2023 UMass Minutemen football team

2023 UMass Minutemen football
2023 UMass Minutemen football
Conference	Independent
Record	3–9
Head coach	Don Brown (7th season);
Offensive coordinator	Steve Casula (2nd season)
Offensive scheme	Multiple pro
Defensive coordinator	Keith Dudzinski (9th season)
Base defense	4–3 or 4–2–5
Home stadium	Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium
	Seasons ← 2022 2024 →

The 2023 UMass Minutemen football team represented the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They played their home games at Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium in Hadley, Massachusetts and compete as an FBS independent. They were led by head coach Don Brown in his second season since he was rehired, his seventh overall as head coach.

2023 NCAA Division I FBS independents football records
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
No. 14 Notre Dame		–		10	–	3
Army		–		6	–	6
UConn		–		3	–	9
UMass		–		3	–	9

Rankings from AP Poll

Schedule

UMass announced their 2023 football schedule on February 2, 2023.^[1]^[2]

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 26	7:00 p.m.	at New Mexico State	Aggie Memorial Stadium Las Cruces, NM	ESPN	W 41–30	15,356
September 2	3:30 p.m.	at Auburn	Jordan–Hare Stadium Auburn, AL	ESPN	L 14–59	88,043
September 9	3:30 p.m.	Miami (OH)	Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium Hadley, MA	ESPN+	L 28–41	9,207
September 16	2:00 p.m.	at Eastern Michigan	Rynearson Stadium Ypsilanti, MI	ESPN+	L 17–19	16,138
September 23	3:30 p.m.	New Mexico	Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium Hadley, MA	ESPN+	L 31–34	8,298
September 30	3:30 p.m.	Arkansas State	Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium Hadley, MA	ESPN+	L 28–52	9,494
October 7	12:00 p.m.	Toledo	Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium Hadley, MA	ESPNU	L 24–41	9,623
October 14	3:30 p.m.	at No. 6 Penn State	Beaver Stadium University Park, PA	BTN	L 0–63	105,533
October 28	12:00 p.m.	at Army	Michie Stadium West Point, NY	CBSSN	W 21–14	29,625
November 4	3:30 p.m.	Merrimack	Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium Hadley, MA	ESPN+	W 31–21	14,672
November 18	1:00 p.m.	at Liberty	Williams Stadium Lynchburg, VA	ESPN+	L 25–49	16,860
November 25	12:00 p.m.	UConn	Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium Hadley, MA (rivalry)	ESPN+	L 18–31	12,291
Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll (and CFP Rankings, after November 1) - Released prior to game All times are in Eastern time

Game summaries

at New Mexico State

UMass Minutemen at New Mexico State Aggies – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Minutemen	7	3	3	28	41
Aggies	0	10	0	20	30

at Aggie Memorial Stadium • Las Cruces, New Mexico

Date: August 26
Game time: 7:00 p.m. EDT/5:00 p.m. MDT
Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 95 °F (35 °C) • Wind: NW 9 mph
Game attendance: 15,536
Referee: Rory Bernard
TV announcers (ESPN): John Schriffen, Rocky Boiman, and Dawn Davenport
Box score, Recap

Game information

First quarter

MASS – Anthony Simpson 10-yard run (Cameron Carson kick), 10:20. Minutemen 7–0. Drive: 3 plays, 35 yards, 1:08.

Second quarter

NMSU – Monte Watkins 80-yard run (Ethan Albertson kick), 8:34. Tied 7–7. Drive: 2 plays, 85 yards, 0:58.
MASS – Cameron Carson 33-yard field goal, 3:55. Minutemen 10–7. Drive: 9 plays, 61 yards, 4:39.
NMSU – Ethan Albertson 36-yard field goal, 0:03. Tied 10–10. Drive: 9 plays, 58 yards, 3:55.

Third quarter

MASS – Cameron Carson 29-yard field goal, 6:27. Minutemen 13–10. Drive: 11 plays, 55 yards, 6:16.

