Minutemen fall again
Offense sputters throughout
AMHERST — The final 1:41 of yesterday’s 17-7 loss to Old Dominion acted as a microcosm for the UMass season.
The Minutemen started a drive from their 1-yard line, and it ended as time ran out when Cycoby Burch ran 23 yards to the Old Dominion 39.
If there was a comeback to be had, it ended in a whimper for the Minutemen.
“The defense played well enough to win. The offense shot themselves in the foot. We didn’t execute enough to win. We need to get back to work tonight. It’s a short week and we have to get ready for Temple on Friday night,’’ said UMass coach Mark Whipple, whose club fell to 0-3 and did little yesterday to excite the McGuirk Stadium crowd of 9,028. “Credit Old Dominion. They made plays. We didn’t play well up front (on offense) and we took some sacks we didn’t need to.’’
UMass quarterback Andrew Ford (21-of-32 for 236 yards, TD) stuck up for his defense, but admitted he and the rest of the offense must play better. The Minutemen did not commit a turnover, but produced only 332 yards on 73 plays.
“This one is on the offense. This one is on me. The defense played unbelievable,’’ said Ford, whose favorite target, tight end Adam Breneman, caught three passes for 18 yards despite a balky leg. “It was tough to get into a rhythm. I took some sacks I shouldn’t.”
The Monarchs drove 64 yards in 10 plays on the opening drive to set up a 28-yard field goal by Nick Rice for a 3-0 lead with 10:32 left in the first quarter.
The game evolved into a defensive struggle, with the teams combining for 15 punts.
On his team’s last drive before the half, Old Dominion quarterback Blake LaRussa moved the Monarchs 86 yards in nine plays and hit receiver Jonathan Duhart for a 2-yard score with a minute remaining. Rice tacked on the conversion kick and Old Dominion led, 10-0.
The Monarchs’ touchdown proved costly to UMass, as star sophomore cornerback Isaiah Rodgers was hurt three plays before the score. Rodgers needed help from the training staff to get off the field and appeared to favor his right leg as he hobbled toward the locker room. Rodgers later returned with 10:41 to play in the fourth.
A bright spot for UMass in the opening half was junior Andy Isabella, who surged past 1,500 career all-purpose yards. Isabella entered the game with 1,493 and had 54 (14 rushing, 40 receiving) before the break.
He provided the spark the Minutemen desperately needed to begin the second half when he hauled in a short aerial from Ford and turned on the jets. The speedy 5-foot-9 product of Mayfield, Ohio, sprinted away from everyone for a 60-yard touchdown just 34 seconds into the third quarter. Redshirt freshman Michael Schreiner added the extra point and the deficit was a manageable 10-7.
“It sparked us a little,’’ said Isabella, who finished the game with 150 all-purpose yards (31 on returns, 105 receiving, 14 rushing).
UMass came up with a defensive stand to halt Old Dominion’s Jeremy Cox on fourth down from the 1-yard line behind the combination of Ali AliMusa and Jarell Addo at the UMass 2 with 12:12 to play.
“Everybody on the D-line did their job. That’s how we got the stop. We were prepared for anything,’’ said Ali-Musa, who led UMass with 15 tackles.
Backed up deep, UMass had to punt and Old Dominion quarterback Jordan Hoy followed a lead block by right tackle Chad Hendricks into the end zone for his first career touchdown. A Rice PAT made it a 10-point gap with 6:59 to go.
UMass tip-toed into Old Dominion territory with a little over three minutes left at the Monarchs’ 38, but Ford suffered consecutive sacks and the Minutemen surrendered the ball on downs.