UMass (2-9) welcomed UConn (7-4) to the McGuirk Alumni Stadium on Saturday for the regular season finale. The rivalry game had little implications for both teams’ seasons. However, the two teams were both hoping to round out 2024 on a brilliant note.
The Minutemen entered the matchup on a tough skid, having dropped three consecutive games. In their most recent outing against Georgia, the offense managed to put up 21 points, but the defense faltered, allowing a staggering 59 points, ultimately sealing their defeat.
The Huskies have had a pretty fantastic season this year compared to 2023, after bagging bowl qualification. They put up a competitive effort in their last game against Syracuse but ultimately came up short, unable to secure the win despite their determined performance.
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UConn vs. UMass Forest box score
UConn box score
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UMass box score
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UConn vs. UMass Summary
It was an exciting game on Saturday between UConn and UMass in Amherst. The rivalry game came to life right from the beginning, leading to a high-scoring encounter.
The first quarter of the game saw both teams score two touchdowns each, including a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown from UConn’s Mel Brown in the closing stages of the quarter.
AJ Hairston also threw two touchdowns in the first quarter to keep his team in the game despite being the underdog. He connected with Jacquon Gibson and Jakobie Keeney-James to stay competitive in the game.
The first quarter set the tempo for the second, as both teams continued to exchange leads. The Minutemen scored two touchdowns in the second quarter, while the Huskies recorded one touchdown and two field goals.
The game only recorded one scoring action in the third quarter as the tempo began to fall. The Huskies scored a passing touchdown with just 17 seconds left before the end of the quarter.
Both teams found the end zone twice in the fourth quarter, with the Minutemen capping the scoring in the final moments. Reserve quarterback Will Perry connected with T.Y. Harding on a 7-yard touchdown pass with just 36 seconds remaining.
The Huskies achieved a significant milestone this season, finishing above .500 for the first time in 14 years. The last time UConn accomplished this feat was in 2010 when they posted an 8-4 record while competing in the Big East Conference.
The Minutemen ended the season with a 2-10 record, extending their streak of consecutive losing seasons to 14. The last time UMass finished above .500 was in 2010 when they posted a 6-5 record.
Edited by Farouk Yusuf