Fourth quarter

MASS – Taisun Phommachanh 11-yard run (Cameron Carson kick), 14:28. Minutemen 20–10. Drive: 3 plays, 80 yards, 0:47.
NMSU – Trent Hudson 42-yard pass from Diego Pavia (Ethan Albertson kick), 13:27. Minutemen 20–17. Drive: 3 plays, 79 yards, 1:01.
MASS – Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams 10-yard run (Cameron Carson kick), 7:47. Minutemen 27–17. Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 5:40.
MASS – Isaiah Rutherford 57-yard interception return (Cameron Carson kick), 6:40. Minutemen 34–17.
NMSU – Jordin Parker 40-yard pass from Diego Pavia (Ethan Albertson kick), 4:35. Minutemen 34–24. Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 2:05.
MASS – Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams 21-yard run (Cameron Carson kick), 1:43. Minutemen 41–24. Drive: 2 plays, 24 yards, 0:53.
NMSU – Trent Hudson 1-yard pass from Diego Pavia, 0:00. Minutemen 41–30. Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 1:43.

Statistics	MASS	NMSU
First downs	16	22
Total yards	389	468
Rushing yards	197	220
Passing yards	192	248
Turnovers	0	3
Time of possession	28:20	31:43

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UMass	Passing	Taisun Phommachanh	10/17, 192 yards
	Rushing	Taisun Phommachanh	16 rushes, 92 yards, TD
	Receiving	Christian Wells	1 reception, 68 yards
New Mexico State	Passing	Diego Pavia	16/27, 248 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
	Rushing	Monte Watkins	2 rushes, 95 yards, TD
	Receiving	Jonathan Brady	2 receptions, 48 yards

This was the Minutemen's first road win since week 9 of the 2018 season.^[3]

at Auburn

UMass Minutemen at Auburn Tigers – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Minutemen	7	0	0	7	14
Tigers	10	21	21	7	59

at Jordan–Hare Stadium • Auburn, Alabama

Date: September 2
Game time: 3:30 p.m. EDT/2:30 p.m. CDT
Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 83 °F (28 °C) • Wind: E 8 mph
Game attendance: 88,043
Referee: Lee Hedrick
TV announcers (ESPN): Beth Mowins, Kirk Morrison, and Stormy Buonantony
Box score, Recap

Game information

First quarter

AUB – Damari Atson 2-yard run (Alex McPherson kick), 11:28. Tigers 7–0. Drive: 11 plays, 62 yards, 3:26.
MASS – Taisun Phommachanh 1-yard run (Cameron Carson kick), 7:20. Tied 7–7. Drive: 8 plays, 89 yards, 4:02.
AUB – Alex McPherson 37-yard field goal, 2:11. Tigers 10–7. Drive: 13 plays, 51 yards, 5:02.

Second quarter

AUB – Robby Ashford 10-yard run (Alex McPherson kick), 14:55. Tigers 17–7. Drive: 2 plays, 16 yards, 0:33.
AUB – Robby Ashford 1-yard run (Alex McPherson kick), 10:11. Tigers 24–7. Drive: 9 plays, 60 yards, 3:15.
AUB – Robby Ashford 4-yard run (Alex McPherson kick), 4:42. Tigers 31–7. Drive: 5 plays, 35 yards, 2:32.

Third quarter

AUB – Jaylin Simpson 50-yard interception return (Alex McPherson kick), 14:43. Tigers 38–7.
AUB – Jay Fair 29-yard pass from Payton Thorne (Alex McPherson kick), 12:52. Tigers 45–7. Drive: 1 play, 29 yards, 0:10.
AUB – Jeremiah Cobb 42-yard run (Alex McPherson kick), 5:25. Tigers 52–7. Drive: 1 play, 42 yards, 0:11.

Fourth quarter

MASS – Anthony Simpson 58-yard pass from Carlos Davis (Cameron Carson kick), 8:50. Tigers 52–14. Drive: 1 play, 58 yards, 0:14.
AUB – Sean Jackson 45-yard run (Alex McPherson kick), 7:02. Tigers 59–14. Drive: 3 plays, 78 yards, 1:48.

Statistics	MASS	AUB
First downs	11	27
Total yards	301	492
Rushing yards	140	289
Passing yards	161	203
Turnovers	2	0
Time of possession	29:25	30:35

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UMass	Passing	Carlos Davis	6/8, 106 yards, TD
	Rushing	Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams	14 rushes, 101 yards
	Receiving	Anthony Simpson	4 receptions, 89 yards, TD
Auburn	Passing	Payton Thorne	10/17, 141 yards, TD
	Rushing	Sean Jackson	5 rushes, 64 yards, TD
	Receiving	Jay Fair	5 receptions, 56 yards, TD

Miami (OH)

Miami (OH) RedHawks at UMass Minutemen – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
RedHawks	21	7	3	10	41
Minutemen	0	7	14	7	28

at Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium • Hadley, Massachusetts

