EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — It is a script that has played out too many times this season.
UMass will score on a big play only for a penalty to negate the touchdown. The flag will ruin the Minutemen’s momentum, the drive will stall and coach Mark Whipple and his players will lament the missed chance after the game.
It looked like the same trope would repeat itself against UConn Saturday, when Ross Comis’ 75-yard touchdown pass to Andy Isabella was wiped out by a holding penalty. Instead, Marquis Young picked up 15 yards on the new second down play and the Minutemen sustained a drive that ended with a 38-yard touchdown pass from Comis to Isabella.
“I was really proud of them because we had a big play to (Isabella) that was called back and our guys weren’t fazed,” Whipple said. “You see (Isabella) get the big play and you look up and see the yellow flag, and I’m going ‘Oh, no.’ The same thing happened the week before, but our guys just responded better.”
Saturday was also the first time this season UMass has rallied to win after trailing all game, but more importantly, the first time since moving to FBS that the Minutemen overcame a two-score deficit to win. The last time that happened was Oct. 30, 2010 when UMass flipped a 14-3 halftime deficit into a 21-14 win over James Madison.
Senior guard Jake Largay said there was a different vibe on the sideline against UConn and the plays that might have deflated the Minutemen earlier in the season didn’t make them waver.
“We were all just so invested into this game and trying to get the W for us as a team and for the fans,” Largay said. “After something negative like (the penalty) happened, I don’t think it really affected anybody even after they scored the first touchdown or the second touchdown, we still had energy on the sidelines. At no point in the game did anybody think we were going to lose, we all just kept pushing and kept on believing in each other.”
DEFENSIVE STAND: The UMass defense has looked far better in the Minutemen’s two games since the bye week.
The differences have been most apparent after turnovers when opponents find themselves with momentum and good field position. Against the Huskies, the Minutemen stood their ground on all three drives that came after what Whipple deems “sudden change” plays.
After UMass failed to convert on fourth down from near midfield, the defense responded by forcing a three-and-out. When Isabella let a punt slide through his hands and UConn pounced on it at the UMass 22, the Minutemen stopped David Pindell short on fourth-and-1. Comis’ interception was followed by UMass’ defense forcing a 41-yard field goal attempt from the Huskies.
Whipple said he has been drilling those situations more in practice, which has probably helped UMass’ defense in general.
“These past two weeks during practice, we’ve been flying around a little bit better, making the calls have been a little bit easier for us,” safety Brice McAllister said. “We’ve just been playing with that edge during the week and we’re carrying it into the games.”
IT MEANS MORE: The game against UConn meant a little bit extra to several Minutemen, in particular Largay and McAllister. Largay is a Connecticut native while McAllister transferred to UMass this past January after a four-year career at UConn.
McAllister said he has been talking with his former teammates this week and some of those who have already graduated from UConn put the pressure on the senior to step up.
“I’ve been talking to those guys all week about it and they’re blowing my phone up right now trying to talk to me,” McAllister said. “A lot of the alumni – guys I played with – told me ‘You better not lose to them (or) we’ll be on you for the rest of your life.’ It just feels great to get this win.”
FORD’S CAREER ENDS: Andrew Ford’s sensational career at UMass has officially come to an end, Whipple confirmed after Saturday’s win. The senior quarterback underwent surgery on his ACL this week, which will force him to miss the final three games of the season.
Ford finishes his career in the top three of several categories in the UMass record books. His 560 completions are third most in school history, one shy of Todd Bankhead’s second-place mark. He was 63 yards short of Bankhead for second-most passing yards, finishing in third with 6,955 yards. His 57 touchdown passes were second most and his 63 percent completion percentage was second best.