Record numbers pile up for local stars
The blustery winds this weekend ushered in some fantastic performances on the local college football scene, both individually and team-wise.
UMass receiver Andy Isabella sparked a seat-squirming 62-59 triple-overtime win by the UMass (4-6) over Liberty (4-4). The electrifying Isabella, who belongs in an NFL camp next season as a potential slot receiver, hauled in nine catches for 303 yards with long touchdown receptions of 89 and 61, both from red-shirt senior Ross Comis, who was equally brilliant. Comis hit on 29-of44 for 540 yards, the program’s second-most passing yards behind Blake Frohnapel’s 589 against Bowling Green on Sept. 27, 2014.
Isabella’s receiving yards eclipsed a 2008 mark set by Victor Cruz, who had 13 catches for 262 yards against then-No. 7-ranked JMU.
“Andy is a really good player,’’ said UMass coach Mark Whipple. “We thought we were going to be able to get him open down the field.
I was looking at the weather reports and there were supposed to be 20-to-24 mile-per-hour winds, but we kept at it and threw some good balls because he’s got the type of speed where if you throw it just a little bit over it gives him a chance.
“He played great. He’s a phenomenal kid, one of the hardest workers I’ve ever coached,’’ Whipple said. “He deserves all the accolades he gets. He’s a special guy, who is tremendously respected by everybody on the team. Probably more importantly, as soon as he finishes the game, he’s respected by everyone on the other team.’’
Said Isabella about becoming the new Cruz missile at UMass, “It’s pretty cool. I used to love watching Victor Cruz when I was young. He was a great player. It feels better that we got the win. I don’t think it would have meant anything if we didn’t get the win.”
A home run
Harvard quarterback Tom Stewart saved his best work for his final home appearance as the Crimson (4-4, 2-3 Ivy) pummeled a banged-up Columbia (4-4, 1-4) squad, 5218. Stewart acted fast before the late third-quarter southwest gusts ramped up to near 40 mph. He hit junior Jack Cook for a 92-yard score on the first play from scrimmage, the longest touchdown pass play in the 145-year history of Harvard football. It eclipsed a Chet Boulris-to-Hank Keohane 85-yarder at Yale in 1959.
Stewart followed with a 75-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Tyler Adams, before later hitting sophomore back Aaron Shampklin for a 74-yard catch-and-run. Stewart was 5-of-6 for 251 yards and three scores in the first half alone. The five scores matched Carroll Lowenstein (against Davidson, 1953), Colton Chapple (Bucknell, 2011) and Collier Winters (Princeton, 2011) for most in a single game. The Dallas native’s final 393 passing yards marked the eighth best performance in Harvard history.
“The wind wasn’t too bad in the first half. We try for big plays anytime we can get them. It was part of the game plan and we just did a good job of executing,’’ Stewart said.
On the defensive
Meanwhile, the University of New Hampshire came up with six turnovers, including a pair of first-half interceptions for touchdowns, to stun the visiting James Madison (6-3), 35-24.
Junior safety Rick Ellison returned an interception 44 yards for one score and sophomore safety Evan Horn later added a 75-yard pick-6. It was the first time UNH (3-6, 2-4 CAA) scored two defensive touchdowns in a game since Oct. 22, 2016.
Running wild
Asssumption (6-3) junior Mason Spence of Boston had a 66-yard interception return for touchdown with 32 seconds to play to close out a 52-21 win at Bentley (3-6). Five different backs, including Cody Williams of Wilbraham and Doug Santos of Peabody, had touchdowns for the Greyhounds.