Date: September 9
Game time: 3:30 p.m. EDT
Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 87 °F (31 °C) • Wind: S 7 MPH
Game attendance: 9,207
Referee: Charles Lamertina
TV announcers (ESPN+): Jay Burnham, Andy Gresh, and Matt Goldstein
Box score, Recap

Game information

First quarter

M-OH – Gage Larvadain 26-yard pass from Brett Gabbert (Kellan McLaughlin kick), 13:14. RedHawks 7–0. Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 1:46.
M-OH – Gage Larvadain 99-yard pass from Brett Gabbert (Graham Nicholson kick), 1:40. RedHawks 14–0. Drive: 2 plays, 99 yards, 1:02.
M-OH – Kobe Hilton 0-yard fumble return (Graham Nicholson kick), 1:17. RedHawks 21–0.

Second quarter

MASS – Dashaun Jerkins 53-yard interception return (Cameron Carson kick), 11:10. RedHawks 21–7.
M-OH – Gage Larvadain 13-yard pass from Brett Gabbert (Graham Nicholson kick), 2:39. RedHawks 28–7. Drive: 6 plays, 52 yards, 2:51.

Third quarter

MASS – Greg Desrosiers Jr. 32-yard pass from Carlos Davis (Cameron Carson kick), 10:20. RedHawks 28–14. Drive: 5 plays, 62 yards, 2:17.
MASS – Mark Pope 50-yard pass from Carlos Davis (Cameron Carson kick), 2:51. RedHawks 28–21. Drive: 9 plays, 89 yards, 5:00.
M-OH – Graham Nicholson 33-yard field goal, 0:12. RedHawks 31–21. Drive: 7 plays, 44 yards, 2:32.

Fourth quarter

MASS – George Johnson III 5-yard pass from Carlos Davis (Cameron Carson kick), 11:16. RedHawks 31–28. Drive: 2 plays, 2 yards, 0:43.
M-OH – Cade McDonald 1-yard pass from Brett Gabbert (Graham Nicholson kick), 10:57. RedHawks 38–28. Drive: 1 play, 70 yards, 0:11.
M-OH – Graham Nicholson 44-yard field goal, 3:32. RedHawks 41–28. Drive: 7 plays, 25 yards, 3:31.

Statistics	M–OH	MASS
First downs	17	18
Total yards	446	306
Rushing yards	144	62
Passing yards	302	244
Turnovers	3	2
Time of possession	30:59	29:01

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Miami (OH)	Passing	Brett Gabbert	12/22, 302 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT
	Rushing	Rashad Amos	23 rushes, 115 yards
	Receiving	Gage Larvadain	8 receptions, 273 yards, 3 TD
UMass	Passing	Carlos Davis	22/32, 244 yards, 3 TD
	Rushing	Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams	16 rushes, 57 yards
	Receiving	Mark Pope	4 receptions, 70 yards, TD

at Eastern Michigan

New Mexico

Arkansas State

Toledo

at No. 6 Penn State

UMass Minutemen at No. 6 Penn State Nittany Lions – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Minutemen	0	0	0	0	0
No. 6 Nittany Lions	7	21	21	14	63

at Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania

Date: October 14
Game time: 3:30 p.m. EDT
Game weather: Rain • Temperature: 47 °F (8 °C) • Wind: NE 10 MPH
Game attendance: 105,533
Referee: Jeffrey Servinski
TV announcers (BTN): Mark Followill, Jake Butt, and Brooke Fletcher
Box score, Recap

Game information

First quarter

PSU – Daequan Hardy 56-yard punt return (Alex Felkins kick), 4:17. Nittany Lions 7–0.

Second quarter

PSU – Drew Allar 1-yard run (Alex Felkins kick), 12:35. Nittany Lions 14–0. Drive: 8 plays, 71 yards, 3:54.
PSU – Kaytron Allen 9-yard run (Alex Felkins kick), 6:20. Nittany Lions 21–0. Drive: 7 plays, 80 yards, 3:30.
PSU – Tyler Warren 7-yard pass from Drew Allar (Alex Felkins kick), 1:01. Nittany Lions 28–0. Drive: 7 plays, 35 yards, 2:37.

