UMass will try to make it three straight wins to open the season when Stonehill comes to McGuirk Alumni Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Minutemen are 2-0 for the first time in their FBS era after wins over Rutgers and Sacred Heart, while the Skyhawks enter at 1-2. Saturday will be the first meeting between the programs and Stonehill’s first game against an FBS opponent.
Stonehill opened with a 24-6 loss to Bryant before beating New Haven 21-3. The Skyhawks nearly made it two straight last weekend before falling 42-35 at New Hampshire.
UMass head coach Joe Harasymiak believes the record could easily look different.
“They probably, rightfully so, watching the three games, they have a chance to be 3-0 coming in here,” Harasymiak said. “I’m impressed with them on film. They have our full attention.”
Stonehill Offense
Everything starts with fifth-year quarterback Jack O’Connell.
The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder has completed 60 of 92 passes for 774 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions through three games.
O’Connell is coming off the best passing performance of his career. He completed 27 of 44 passes for a career-high 380 yards and four touchdowns at New Hampshire while adding 53 rushing yards. His 433 yards of total offense were also a career high.
“They got a playmaker at quarterback,” Harasymiak said. “He makes them go. He can run it. He can put the ball on a line with speed and drill it in there.”
Harasymiak pointed to a throw against Bryant when O’Connell drove the ball into a tight window against Cover 2 and several throws against New Hampshire when he showed touch with pressure in his face.
Stonehill has given O’Connell several options in the passing game.
Tight end Cole Clarke leads the Skyhawks with 169 receiving yards on 11 catches, averaging 15.4 yards per reception. Torance Washington Jr. has eight catches for 110 yards and a touchdown, while Alijah Turner has 10 catches for 103 yards. Sophomore receiver Jaylin Baker has eight receptions for 97 yards and leads the team with two touchdown catches.
Baker caught both of those touchdowns last week against New Hampshire, while Turner accumulated 147 all-purpose yards.
Harasymiak came away particularly impressed with the receivers after watching the New Hampshire film.
“I think their wideouts can get open, especially versus man,” he said. “They showed that.”
Stonehill is averaging 258 passing yards and 397 total yards per game. The Skyhawks have been considerably less productive on the ground, averaging 139 rushing yards per game and 3.7 yards per carry.
Shane Eason leads the rushing attack with 152 yards and a touchdown on 30 attempts, while Aidan Garrett has 135 yards and a touchdown on 39 carries. O’Connell gives Stonehill another element as a runner.
Harasymiak also sees more in Stonehill’s offensive line than the rushing numbers might suggest.
“I think they got some nasty to them,” he said. “They finish you on blocks. If they got a chance to finish you, they finish you.”
The Skyhawks also caught his attention with their linemen working into the open field on screen passes against New Hampshire as well.
“They put their body on the line,” Harasymiak said. “They’re downhill. So, if you don’t play downhill, they’re going to have a chance to move us and dictate their own terms. We got to make sure we dictate our terms.”
The scheme itself has also impressed Harasymiak.
“Offensively, I really enjoy watching their scheme,” he said. “I think there’s thought behind it. It’s different every game. He’s putting his players in spots to make plays.”
Stonehill Defense
Stonehill’s defense has been much better than its 1-2 record might indicate.
The Skyhawks are allowing 314 yards per game and have been particularly effective against the pass. Opposing quarterbacks have completed 52.6 percent of their passes for 158.7 yards per game with one touchdown and three interceptions. Stonehill is also holding opponents to a 26.5-percent conversion rate on third down.
Linebacker Caden Henritzy leads the Skyhawks with 21 tackles through three games. Stonehill has produced 13 tackles for loss, three sacks and three interceptions as a team.
The personnel is only part of what jumped out to Harasymiak.
“Defensively, they’re very aggressive,” he said. “They get after you.”
The biggest challenge could come on passing downs, where Stonehill attempts to create confusion before the snap.
“Third down, I think they do a great job with presentations, dictating protections, forcing you to make really good decisions under pressure,” Harasymiak said.
That will provide another test for a UMass offensive line that hasn’t allowed a sack through two games.
The Bigger Picture
Continuity is one of the defining characteristics of the Stonehill program.
Head coach Eli Gardner is in his 11th season leading the Skyhawks after previously spending seven seasons on the staff. He has overseen the program’s transition from Division II to the FCS, which began in 2022 and culminated with Stonehill becoming fully eligible for the FCS playoffs beginning with the 2025 season.
That continuity extends to a roster with experience at several important positions. O’Connell has made 19 career starts, Henritzy has made 22 straight starts and senior center Joshua Troiano has also started 22 consecutive games.
UMass is still a substantial step up in competition, but Harasymiak doesn’t believe his team has reached a point where it can overlook anybody.
“Our program’s in no shape yet to take anybody lightly, and we never will,” Harasymiak said. “We’ve learned that lesson for years, and we obviously learned it last year.”
For the Minutemen, the larger challenge is continuing to raise their own standard after the 2-0 start.
UMass jumped on Sacred Heart early last week, but Harasymiak wasn’t satisfied with everything he saw after reviewing the film, particularly along the line of scrimmage. Stonehill represents another opportunity for the Minutemen to show progress before beginning MAC play at Sacramento State next week.
“We got to come out, we got to dictate the terms in this game,” Harasymiak said. “They will have our full attention. We respect them a lot, and I’m really impressed with them on film.”
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