AMHERST, Mass. — Massachusetts football travels to Central Michigan on Saturday, October 25, for a 3:30 p.m. contest on EPSN+.
SERIES HISTORY
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Saturday’s game will mark the third all-time meeting between Central Michigan and UMass, with previous meetings coming in 2012-13 when the Minutemen were also in the MAC.
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Then on Nov. 23, 2013, Central Michigan posted a 37-0 win at Kelly Shorts Stadium in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.
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Tight end Rob Blanchflower had his first 100-yard game and finished with a career-best 10 catches, including his second touchdown of the year.
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At quarterback for the Minutemen, A.J. Doyle finished 30-for-45 for 253 yards and two touchdowns but he was also intercepted three times.
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UMass took a 21-14 lead in the third quarter, but Central Michigan responded with the game’s next four scores to earn the victory.
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The teams first met on Nov. 23, 2012 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts with the Chippewas earning a 42-21 win.
BRANDON BREAKS AWAY
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Redshirt freshman running back Brandon Hood rushed for a career-high 179 yards in the narrow loss to Buffalo, including a career-long rush of 90 yards, which also went for a touchdown.
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The 179 yards were the most by a Minuteman since Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams had 234 in a win at Army on Oct. 28, 2023.
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The 90 yard-rush marked the fourth longest rush in program history.
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All told, Hood carried the ball 28 times for a 7.5 yards per carry mark and had a pair of catches for an additional eight yards.
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Hood is a Colorado transfer from McDonough, Georgia and his brother, Colton, is a defensive back at Tennessee.
TIMMY TACKLES
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Timmy Hinspeter is averaging 9.9 tackles per game to rank fourth in the MAC and ninth in the nation, despite leaving the Buffalo game before halftime with an injury.
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Against Western Michigan, Hinspeter added 14 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery for a two-week average of 15.5 tackles per game.
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It marked the highest single-game tackle total for a Minuteman since Jalen Mackie had 19 against Army on Nov. 26, 2022.
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At then No. 19/20 Missouri, Hinspeter had 17 tackles (five solo) to go along with his first career interception, a sack and two tackles for loss.
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Hinspeter had double digit tackles in three consecutive games against Missouri, Western Michigan and Kent State,
QUICK OUTS
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Timmy Hinspeter is averaging 9.9 tackles per game to rank fourth in the MAC and ninth in the nation, despite leaving the Buffalo game prior to halftime with an injury.
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Against Bryant, Derek Morris’ 53-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter marked the longest field goal in program history, surpassing Sandro Vitiello (vs. Boston College, 1978) and Denis Gagnon (vs. New Hampshire, 1971) who both kicked a 52-yard field goals.
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Tyler Martin (a pick six) and DD Snyder II each had an interception against Bryant, marking the first two interception game by the Minutemen since Oct. 28, 2023, when UMass downed Army 21-14 (Juan Lua and Jeremiah McGill had the interceptions on that day).
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Keegan Andrews’ 46.70 yards per punt ranks second in the MAC and ninth nationally.
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UMass’ seven turnovers lost in seven games this season ranks third in the MAC (38th nationally).
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Jacquon Gibson‘s 358 receiving yards ranks seventh in the MAC, despite missing the past two games with an injury.
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A McNeese State and Dartmouth transfer, White also has seven tackles for loss, a forced fumble, a pass breakup and two quarterback hurries this season.
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Marques White is averaging 0.57 sacks per game to rank sixth in the MAC and 57th nationally (his four total sacks are also tied for 57th nationally).
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Derrieon Craig‘s 8.3 tackles per game also ranks in the top-10 in the MAC at sixth (42nd nationally).