Third quarter

PSU – Theo Johnson 30-yard pass from Drew Allar (Alex Felkins kick), 11:29. Nittany Lions 35–0. Drive: 5 plays, 51 yards, 2:25.
PSU – Theo Johnson 18-yard pass from Drew Allar (Alex Felkins kick), 5:12. Nittany Lions 42–0. Drive: 8 plays, 54 yards, 2:53.
PSU – Daequan Hardy 68-yard punt return (Sander Sahaydak kick), 3:57. Nittany Lions 49–0.

Fourth quarter

PSU – Trey Potts 2-yard run (Sander Sahaydak kick), 13:37. Nittany Lions 56–0. Drive: 4 plays, 49 yards, 1:23.
PSU – Beau Pribula 31-yard run (Sander Sahaydak kick), 8:28. Nittany Lions 63–0. Drive: 5 plays, 80 yards, 2:17.

Statistics	MASS	PSU
First downs	9	28
Total yards	109	408
Rushing yards	64	246
Passing yards	45	162
Turnovers	1	2
Time of possession	32:58	27:02

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UMass	Passing	Taisun Phommachanh	6/14, 25 yards
	Rushing	Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams	14 rushes, 31 yards
	Receiving	George Johnson III	2 receptions, 24 yards
Penn State	Passing	Drew Allar	16/23, 162 yards, 3 TD
	Rushing	Nicholas Singleton	15 rushes, 79 yards
	Receiving	Theo Johnson	4 receptions, 66 yards, 2 TD

at Army

UMass Minutemen at Army Black Knights – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Minutemen	13	0	8	0	21
Black Knights	0	7	0	7	14

at Michie Stadium, West Point, NY

Date: October 28
Game time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 73 °F (23 °C) • Wind: NW 9 MPH
Game attendance: 29,625
Referee: Stuart Mullins
TV announcers (CBSSN): Dave Ryan, Adam Breneman, and Tina Cervasio
Box score, Recap

Game information

First quarter

MASS – Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams 34-yard run (kick failed), 11:32. Minutemen 6–0. Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 3:28.
MASS – Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams 9-yard run (Cameron Carson kick), 3:30. Minutemen 13–0. Drive: 9 plays, 68 yards, 5:14.

Second quarter

ARMY – Bryson Daily 2-yard run (Quinn Maretzki kick), 2:34. Minutemen 13–7. Drive: 16 plays, 76 yards, 8:37.

Third quarter

MASS – Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams 3-yard run (Taisun Phommachanh pass to George Johnson III), 7:33. Minutemen 21–7. Drive: 6 plays, 30 yards, 3:42.

Fourth quarter

ARMY – Champ Harris 36-yard run (Quinn Maretzki kick), 5:01. Minutemen 21–14. Drive: 5 plays, 83 yards, 1:30.

Statistics	MASS	ARMY
First downs	19	19
Total yards	352	362
Rushing yards	231	204
Passing yards	121	158
Turnovers	0	3
Time of possession	31:37	28:23

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UMass	Passing	Taisun Phommachanh	17/23, 121 yards
	Rushing	Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams	34 rushes, 234 yards, 3 TD
	Receiving	Anthony Simpson	7 receptions, 36 yards
Army	Passing	Champ Harris	6/8, 130 yards
	Rushing	Kanye Udoh	15 rushes, 76 yards
	Receiving	Tobi Olawole	2 receptions, 57 yards

Merrimack

at Liberty

UConn

UConn Huskies at UMass Minutemen – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Huskies	6	13	6	6	31
Minutemen	0	0	6	12	18

at Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium, Hadley, Massachusetts

Date: November 25
Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 36 °F (2 °C) • Wind: SW 2 MPH
Game attendance: 12,291
Referee: Jerry Magallanes
TV announcers (ESPN+): Jay Burnham, Andy Gresh, and Matt Goldstein
Box score, Recap

Game information

First quarter

CONN – Mumu Bin-Wahad 45-yard interception return (kick failed), 10:04. Huskies 6–0.

Second quarter

CONN – Joe McFadden 31-yard field goal, 13:42. Huskies 9–0. Drive: 6 plays, 15 yards, 1:27.
CONN – Joe McFadden 30-yard field goal, 8:46. Huskies 12–0. Drive: 7 plays, 33 yards, 2:29.
CONN – Victor Rosa 17-yard run (Joe McFadden kick), 6:02. Huskies 19–0. Drive: 3 plays, 27 yards, 1:14.

Third quarter

MASS – Gino Campiotti 10-yard pass from Taisun Phommachanh (pass failed), 11:58. Huskies 19–6. Drive: 6 plays, 37 yards, 2:50.
CONN – Cam Edwards 4-yard run (pass failed), 1:08. Huskies 25–6. Drive: 9 plays, 70 yards, 5:45.

