Live Blog: UMass-Albany FB (FINAL)
Jim Pignatiello handling live blog duties these evening, but have no fear, I'm elbow to elbow with Matt Vautour and will share any blog-worthy quips with you.
As promised, here are the top 3 bad-pun headlines of the game:
1. UMass Cruz's to Victor-y
2. UMass makes Albany not-so-Great Danes
3. UMass goes Cuko for Albany
FINAL: UMASS 44, ALBANY 7
STATS
Albany
Rushing
Gannon 14-61
McCarty 10-42
Smith 5-13
Bush 1-(-7)
Passing
Esposito 13-26, 3 INT, 124 yards, 3 Sacks
Receiving
Bush 5-56
Gannon 3-25
Kirchner 2-17
Lullen 2-10
UMass
Rushing
Hernandez 9-88
Nelson 21-77
Gonnet 5-21
Zardas 4-9
Passing
Havens 20-32, 1 INT, 284 yard, 2 TDs, 1 Sack
Receiving
Cruz 6-121, 2 TDs
Talley 5-86
Sanford 3-31
Silver 1-15
Tackles
Dickson (9, 2 unassisted)
Holmes (8, 1 unassisted)
Miles (7, 4 unassisted)
Monette (7, 3 unassisted)
*****
4Q-3:20
Cedric Gonnet has a 58-yard touchdown run called back by a holding penalty. No wonder the hole was so wide open for him.
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4Q-6:23
UMass 44, Albany 7
Cuko 40-yard field goal.
Three good notes:
UMass has outscores its two opponents this year 51-0 in the first, third and fourth quarters combined. Its been outscored 10-28 in the second quarter.
UMass has scored its most points since scoring 51 against Central Conn. State on 11/12/05.
Cuko ties a career-high with three FGs in one game.
4Q-9:02
Albany fumbles away the ensuing kickoff, which is recovered by Aaron Fears. That's five turnovers for the GDs, the most for them since Nov. 12, 2005
4Q-9:14
UMass 41, Albany 7
58 yard touchdown run for Hernadez, who explodes through the line and can't be caught from behind.
4Q-10:54
UMass 34, Albany 7
The rout is on.
Jonathan Hernandez scores his first career touchdown run from one yard out, capping a drive of 9 plays, 64 yards over 3:16
4Q-13:53
Talley catches his fifth pass of the game. He now has five catches for 88 yards. Both are career-highs.
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END OF FOURTH
UMass 27, Albany 7
Ihne has a sling on his left arm. Check out the Gazette later to get updates on all injuries.
Although I'm not sure what the media will get. We'v been informed that UMass is no longer doing in-game injury updates. Good times!
Albany
Rush
Gannon 11-63
McCarty 10-42
Pass
Esposito 9-18, 3 INTs
Rec.
Bush 4-49
UMass
Rush
Nelson 21-83
Zardas 4-12
Pass
Havens 16-28, 1 INT, 2 Tds
Rec.
Cruz 6-121
Talley 4-77
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Official Attendance: 13,215
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3Q-3:26
UMass 27, Albany 7
Havens hits Cruz on fourth and goal on a three yard quick slant from the slot.
Two big throws to Talley (including Havens' best throw of the day to the left sideline on 3rd and 22, give the Minutemen first and goal at the three yard line. Nelson was stuffed twice and Havens WAY overthrew a wide open Cruz in the end zone before UMass took a timeout before fourth down prior to the throw to Cruz.
3Q-7:06
Terrific interception by Jeromy Miles who juggles the ball and shrugs off a lot of contact to pull down the ball and give the offense the ball in Albany territory.
3Q-7:54
Nothing fun and relevant from Matt yet. Best line of the night so far is our discussion about the free ice cream at the US Women's Open a few years back. Email him to ask about that and our Cracker Barrell non-sighting. He's at mvautour@gazettenet.com.
3Q-8:55
Cuko has a 42-yard field goal attempt blocked.
UMass center John Ihne was injured during the drive. They are working on him on a table on the sidelines. Horne hasn't returned yet either. I'll keep you updated on both.
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CHEAP PLUG WHILE WE'RE HERE: Check out the Gazette Sports Podcast every Thursday, featuring plenty of UMass coverage from Matt Vautour every week. You can download it here.
