Drive By Drive Review of UMass Defense In Blowout Loss To Northern Illinois
The Minutemen struggled to get timely stops when it mattered most
AMHERST, Mass. - Northern Illinois smothered the UMass defense time and time again to win 45-3. The Minutemen struggled against the run, and broke multiple coverages in the secondary throughout the game.
After a solid start by the defense, NIU adjusted and dominated the Minutemen on the ground with outside runs from running back Chavon Wright and RPO plays from quarterback Jalen Macon.
The contest was practically over at halftime as UMass trailed 31-0.
The Minutemen defense actually got off to a good start at the beginning of the first quarter, holding NIU to a 37-yard field goal, despite bad field position after the Huskies blocked Keegan Andrews’ punt.
However, the bleeding began on NIU’s second drive. The Huskies converted on a crucial 4th-and-1 near midfield. Wright then added on a 22-yard outside run to get the ball into Minutemen territory.
Macon broke three different tackles for a first-down run on 2nd-and-long to get the Huskies deep in the red zone.
Another designed quarterback run by Macon led to a touchdown for NIU, capping off an 11-play, 66-yard drive.
Early in the second quarter, the Minutemen secondary characteristically blew coverage, leading to a 67-yard receiving touchdown by WR Elijah Porter to increase the lead to 17-0.
On its next drive, NIU once again demolished UMass on the ground, with designed quarterback runs and outside runs from Wright getting them deep in the red zone. Macon capped off the 11-play, 68-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run into the endzone on 3rd and 1 to give the Huskies a 24-0 lead with 2:34 left in the half.
After a costly fumble by quarterback Brandon Rose deep in UMass territory, NIU capitalized by finishing off a quick two-play, 13-yard drive that ended with yet another one-yard touchdown run by Macon to increase the lead to 31-0 at the half.
To start the third quarter, Macon ran for a 36-yard touchdown to cap off a six-play, 73-yard drive, to increase the lead to 38-0. No one on the Minutemen defense was near Macon during the long dash into the end zone.
The bleeding would continue as UMass allowed a 31-yard touchdown pass by backup quarterback Brady Davidson to increase the lead to 45-0 with 8:16 left in the third quarter. The Minutemen surrendered yet another quick drive touchdown in just two plays and 52 yards.
NIU would end up winning 45-3.
With UMass falling to 0-10, first-year head coach Joe Harasymiak still has a lot of work to do when it comes to his previously highly-touted defense.
During the postgame press conference, Harasymiak didn’t try to beat around the bush, and immediately took accountability.
“There is no one else in this whole organization to blame but me,” Harasymiak said. “I will take 100% ownership for this. It’s all on the head coach, not the players or the other coaches. It’s all on me.”
UMass looks to make the most out of its final two games of the season, as they are still searching for its first win of the season. The defense will have to make vast improvements if they want to achieve that.