UMass Suffers Road Loss To Akron 44-10
The Minutemen defeated on their midweek MACtion debut
After eight straight losses to start the Joe Harasymiak era in Amherst, UMass made it nine in a row with a loss to the Akron Zips 44-10 on Tuesday night.
The discipline problems continued throughout the contest with multiple holding calls on vital plays, and an unsportsmanlike conduct by redshirt sophomore Brennan Bailey that saw him removed from the game - and the sidelines - by his own coaching staff.
UMass starting quarterback AJ Hairston came into the game last in the MAC in completion percentage, touchdowns and efficiency, and it didn’t get much better against the Zips.
Hairston went 13-for-19 for 85 yards and a touchdown. Brandon Hood finished with 18 rushing yards on 10 attempts.
On the other side, starting quarterback Ben Finley went 12-for-21 for 197 yards and two touchdowns. Zips running back Jordan Gant rushed 23 times for 134 yards and a touchdown.
Akron was looking at a score coming out of the intermission until UMass safety Kendall Bournes nailed Finley inches before the goal line. The ball popped up in the air, and landed into Zeraun Daniel’s pouch for a fumble recovery. The Minutemen finally found momentum in a game full of struggles and fundamental mistakes.
But it would be short-lived.
UMass began its drive following the forced fumble. After two Minutemen first downs, they faced a 3rd-and-1 with 6:33 left in the third quarter.
Hairston handed off the football to Hood, but at the point of contact, the ball squirted backwards, out of both sets of hands.
Hairston nonchalantly attempted to retrieve the ball while retreating, but it wasn’t enough as Akron’s Gage Summers shoved Hairston to the ground, gathered the ball and broke tackles on his way to the end zone for a Zips touchdown. The extra point was good, making it 34-10.
The Zips tacked on 10 more points from a successful Matthew Schramm field goal from 42, and a Gant rush up the middle for a 9-yard touchdown.
Failed fake punts, muffed punts and more penalties riddled an already beaten down UMass team all game.
Third-string quarterback Grant Jordan led the Minutemen in rushing yards with 44, triggering the possibility of another quarterback debate for the next week. Rashad Henry led UMass with 11 tackles, and Marques White wasn’t far behind with seven.
On UMass’ first play of the game, Hairston handed the ball off to Rocko Griffin, who slipped while attempting a flea flicker. While falling on his back side, Griffin tossed the football short of Hairston, landing in the path of an Akron defender who fell on the turf to retrieve the ball on the fumble.
On the third play after the Minutemen turnover, Finley fired a pass up the middle to a partially-covered Kyan Mason for an Akron touchdown. Owen Wiley’s extra point was good to make it 7-0.
The Minutemen couldn’t find any success on the next drive. Hairston threw two incomplete passes, while gaining just one yard on the ground, leading to a three-and-out.
The Zips took nine plays to score their next touchdown. On 3rd and 9, Finley placed a pass into the route of Israel Polk for a 13-yard score. Akron converted two third downs on the drive.
UMass inputted Hood and Jordan for the next drive, and Jordan’s 47-yard run set the Minutemen up with a 1st-and-goal from the one. On second down, Hairston rainbowed a pass into the path of Magnus Von Saldern after some nifty misdirection. Hood started the drive with two impact runs for 13 yards before Jordan’s long scamper.
After an Akron three-and-out, the Minutemen were back on offense and began their drive with five rushes on their first seven plays. Two third-down conversions brought them to deep Derek Morris field goal range. The sophomore kicker successfully drilled a 55-yard field goal, increasing the program record and his career long.
With their lead cut down to four, the Zips needed to respond in order to halt any UMass momentum. They did just that, courtesy of a Finley quarterback power up the middle to restore the two score differential. The drive took seven plays, and was highlighted by five Gant rushes for 55 yards.
The following Minutemen drive was eventful, but still led to a Keegan Andrews punt. Harasymiak elected to go for it on 4th and 3, and converted with a completion to Max Dowling. On 3rd and 15 at the UMass 41, Hairston lofted a ball up for Griffin on the run, who couldn’t haul it in via his single left hand.
Gant went to work on the next Akron drive, but stops on the second set of downs earned UMass a big stop five minutes before the half.
Joseph Castle’s punt pinned the Minutemen in front of their own end zone. A 5-yard loss on Jordan’s rush led to a quick Andrews punt a few plays later.
Finley and the Zips took advantage of UMass’ offensive ineptitude in just three plays. A 46-yard completion to Marcel Williams got Akron going, and Gant finished the drive off at the goal line for another touchdown. Schramm missed the extra point, keeping the score at 27-10.
Both teams traded unsuccessful drives, leading to a 27-10 halftime score in favor of the Zips.
The Minutemen went into the half with 64 rushing yards compared to Akron’s 122, six first downs compared to the Zips 13 and 31 receiving yards compared to Akron’s 161.
Akron made mistakes to give UMass a chance in the game, but multiple mistakes on the Minutemen’s part ended any opportunity at a first win of the season.
The Minutemen continue their search for win No. 1 next Wednesday at home against Northern Illinois. Kick off at McGuirk Alumni Stadium is scheduled for 7PM.
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