[ad_1]
AMHERST – The catch escaped the UMass football team in a 42-28 loss to Eastern Michigan on Saturday at McGuirk Alumni Stadium.
The Eagles scored 21 points in the first 18 minutes of the game, then held the Minutemen at bay for the remainder of the game. This is the third game in a row UMass (0-3) took two scores in the first quarter.
“It’s something that we highlight every day. Obviously, I don’t train him well enough, but that’s one of our things, the fast start and the execution, ”said UMass coach Walt Bell. “It’s execution, and again, it’s up to us as coaches, so we don’t start fast enough, it’s up to me.”
The Minutemen lost for the 14th straight game, the country’s second longest active streak behind Arizona. The Wildcats lost 21-19 to foe FCS Northern Arizona late Saturday night.
UMass tied for the Eagles for the final 45 minutes, but wasted their chances of reducing the East Michigan lead to one point.
UMass first-year quarterback Brady Olson connected with Melvin Hill on a shot from 45 yards deep with 1 minute and 51 seconds left in the third quarter, bringing the score to 28- 14.
Then the UMass defense forced the Eagles out three and out for the first time in the entire game and punt thanks to two breakage passes from corner Donte Lindsay. But Jermaine “OC” Johnson cut off the East Michigan punter and received a harshness penalty that resuscitated the drive.
Lindsay continued, forcing a fumble from Darius Boone in the next play. Vizcar Alobwede fell on the ball to send it back to UMass. Olson joined Hill on a 17-yard pass. The freshman returned the next room to the well, but Hill couldn’t hold on after the landing and fumbled. TJ Peavy recovered for the Eagles to finish the third quarter.
Eastern Michigan covered 80 yards in five games, and Jawon Hamilton finished it with a 10-yard touchdown. This pushed the Eagles’ advantage to 35-14 with 12:36 to go.
“We had a critical error on the special teams but we were saved by the defense but again too many critical errors when playing against a football team as good as they are,” said Bell. “If we capitalize on some of the things that have happened, it will be a shootout. “
UMass’ offense has held its end of the bargain. The Minutemen gained 519 attacking yards and had 30 first downs. They hadn’t hit those marks since a triple-0 overtime win over Liberty in 2018.
Olson pitched for 288 yards and two scores. He also ran for 16 yards and caught a 25-yard pass. The Milford native also missed a few easy shots and threw an interception.
“He did some things that you would expect of a freshman, but he also did some things that a very good player does,” said Bell. “He’s a difficult kid. We have to keep eliminating the big mistakes, and he will improve every time we play.
This will likely be Olson’s show for the foreseeable future. Bell said he didn’t know how long Tyler Lytle, the Colorado transfer who started Game 1 of the season, would be out, but added he “would expect it to be awhile. “.
The Minutemen have played without their preseason quarterback and running back (Kay’Ron Adams), as well as a host of players in the trenches.
The offense has found capable replacements. Ellis Merriweather ran for a career-high UMass 142 yards on 23 carries, including several 20-yard bursts.
“I feel like I’m still asserting myself as a running back. I feel like I probably left some stuff on the pitch, ”he said. “The offensive line blocked their buttocks, gave me a lot of room.”
Merriweather played almost every snapshot on offense and contributed to special teams, but missed part of UMass’ first practice in the first quarter. Enter the first year Carter Scudo. The converted Milford wide receiver carried the ball four times for 33 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown with 6:27 remaining that reduced the deficit to 35-21.
“He will make himself irreplaceable. I have no idea what his role will be someday, but I know he will be on the pitch and help UMass football, ”said Bell.
After Scudo’s score rose to 35-21, East Michigan quarterback Ben Bryant struck, finding wide receiver Zach Westmoreland for a 54-yard capture and was third with 4:07 left. Bryant finished 14 of 21 for 298 yards, receiving most of the offensive snaps for an Eagles team that have alternated quarterbacks this season.
Olson, who took every shot for the Minutemen, was still not finished. He opened with a nine-yard run after dropping a sack and was leveled out of bounds. A scrimmage ensued and UMass defensive lineman Taishan Holmes received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and was sent off for walking the field while in formal attire.
Merriweather pulled off a 26-yard gain two plays later, and Olson finished the run with a 29-yard touchdown to tight end Josiah Johnson jumping back and turning to the ball for the score with 53 seconds left. It was Johnson’s second TD of the day. The former quarterback also made UMass’ first trip to the end zone with a deadly one-yard run before half-time.
The Eagles further extended their lead to three points with 2:48 remaining in the third quarter. Darius Boone fled from the tackle to the right of a wild formation with running back Samson Evans at quarterback, finding the end zone after a one-yard run. Boone scored two touchdowns and Jawon Hamilton gained 122 rushing yards and found the end zone once.
Eastern Michigan ran for 184 yards and five team touchdowns. UMass’ first two opponents covered more than 200 meters on the ground.
“You have to be better at the edge of a defense. Our top players are under enormous pressure, and we haven’t done a very good job, ”said Bell. “We’re small, but that’s no excuse. It was bad today. We have to fix it. This needs to be fixed soon.
Kyle Grabowski can be contacted at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @kylegrbwsk.
[ad_2]
Source link