Well, UMass played a spirited game against a very good Toledo team. Unlike last week's no-show against Arkansas State, the Minutemen were in the game all day.
UMass had 439 yards of offense and consistently moved the ball on perhaps the MAC's best front seven.
I don't usually bitch about the officiating, but UMass was on the wrong side of a couple of really cheezy calls. One was the no-call on the Toledo DB who had the UMass WR by the jersey in the third quarter with UMass on the Rockets 32 yard line. If the interference call on the UMass DB during the New Mexico overtime was correct, then the Toledo DB far exceeded the standard. The other was the "offensive lineman down field" that took away a Minuteman TD. The UMass lineman was engaged with his man and was no where near the play. The second half would have looked a lot different without those two calls.
Taisun Phommachanh played a good game and showed what might have been during this season on his one run of the day for a first down. His running ability would have elevated the UMass offense to a different level.
Down three starters,DB's Noah Boykin and Juan Lua had a good game against the Rockets. Dequan Finn ran all over us, but he's done that against every team he's faced..
A loss never feels good, but UMass has the chance to play some football during the rest of the season.
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UMass write-up here.
Toledo write-up here.
The Hampshire Gazette reports Toledo ran past the Minutemen in the second half.
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New Mexico State plays Wednesday against Sam Houston State.
Auburn had a bye.
Miami of Ohio rang up it's fifth straight win. The Redhawks are in the MAC championship race.
Eastern Michigan beat Ball state.
New Mexico had a bye.
Arkansas State was smothered by Troy and lost 37-3. Only 203 total yards of offense for the Red Wolves.
Penn State had a bye.
Army lost a close game to BC after a last minute Eagle TD.
Merrimack beat Stonehill 45-34.
Liberty beat Sam Houston State Thursday night.
UConn broke through with a road win over Rice.
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