The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Mayfield grad is nation’s leading WR
In a triple overtime victory over Liberty, he set a UMass record with 303 receiving yards
It took a while to remember, but Mayfield High graduate Andy Isabella is pretty sure he had a day on the gridiron similar to the one Nov. 3.
The big difference is the one Nov. 3 was accomplished on a much bigger stage.
The standout UMass wide receiver had a game for the ages in a wild 62-59 tripleovertime win over Liberty. Isabella had a school-record 303 receiving yards on eight catches (a whopping 37.8 yards per reception), plus two long touchdowns.
The 303 yard mark broke former NFL receiver and UMass alum Victor Cruz’s single-game school record of 262, and had Isabella thinking back to his days playing Pop Warner days as a squirt.
“I remember one game a guy was hurt and they put me in at running back. They gave me like 20 carries, and I had about 400 yards and five touchdowns,” Isabella said with a laugh.
His latest bust-out game will be more memorable, as it helped give UMass its fourth win of the season, and solidified Isabella’s lead as the nation’s No. 1 receiver for yards with 1,394. In 10 games, he has 77 receptions (No. 2 nationally) and 11 touchdowns (No. 3 nationally).
Two long TDs sparked the big performance. The first was an 89-yard reception in which Isabella did not break stride on a fly pattern. On his second TD, he took a screen pass, followed his blockers and tiptoed the sideline en route to a 61-yard TD.
With history within his reach, Isabella stood on the sideline a bit oblivious as to what was happening.
“I had no idea until the second half,” he said. “Then someone came up to me and said, ‘You need 18 more yards to get 300.’ I was like, ‘What?’ “
One final catch for 22 yards put Isabella at 303 for the game. It could have been more, but he didn’t post a reception in the three overtime periods.
According to The Associated Press, it’s just the third 300-yard receiving game by an FBS player in the last five seasons. It was also the fifth 100-yard game this season for Isabella. He’s had individual games of 198, 191, 174 and 131 yards.
As long as Isabella keeps posting big numbers, the likelihood of earning AllAmerica honors continues to grow. When he arrived at UMass four years ago, and before that as a youth and high school player, Isabella dreamed of being an All-American.
With two games to play, that possibility looks like a reality.
“I used to have that dream, but at the end of the day I really don’t care about stuff like (being an All-American),” said Isabella. “With my college career winding down, it’s more about the relationships I’ve built here. It would be cool for my parents, my friends and the people back at Mayfield.”
UMass’ last two games are tough as the team hopes to win out and finish 6-6. First is a home contest vs. BYU Nov. 10, and the toughest of all — at Georgia Nov. 17.
Adding to his total will be a challenge as he and the Minutemen will be facing a step up in talent from the opposition. Plus, Isabella knows there will extra attention on his coming off a 300-yard game. He has grown used to that during the season, and said he hopes to “finish out strong.”
“I’ve seen a lot more man coverage with a guy over the top,” said Isabella. “I’m used to having more than one guy following me. But Coach (Mark) Whipple always has big plays planned for me.”
When the season is complete, Isabella will begin training for the 2019 NFL Draft, and is hoping to get an invite to the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., the draft combine in Indianapolis, or both.
“It’s hard to think not,” when asked about an invite to either or both. “But being from UMass, maybe there’s people who still think I’m not worthy.”
Isabella’s stats, blazing speed and production say otherwise. With or without those invites, his journey from Mayfield to Amherst, Mass., has been a fulfilling one, said Isabella. He’s gone from a player who had just one FBS scholarship offer (from UMass) as a Mayfield senior to a player on the verge of becoming an All-America pick as a senior.
“I’ve had a lot of ups and downs, and it’s been tough, but it’s been worth it,” said Isabella. “I’ll leave UMass as a tougher person.”