UMass opens season with win
Taisun Phommachanh passed for 192 yards and added a rushing touchdown, Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams scored two fourthquarter touchdowns, and UMass defeated New Mexico State, 4130, in a season opener Saturday night in Las Cruces, N.M.
The Minutmen equaled last year’s win total with the victory in the first matchup on the 2023 calendar after going 1-11 in ’22.
Phommachanh ran 26 yards on a fourth-and-seven play midway through the fourth quarter to set up a 10-yard touchdown run by Lynch-Adams that gave the Minutemen a 10-point lead. On New Mexico State’s ensuing possession, defensive back Isaiah Rutherford intercepted a pass and returned it 55 yards to give UMass a 34-17 lead with 6:40 remaining.
The back-to-back touchdowns came after New Mexico State drew within 20-17 on a 42yard deep ball from Diego Pavia to Trent Hudson, who made a leaping grab in front of a teammate for the touchdown. The Aggies connected on another deep route, Pavia throwing 40 yards to Jordin Parker to make it 34-24 with 4:35 remaining.
UMass added a 21-yard touchdown run by Lynch-Adams two plays after a fumble was recovered by Billy Wooden.
New Mexico State added a 1yard scoring pass from Pavia to Hudson on the game’s final play.
Phommachanh, a transfer who previously played at Georgia Tech and Clemson, completed 10 of 17 passes. He added 92 yards on the ground.
UMass will be back in action Saturday at Auburn.
Pavia went 16-for-27 passing for 248 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions.
The Aggies’ Monte Watkins scampered 80 yards for a TD. Notre Dame 42, Navy 3 — In Dublin, Sam Hartman threw for four touchdowns in his Notre Dame debut and the No. 13 Fighting Irish routed Navy in a season-opening victory in Ireland’s capital.
Hartman, a grad transfer from Wake Forest, completed 19 of 23 passes for 251 yards. He connected with Jaden Greathouse on two scoring strikes, the second a 20-yard reception that made the score 35-0 early in the third quarter and kept the Irish offense perfect at that point — scoring touchdowns in their first five possessions.
Audric Estimé led the Irish in rushing with 95 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.
Navy avoided a shutout on a 30-yard field goal with 3:37 left. USC 56, San Jose St. 28 — In Los Angeles, Caleb Williams passed for 278 yards and four touchdowns in his return from his Heisman Trophy season, and freshman Zachariah Branch had a 96-yard kickoff return and a 25-yard reception for scores in No. 6 Southern California’s opening win over San Jose State.
Dorian Singer, Tahj Washington, and Brenden Rice also caught TD passes and Austin Jones rushed for two more scores for the Trojans.