The Minutemen put up 200 yards rushing in the first half, the most in any half all season. The last time UMass rushed for 200+ yards in a game was against EMU on Oct. 18, 2014.
Freshman Marquis Young led all rushers with 168 yards on 32 carries, career efforts in both categories. He also scored UMass' first touchdown of the afternoon. Senior Jamal Wilson collected a career game-high 112 yards rushing and two scores on the ground. He carried the ball 16 times.
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Eastern Michigan scored first with a 51-yard field goal from Dylan Mulder at the 11:34 mark of the first quarter.
UMass answered back with a two-yard touchdown run from Young on the ensuing drive. Young carried five times on the drive that led to the true freshman's third career touchdown.
Sha-Ki Holiness collected his first sack of the season near the end of the first quarter to force an EMU punt. Holiness' stop led to a 39-yard touchdown catch from Sharpe, his fifth of the season and 16th of his career.
The Eagles went on to put seven points on the board with a 10-yard touchdown reception at the 6:45 mark of the second quarter.
With less than a minute to play in the first half, Jesse Monteiro recovered a fumble off the hands of EMU's Sam Browning. Jordin Hamilton forced the miscue to give the Minuteman offense another chance to strike and carry momentum into the locker room. Ross Comis took last snap of the first half and was sacked.
Wilson kept the run game going in the second half with a one-yard touchdown run at the 7:42 mark. He extended UMass' lead over the Eagles, 28-10.
The Minutemen will host Miami (OH) on Sat., Nov. 21 (1 p.m.) for Senior Day at McGuirk Stadium.
(Courtesy of UMass Athletics)