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HALFTIME STATS
Albany
Gannon 6 carries, 45 yards; 2 rec. 3 yards
McCarty 10-42
Andrew Smith 3-9
Esposito 8-for-13 2 INT, 1 Lost fumble
Tim Bush 4 rec. 49 yards
UMass
Nelson 11 carries, 63 yards, 1 TD
Zardas 4-12
Hernandez 2-4
Havens 10-for-1, 1 INT, 1 TD
Cruz 5 rec., 118 yards, 1 TD
Talley 1 rec., 12 yards
Sanford 1 rec., 10 yards
Horne 1 rec., 9 yards
DEF: Holmes (7 tackles, 1 unassisted); Harrington (6, 1); Miles (5, 2), Davis (4, 1)
Other Key Numbers
First Downs: UMass 10, Albany 7
Third down converstions: UMass 4-for-10, Albany 4-for-8
Time of Possession: UMass 16:08; Albany 13:5
HALF
UMass 20, Albany 7
Herb Glass missed a 50-yard field goal attempt with 7 seconds left and UMass takes a knee to end the half. Horne is standing on the sidelines, but has not returned. Halftime stats coming soon.
2Q-0:37
Albany's Dave Casale gets the INT off Havens when Joe Sanford can't come up with the pass. Albany immediately completes a 23-yard pass and has a shot to cut into the lead with 0:31 left.
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2Q-1:51
Just got word that Albany RB David McCarty, who had 125 yards against the Minutemen last year, suffered a hip injury and his return to the game is questionable.
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2Q-2:05
UMass 20, Albany 7
The big throw to Cruz put UMass in position to give Cuko a shot from 37 yards out and he converted.
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2Q-3:19
Another big throw from Havens to Cruz down the left sideline. A gain of 24 yards gives UMass 1st and 10 on the 21 yard line. Cruz, 4 receptions, 114 yards. His fourth career 100-yard game.
*****
2Q-8:22
UMass 17, Albany 7
Havens rolls right and hits Cruz down the right sideline for a 67 yard touchdown. Nice catch by Cruz, who was at top speed and still adjusted to the ball, then exploded down the sideline. Big-time answer from the Minutemen, whose previous offensive drive was lackluster.
*****
2Q-9:06
UMass 10, Albany 7
Albany gets on the board on an Andrew Smith three-yard touchdown run. The GDs had great field position after a shanked Caleb Violette punt. The total drive was 8 plays, 32 yards in 3 minutes, 30 seconds.
*****
Early 2Q
We had a injury stoppage as I was inputting the 1Q stats. Horne was down for a while, but came off the field under his own power. I'll keep you updated if/when he returns.
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First quarter stats
Albany
Justin Gannon 3 carries, 37 yards
David McCarty 5 carries, 17 yards
Vinny Esposito 3-for-5, 1 INT, 1 yards
UMass
Tony Nelson 6 carries, 38 yards; 1 rec., 8 yardsChris Zardas 4 carries, 12 yards
Kyle Havens 4-for-7, 42 yards
Julian Talley 1 rec., 12 yards
Victor Cruz 1 rec., 12 yards
Joe Sanford 1 rec., 10 yards
DEF: Tyler Holmes (five tackles, one unassisted),
2Q-14:34
Esposito gives up the ball yet again, this time intercepted by Perry McIntyre over the middle on first down. UMass takes over at their own 16 yard line.
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End of 1Q
After the teams punted back and forth, the first quarter ends with Albany moving the ball on the back of Justin Gannon. When we get started, it'll be 3rd and two on the UMass 30 for the Great Danes.
First quarter stats coming soon
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1Q-7:47
Cuko's 39-yard field goal try came out low and hit the crossbar. Albany takes over at their own 22.
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1Q-9:04
UMass forces another turnover, this time on Albany's second play of the drive. Ke"mon Bailey tipped Esposito's pass over the middle and Tyler Holmes came up with the INT.
Albany was then flagged for pass interference on a deep try to Horne. Tony Nelson then broke free for a 1st down at the Albany 20.
NOTE: Holmes now has an interception in his last three games, going back to last year's season-finale.
*****
UMass 10-0
1Q-9:58
After Kyle Havens hit Julian Talley on a third-down slant for a first down, Tony Nelson scored from two yards out to give the Minutemen a 10-0 lead (after Cuko's extra point).
*****
1Q-11:50
Albany comes out with five WR on first play and Brandon Collier breaks through the interior line and drills QB Vinny Esposit, forcing a fumble. Collier eventually recovered the fumble and UMass starts the drive on the Albany 20 yard line.
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UMass 3-0
1Q-12:07 left
Armando Cuko's career-long 47-yard field goal with 12:07 left in the first capped a 8-play, 32-yard opening scoring drive for the MInutemen.
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Coin toss won by UMass and will receive the opening kickoff.
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We're here live at a dreary but festive McGuirk for the Minutemen's home-opener against Albany. Should be an interesting matchup with first-year coach Kevin Morris squaring off against one of his mentor's, Great Danes coach Bob Ford.
Some early news before kickoff as Eric Dickson is starting for D.J. Adeoba (knee) at weakside L, while Kumar Davis is starting for Shane Viverios (hip) at strong safety.
