Answer to trivia question: The last time UMass opened its season with three straight wins was 2007. The Minutemen under Coach Brown beat Holy Cross 40-30, Colgate 35-17 and Towson 38-7---and then beat Maine 38-7 on the way to the FCS Quarterfinals. UMass was CAA Champions that year also.
Well UMass set an FBS record of two season opening wins before a crowd of almost 15,000. Ty Harding was the star of the show with 141 return yards and 2 TD's. Pop Watson went 9-10 152 a and 1 TD.
It was 37-0 in the third quarter and from then on, UMass emptied the bench. If I counted right, the Minutemen played 29 players on defense. Sacred Heart's only TD came against UMass' deep defense bench.
Aedan McCarthy came in as the #2 QB in the third quarter and looked like a true freshman, however he was working with mostly 2nd string offensive players.
It was a dominating win by the Minutemen. It's been a long time since UMass has played a game that was under control from the start.
Well, (and I can't really remember when I said this last) Sacred Heart is a team UMass should be able to handle.
The Minutemen are flat bigger than the Pioneers. Sacred Heart's starting LG is Ben Mercado 6-2 288, C is Christian Blackwell 6-1 269, RG is Justin Sokol 6-0 264.
On defense, they apparently play a 3-4. The Pioneer three down linemen are DE Janier Armstead 6-2 267, NT Jared Hirschfield 6-4 280, and DT Jaylin Johnson 6-4 265.
UMass should have a big advantage in size on both lines. If we can continue to run the ball, Pop Watson should be able to pass efficiently. The Minutemen have not opened with two wins in the FBS era. So another milestone is available today.
Former UMass star Peter McCarthy has passed away. McCarthy lettered in 1974,1975,1976 and was Captain in 1977. He was first-team All Yankee Conference in 1977.