Fourth quarter

MASS – Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams 1-yard run (pass failed), 11:52. Huskies 25–12. Drive: 6 plays, 73 yards, 1:33.
CONN – Cam Edwards 8-yard run (pass failed), 3:34. Huskies 31–12. Drive: 12 plays, 77 yards, 8:12.
MASS – Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams 1-yard run (pass failed), 2:03. Huskies 31–18. Drive: 4 plays, 78 yards, 1:25.

Statistics	CONN	MASS
First downs	24	18
Total yards	414	289
Rushing yards	240	59
Passing yards	174	230
Turnovers	1	3
Time of possession	37:36	22:24

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UConn	Passing	Ta'Quan Roberson	16/28, 174 yards
	Rushing	Cam Edwards	19 rushes, 102 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Cameron Ross	3 rec, 52 yards
UMass	Passing	Taisun Phommachanh	18/30, 230 yards, TD
	Rushing	Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams	18 rushes, 51 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Anthony Simpson	6 rec, 107 yards

Personnel

2023 UMass Minutemen football team roster

Players

Coaches

Offense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
WR	`0`	Jacquon Gibson	So
WR	`1`	Isaac Ross	Sr
QB	`2`	Brady Olson	Jr
QB	`3`	Taisun Phommachanh	Jr
WR	`4`	George Johnson III	Jr
QB	`5`	Carlos Davis	Sr
WR	`6`	Zamar Wise	So
WR	`7`	Mark Pope	Sr
WR	`8`	Anthony Simpson	Jr
WR	`9`	Christian Wells	Jr
WR	`10`	T.Y. Harding	So
TE	`11`	Eni Falayi	So
WR	`12`	Shawn Harris Jr.	Jr
TE	`13`	Gino Campiotti	Jr
RB	`14`	Donta Whack	Fr
RB	`15`	Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams	Jr
QB	`16`	Ahmad Haston	Fr

Defense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
LB	`0`	Jalen Harrell	So
DE	`1`	Marcus Bradley	So
S	`2`	Tyler Rudolph	Jr
CB	`3`	Steven Ortiz	So
DL	`4`	J. B. Brown	Sr
LB	`5`	Tyler Martin	Fr
S	`6`	Jeremiah McGill	Fr
CB	`7`	Jordan Mahoney	Jr
CB	`8`	Tristan Armstrong	Jr
LB	`9`	Myles Turner	So
DE	`10`	Zukudo Igwenagu	Jr
LB	`11`	Nahji Logan	Jr
DB	`12`	Isaiah Rutherford	Jr
DB	`13`	Osei Dixon	So
S	`14`	Dashaun Jerkins	Sr
LB	`15`	Derrieon Craig	So
DL	`16`	Jaylen Murphy	Fr

Special teams

Pos.	#	Name	Class
LS	`45`	Tate Kendall	Fr
LS	`47`	Ethan Dumont	Sr
P, K	`91`	Cameron Carson	Jr
K	`94`	Bennett Abbe	Fr
P, K	`95`	C. J. Kolodziey	Jr
P, K	`96`	Michael Cooper	Fr
P, K	`98`	Riley Moore	So

Head coach

Don Brown

Coordinators/assistant coaches

Alex Miller
Associate head coach/Offensive line
Steve Casula
Offensive coordinator/Quarterbacks
Keith Dudzinski
Defensive coordinator/Linebackers
Valdamar Brower
Defensive line
Mike McCray
Outside linebackers
Damian Mincey
Running backs
Matt Layman
Tight ends
Michael Livingston
Defensive backs
Matt Zanellato
Wide receivers

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Redshirt

Roster
Last update: April 5, 2024

References

^ "UMass unveils football schedule with five home games and ..." The Berkshire Eagle. February 3, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
^ "Massachusetts Announces 2023 Football Schedule". University of Massachusetts Amherst, Department of Athletics. February 2, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
^ "UMass wins season opener on road for first time since 1973". ESPN. August 26, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2023.

[1] "UMass unveils football schedule with five home games and ..." The Berkshire Eagle. February 3, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2023.

[2] "Massachusetts Announces 2023 Football Schedule". University of Massachusetts Amherst, Department of Athletics. February 2, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2023.

[3] "UMass wins season opener on road for first time since 1973". ESPN. August 26, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2023.

[1]

[2]

[3]