Minutemen Drop 20-3 Decision At SEC Foe Texas A&M

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – University of Massachusetts football kept it to a two-possession game deep into the fourth quarter but dropped a 20-3 decision against SEC foe Texas A&M at a cold and rainy Kyle Field (90,177).

Jalen Mackie led a stout defensive effort, totaling eight tackles (four solo) to go along with a sack and 1.5 TFL. Tyler Rudolph had seven tackles (five solo), while the Minutemen also posted three fumble recoveries.

On offense, Isaac Ross had four catches for 25 yards, while Kay'Ron Adams rushed 14 times for 58 yards. Brady Olson finished 9-for-22 passing, while Texas A&M's Conner Weigman finished 11-for-19 in conditions that challenged both quarterbacks.

How It Happened

Texas A&M took a 3-0 lead on the first drive of the game and that was how the first quarter would end with the Minutemen stopping the Aggies on their next drive.

Massachusetts took the ball for a second time and drove down the Texas A&M seven-yard line to end the first quarter, aided by a 21-yard Josiah Johnson catch.

Cameron Carson then converted a 25-yard field goal to cap off the 75-yard drive and tie the score, 3-3, with 14:06 to play in the second quarter.

On Texas A&M's next drive Conner Weigman hit Moose Muhammad III for a 38-yard gain but Tyler Rudolph forced a fumble and Jalen Stewart made the recovery to keep it a 3-3 game.

The Aggies started their third drive of the second quarter at UMass' 47-yard line and with a 22-yard pass from Weigman to Noah Thomas scored the game's first touchdown for a 10-3 lead.

The UMass defense held one last time to close out the half, forcing the Aggies to miss on a field goal attempt.

In the third quarter, Texas A&M converted a 35-yard field goal attempt to extend the lead to 13-3 with 7:49 left in the third quarter.

A 36-yard drive in the fourth ended with a Le'Veon Moss rushing touchdown up the middle for 12 yards, pushing the Aggies ahead and bringing the game to its final score of 20-3.

Notes

Massachusetts matched a season-high with three sacks
The Minutemen held Texas A&M to a 2-of-10 mark on third down.

Coach Brown Quotes

Opening Statement …

"It was a hard-fought game, no question. This was the toughest trip that we've had...I thought are guys handled [everything] really well, and based on how they handled them, it gave us a chance to play well in the game. And I don't think there was a lack of effort, energy, in any shape, manner or form, and that's kind of been the theme of this football team over the last several weeks...the reality is, I see tons of improvement in our team, and obviously, we just have to have it translate to wins."

Next Up

Next weekend, the Minutemen close out the season by playing host to Army in a noon game on Saturday, November 26 at McGuirk Alumni Stadium (ESPN+).

The game will feature a ceremony to honor the UMass seniors and will also be Military/First Responders Appreciation Day. For tickets, click here.

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

Cameron Carson

Josiah Johnson

Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams

Jalen Mackie

Brady Olson

Isaac Ross

Tyler Rudolph

Jalen Stewart