Cool Whipple takes loss in stride
When you’re wearing a large Super Bowl victory ring on your hand it’s perfectly acceptable to walk into the postgame press conference in socks and no football shoes. It’s also a sign of an even-keeled demeanor, which coach Mark Whipple has restored to the UMass program.
Amid all the emotion in the aftermath of the Minutemen’s heartbreaking 25-23 loss Saturday to heavily favored Temple (3-0), the calmest person inside Gillette Stadium appeared to be Whipple.
“Proud of the way the guys responded from last week (48-14 loss at Colorado),” Whipple said. “I didn’t think that was the football team I had been coaching and the assistant coaches did a nice job of getting the guys ready. They competed and found a way to get there at the end. We probably celebrated a bit too early and that can happen. Credit Temple. They made the plays at the end of the game that you need to make and that’s why we came up on the short end.”
On the wild momentum swing in the final two minutes, Whipple said, “That’s just football. You see it at all levels so I’m a lot more experienced with all those games in the NFL, you think crazy things can happen and you’re dealing with kids and you always talk about finishing. Our guys believe on defense. I think we have a good team. I wouldn’t have said that last week, so we’ll see how they respond to that.’’
UMass senior Tajae Sharpe hauled in 11 catches for 156 yards to become the program leader in career receptions with 188, one more than Adrian Zullo (19982002). Sharpe also extended his consecutive games with a catch streak to 37, third-longest among active players.
Defensive back Kelton Brackett, a senior transfer from Alabama-Birmingham, recorded six tackles, a fumble recovery, and interception. Senior linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox led the way with 11 tackles (three for loss) and a 7-yard sack.
“I have the absolute, utmost respect for UMass and for the way they played. Their defense played lights out, their wide receivers made plays, they blocked, the quarterback (senior Blake Frohnapfel) is a warrior,’’ Temple coach Matt Rhule said. “They competed and we knew they would. . . . They had a great game plan for us, and they played really hard. I’m sorry they had to lose like that.”
UMass plays at Notre Dame Saturday.
Stonehill clinic
Coaches refrain from uttering the word “perfection,” but it’s safe to say that Stonehill’s Robert Talley would admit his Skyhawks were clicking on all cylinders in a 51-13 drubbing of Pace. Stonehill has won its first three games for the first time in eight years.
Stonehill’s offense con- trolled the football for a whopping 40:31 and ran off 72 plays without a penalty. It outgained the Setters, 472-131, including 292-66 on the ground. The Skyhawks were sharp in third-down situations, going 8-of-11 (73 percent). Senior tailback Colin Markus had 166 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Numbers for nothing
Fitchburg State coach Patrick Haverty watched his offense rack up 17 first downs and 445 yards behind junior quarterback Garrett Dellachiaie (27-of-42, 340 yards, TD) of Leominster. But the Falcons also were flagged 12 times for 111 yards, fumbled four times (losing three), and turned the ball over twice on picks. The result was a 34-21 loss to rival Framingham State, which had a terrific effort from sophomore linebacker Stephen Beahn of Spencer with 16 tackles, 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble. . . .
Mass. Maritime let its four-year grip on the Admiral’s Cup slip away when Maine Maritime proved an ungracious host in a 47-41 shootout in Castine, Maine. The 88 combined points marked the most in the 43year history of the series. Mariners senior linebacker Jed Doyon keyed a goal-line stand and had a game-high 16 tackles. Four players recorded 100-yard rushing efforts, including Mass. Maritime’s Kenny Pierce (212, three touchdowns) of Beverly and Brad Skeffington (160) of Salem. . . .
In UMass-Dartmouth’s 4841 win at Westfield State, the Corsairs produced a staggering 744 yards of total offense (489 passing, 255 rushing) on 74 plays. UMD survived 14 penalties for 133 yards. Freshman Abbi Bamgbose of Fitchburg had seven receptions for 209 yards and four scores. Westfield State quarterback Erik Washburn set program marks with 448 passing yards and four touchdown throws.