Oct. 8, 2005

Box Score | Quotes | Notes
Complete Game VideoCast Courtesy of UVC-TV

AMHERST, Mass. The nation's best defense was once again wonderful, as UMass held Northeastern to just 72 yards of total offense in posting the second shutout of the season, winning 27-0 in a driving rain storm.

The Minutemen have allowed just six points over the last three games, its best run of defense since 1965, when McGuirk Stadium opened. Shannon James picked off his school-record 19th career interception and returned it for his third career touchdown.

R.J. Cobbs also ran for two touchdowns in the first quarter, coming from 13 and 31 yards.

The UMass' defense, which came into the game leading the nation in four categories cotinued to dominate as they equaled the lowest mark UMass has held an A-10 opponent to in terms of total yards since 1982, in holding the Huskies to just 72 yards. In 1999, UMass also allowed just 72 yards to Northeastern which was the best since 1982 when UMass held New Hampshire to just 67 yards. UMass is allowing just 162 yards of total offense per game.

With the second shutout, UMass is allowing just 5.8 points per game, also best in the nation. The defense limited Northeastern to just 36 passing yards, the fewest by an opponent since Rhode Island in 2002. Overall, the defense is giving up just 81.6 yards of passing offense each game.

Northeastern had just five total first downs in the game including just two in the second half.

The wet conditions made it hard to move the ball as the teams combined for just nine completions and 25 total passing attempts. The ground game was effective for UMass as the Minutemen racked up 164 yards led by Cobbs, who had 99 yards on 15 carries. Steve Baylark had 65 yards on 17 carries.

Quarterback Liam Coen completed just five of nine passes for 53 yards, but of them went to Tim Day -- who was UMass' starting quarterback this season. Day hauled in two passes for 25 yards to led all players in receiving yards.

* With the nation's top defense, UMass has allowed just six total points over the last three games, the lowest three-game total since 1965 - the year McGuirk Stadium was built. In the final three games of that season, UMass beat Vermont (41-6), Holy Cross (27-0) and New Hampshire (46-0).

* UMass held Northeastern to just 72 yards of offense, the lowest total by an Atlantic 10 opponent since Oct. 9 1999, when they held Northeastern to 72 yards. UMass also had its best showing vs. an Atlantic 10 team when it comes to passing defense since holding Rhode Island to 18 yards on Nov, 23, 2002.

* Also, it is the first time UMass has held three consecutive opponents to fewer than 10 points since 1992 when they beat Rhode Island (32-7), UConn (20-7) and Villanova (13-9).

* The last season UMass had two shutouts in the same campaign was 1980 when the Minutemen blanked Delaware State (37-0) on 9/27/80 and New Hampshire (17-0) on 11/15/80.

* UMass which came into the game with the nation's best defense in scoring, total yards and pass defense should continue to lead in all categories with updated numbers as follows after the Northeastern game: Scoring defense (5.8 ppg), Total yards defense (162 yards/game) and Passing yards defense (81.6 yards/game).

* Of note, the Division I-AA (which started in 1978) record for best scoring defense in a season is 6.5, set by South Carolina State in 1978, which gave up just 72 points in 11 games. The UMass record for fewest points allowed in a season came in 1963, as UMass gave up just 1.33 points per game, 12 points in nine games.

* Shannon James had his 19th career interception in the second quarter. That set the all-time UMass career interception record breaking the tie James had been in with Grady Fuller (1980-83) and Steve Rogers (1967-69).

* James continues to be the active leader in career interceptions, in all of Division I-A and I-AA.

* James' return for a 35-yard touchdown was the first interception return for a score in James' career and the third touchdown of his career as he also return a fumble for a score vs. Villanova (10/25/03) and had a 48-yard rush on a fake punt vs. James Madison (10/26/02)

* James Ihedigbo had his fifth career interception in the second quarter, but first since the 2003 season when he picked off four passes. The last was on Oct. 18, 2003 vs. Hofstra.

* UMass had three first-half interceptions ending with Cesar Rosario's first career pick-off as time expired in the first half.

* R.J. Cobbs ran for two touchdowns in the first quarter and now has 19 in his career, standing 11th on UMass' all-time rushing touchdown list. It was also his second straight game with two TDs as he also did it vs. Rhode Island.

* Tim Day caught his first career pass in the first quarter, a five-yard grab from Liam Coen. He had his second grab of the game on a 20-yard completion with seven minutes left in the first half.

* Kyle B. Harrington had his first career touchdown on a 6-yard reception from Liam Coen in the second quarter. It came on his third career catch.

* Christian Koegel had a season-long 58-yard punt with his first punt of the game ... It was the 10th time in 13 games which he had a punt of 50 yards or more.