KENT, Ohio - A 17-point third quarter paved the way for UMass to post a 40-17 win at Kent State on Saturday afternoon at Dix Stadium. Lorenzo Woodley rushed for 160 yards and a touchdown, while Blake Frohnapfel threw for 286 yards and three touchdowns.
The win was the first victory of 2014 for UMass, and also provided head coach Mark Whipple with his first win in his second tenure with the Minutemen.
UMass improves to 1-6 overall and 1-2 in the Mid-American Conference, while Kent State falls to 0-6 overall and 0-3 in the MAC.
The win was the first victory of 2014 for UMass, and also provided head coach Mark Whipple with his first win in his second tenure with the Minutemen.
UMass improves to 1-6 overall and 1-2 in the Mid-American Conference, while Kent State falls to 0-6 overall and 0-3 in the MAC.
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Woodley's effort came on the heels of an injury to starting RB Shadrach Abrokwah early in the game. It marked the second 100-yard rushing game of Woodley’s career. Exactly half of his final total came on the team's final offensive touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.
Frohnapfel, who has thrown 12 touchdowns in the last three games, hit nine different receivers during the game.Jalen Williams, Jean Sifrin and Matt Tuleja all had touchdown receptions. Alex Kenney, meanwhile, led all receivers with five catches for 76 yards.
Special teams played a big part in the win, as well, with Logan Laurent going two-for-two on field goal attempts and Kassan Messiah blocking a field goal attempt in the fourth quarter. Messiah finished the game with a team-best 10 tackles.
Quarterback Colin Reardon, who was doubtful coming into the game, was 22-of-41 for 191 yards and a touchdown for Kent State. He also added 53 yards rushing. Casey Pierce had six catches for 57 yards.
Kent State opened the scoring with a 41-yard Anthony Melchiori field goal just over three minutes into the game.
UMass responded with a five-yard touchdown pass to Tuleja which capped a seven-play, 86 yard drive with 3:32 left in the first quarter.
The Golden Flashes retook the lead just eight seconds into the second quarter when Anthony Meray ripped off a 43-yard run, making the score 10-7.
From there, UMass scored three times in the final 9:01 of the second quarter, taking a 24-10 lead into halftime. The first touchdown went to Williams from 17-yards out on a fourth down play. Three minutes later, Laurent converted a 31-yard field goal.
After Melchiori missed on a 47-yard try with 2:05 remaining until the break, UMass mounted an 11-play drive that culminated in a four-yard Frohnapfel pass to Sifrin for the score to close out the half.
Trailing 24-20 at the break, Kent State closed within seven as Reardon hit Josh Boyle from five yards out with seven minutes remaining in the third period. Laurent closed the quarter with his second field goal, extending the Minutemen's lead back to 10.
The fourth quarter was all UMass, with Woodley playing a prominent role. There was just 2:12 left when he ran in from 10 yards out to complete a seven-play, 80-yard drive during which he accounted for all the yards on the ground.
Jackson Porter closed out the game with an interception return for a touchdown on the ensuing Kent State possession, making it 40-17.
The Golden Flashes managed to drive the ball down to the UMass six yard line, but four incomplete passes gave the Minutemen the ball back with four seconds to go.
The Minutemen picked up 482 offensive yards while holding Kent State to just 341 for the game. UMass out rushed the Flashes 196-150, as well. The Minutemen also finished the game 6-of-6 in the Red Zone.
UMass will return to action next Saturday (3 p.m. ET) at Gillette Stadium when it hosts Eastern Michigan. Kent State hosts Army (3:30 p.m. ET).
(Courtesy of UMass Athletics/MRO staff edit)
Frohnapfel, who has thrown 12 touchdowns in the last three games, hit nine different receivers during the game.Jalen Williams, Jean Sifrin and Matt Tuleja all had touchdown receptions. Alex Kenney, meanwhile, led all receivers with five catches for 76 yards.
Special teams played a big part in the win, as well, with Logan Laurent going two-for-two on field goal attempts and Kassan Messiah blocking a field goal attempt in the fourth quarter. Messiah finished the game with a team-best 10 tackles.
Quarterback Colin Reardon, who was doubtful coming into the game, was 22-of-41 for 191 yards and a touchdown for Kent State. He also added 53 yards rushing. Casey Pierce had six catches for 57 yards.
Kent State opened the scoring with a 41-yard Anthony Melchiori field goal just over three minutes into the game.
UMass responded with a five-yard touchdown pass to Tuleja which capped a seven-play, 86 yard drive with 3:32 left in the first quarter.
The Golden Flashes retook the lead just eight seconds into the second quarter when Anthony Meray ripped off a 43-yard run, making the score 10-7.
From there, UMass scored three times in the final 9:01 of the second quarter, taking a 24-10 lead into halftime. The first touchdown went to Williams from 17-yards out on a fourth down play. Three minutes later, Laurent converted a 31-yard field goal.
After Melchiori missed on a 47-yard try with 2:05 remaining until the break, UMass mounted an 11-play drive that culminated in a four-yard Frohnapfel pass to Sifrin for the score to close out the half.
Trailing 24-20 at the break, Kent State closed within seven as Reardon hit Josh Boyle from five yards out with seven minutes remaining in the third period. Laurent closed the quarter with his second field goal, extending the Minutemen's lead back to 10.
The fourth quarter was all UMass, with Woodley playing a prominent role. There was just 2:12 left when he ran in from 10 yards out to complete a seven-play, 80-yard drive during which he accounted for all the yards on the ground.
Jackson Porter closed out the game with an interception return for a touchdown on the ensuing Kent State possession, making it 40-17.
The Golden Flashes managed to drive the ball down to the UMass six yard line, but four incomplete passes gave the Minutemen the ball back with four seconds to go.
The Minutemen picked up 482 offensive yards while holding Kent State to just 341 for the game. UMass out rushed the Flashes 196-150, as well. The Minutemen also finished the game 6-of-6 in the Red Zone.
UMass will return to action next Saturday (3 p.m. ET) at Gillette Stadium when it hosts Eastern Michigan. Kent State hosts Army (3:30 p.m. ET).
(Courtesy of UMass Athletics/MRO staff edit)
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