UMass, Ga. Southern deliver for final time
To say the all-too-brief fourgame series between Georgia Southern and UMass has a history is an understatement.
The matchup had its birth in the 1998 NCAA Division 1-AA national championship game, where the Minutemen stunned the top-ranked Eagles, 55-43, before 17,501 fans in Finley Stadium in Chattanooga, Tenn. to lay claim to the title.
That year, UMass coach Mark Whipple had installed a special play during preseason nicknamed “Chattanooga.” It featured several linemen split wide across the line of scrimmage. The Eagles were so unnerved when UMass unveiled it that they used a timeout to regoup before the game’s first scrimmage play had taken place.
Twenty years later, the series is tied 2-2 after Georgia Southern won 34-13 in Statesboro, Ga. Georgia Southern re-installed its vaunted triple-option offense and gained 334 yards on 59 rushing attempts.
“Down there it was hot (86 degrees). They just played better than we did. We dropped some balls on offense. Defensively we had some communication issues. We just made a couple of crucial mistakes,” said Whipple. “Their crowd was into it. A good rivalry but it reminded me more of 1999 (38-21 loss in NCAA quarterfinals) than it did 1998.”
UMass (1-2) concludes a threegame road trip at Florida International this week.
“They had a tough loss (38-28) at Indiana and a good win (28-20) at Old Dominion. They have a lot of good athletes. It’s another big test for us,” Whipple said.
UMass senior quarterback Andrew Ford hit 22-of-33 passes for 190 yards. Batterymate Ross Comis also saw action in the customary change-of-pace strategy. Senior Andy Isabella led the receivers with nine catches for 95 yards. Defensively, Chinedu Ogbonna posted a career-high 10 tackles. In the game, Ford topped 6,000 career passing yards and senior back Marquis Young surged past 3,000 career rushing yards.
It might be overlooked, but UMass has been solid in the kicking game. Mike Caggiano converted both field goal attempts, from 32 and 41 yards. On the season, he is 7-of-7 in extra points.
’Cats streak in jeopardy
Struggling New Hampshire (02), which has made the NCAA postseason a record 14 straight years, lost to Colgate, 10-3, and needs to regroup in a hurry.
The Wildcats travel to Folson Field in Boulder this week to face FBS-entry Colorado.
UNH received a solid defensive effort against Colgate, led by junior linebacker Quinlan Dean, who posted a career-high 15 tackles. Senior wideout Neil O’Connor of Leominster shined on offense with 10 catches for 111 yards . . . .
UMass-Dartmouth was clearly in the cross-hairs of No.23 Delaware Valley, which prevailed 5221. The Corsairs did receive solid work in the backfield from freshmen Steffan Gravely of Lynn and Devante Graves of Raynham . . . .
Cortland State drubbed visiting Framingham State, 57-19 but Dorchester native Napoleon Miller, who played at Newton North, was a bright spot for the Rams with 11 catches for 130 yards and a TD . . . .
Bentley registered a comefrom-behind 24-22 victory over Southern Connecticut in a game delayed 19 hours due to thunderstorms. The Falcons were outgained 272-22 in the first half, but rallied behind sophomore quarterback Seamus Leary of Holden and St. Peter-Marian. Leary rushed for one score and passed for another. Defensively, junior cornerback Derek Perkins of Milton returned an interception 41 yards for a touchdown . . . .
Endicott used a balanced effort — 115 passing yards, 95 rushing yards — from sophomore quarterback Dylan Bonfilio of Burlington in a 17-3 win against Bridgewater State.