Events | Band Day |
Record-Setting Homecoming Win
Massachusetts football put up the most offensive yards in a single game in team history with 670 yards, split between 350 through the air and 320 on the ground. It bested the previous program mark by 32 yards (638, vs. Bowling Green, 9/27/14) and it was the first game with 300 or more rushing yards since Nov. 14, 2015 (330, at Eastern Michigan).Ā
The Minutemen also posted 33 first downs during the victory (15 passing ,13 rushing, 5 penalty), the second consecutive game with 30 or more first downs. The last game with more than 33 first downs was against Eastern Michigan (34, Dec. 18, 2014).
Just Call Him "Billy Touchdowns"
Sophomore running back Bilal Ally made his first collegiate start memorable with career highs of 16 carries, 116 rushing yards and three touchdowns. The game also included a career-long run of 57 yards (fourth quarter touchdown) and was the first for a UMass running back with three or more touchdowns since Marquis Young had as many at Buffalo on Nov. 27, 2015. It accounted for the first three touchdowns of Ally's collegiate career.
Bombs Away vs. The Bobcats
Massachusetts put up rare passing numbers against the Ohio Bobcats, completing the game with 403 yards through the air (33-of-58 passing). It is the first instance of 400 passing yards in one game for the Minutemen since the team put up 486 at Bowling Green on Oct. 10, 2015. Andrew Ford had 390 - a career high - of those 403 yards while Ross Comis had the remaining 13.
Receivers Keep It 100
Three UMass football receivers have games with 100 or more receiving yards in 2017, including tight end Adam Breneman and wide receivers Andy Isabella and Sadiq Palmer. Breneman has three games each with 100 or more yards, against Hawai'i (179), at Coastal Carolina (126) and versus Ohio (131). Isabella eclipsed 100 yards at Coastal Carolina (101) and against Old Dominion (105). Palmer did so at Temple (117).
Massachusetts ranks tied for the fourth-most receivers with 100 or more yards in a game this season alongside Louisiana Tech, SMU, Virginia and Washington State. Oklahoma State and Louisiana each have four while Arizona State leads the nation with five.
Current Location: An Endzone Near You
Three Minutemen approach the career top 10 at UMass in rushing touchdowns or touchdown receptions, including Adam Breneman (TE), Andy Isabella (WR) and Marquis Young (RB). Breneman and Isabella each enter the game against Appalachian State with 11 career touchdown receptions, two away from tying Kerry Taylor (1995-98) for 10th all-time. Young enters the weekend with 16 career rushing scores, four away from evening with Frank Alessio (1993-96), Jerome Bledsoe (1988-91) and Paul Metallo (1971-72).
Ford Learned His Lesson Early
UMass quarterback Andrew Ford threw a tipped-ball interception on his first pass attempt of the season. Ford followed with 168 pass attempts without an interception over the remainder of the Hawai'i game (21-of-30 total), at Coastal Carolina (25-of-41), vs. Old Dominion (21-of-32), at Temple (23-of-37), at Tennessee (11-of-17) and against Ohio (6-of-12) before the Bobcats picked off Ford on a tipped ball in the second quarter.Ā
He sports a 151.94 passer rating this season and is 142-for-223 overall (63.7 completion percentage) with 1,880 yards and 13 touchdown passes.
Only one other player across NCAA Division I FBS have two or fewer interceptions thrown with as many or more pass attempts: NC State's Ryan Finley (172-248-0).
Taking The Long Route
Edge-rusher Da'Sean Downey ranks among the nation's leaders in tackles for loss, standing tied for 12th in TFLs per game (1.6) and tied for 13th in total TFLs (11.5). He is also tied for 29th in sacks per game (0.71) and tied for 30th nationally in sacks (5.0).
Downey posted a career-high 4.0 TFLs and tied his personal best with 2.0 sacks in the 55-20 win over Georgia Southern (10/21). The 4.0 TFLs against the Eagles' offensive line marked the ninth-most in a single game across FBS this season and it is one of only 21 individual performances all season with 4.0 TFLs or more.
[Insert Prayer Hands Emoji Here]
UMass football recorded its first safety as an FBS program against Ohio. In the third quarter, a bad snap by the Bobcats landed in the endzone, which Ohio recovered for the safety. The last time UMass had a safety was against Central Connecticut on Oct. 8, 2011.
Whipple Approaches All-Time Wins Record
Head coach Mark Whipple is two wins away from moving into first all-time in UMass history for career victories. Whipple owns 58 triumphs over his two tenures as the program's leader (1998- 2003; '14-present).
Vic Fusia (1961-70) currently ranks first in UMass football history with 59 victories. Whipple is one of five coaches in team history with at least five winning seasons. Fusia leads the way with eight while Don Brown (2004-08), Harold "Kid" Gore (1919-27), Mel Taube (1931-35) and Whipple each have five.
