By Ryan Barry

NEFJ Correspondent

The UMass Minutemen (1-3) capped off homecoming weekend with a 35-31 win over the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils (2-2) at McGuirk Alumni Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

For UMass coach Don Brown, today’s outcome was extra special, with the win being the 100th of his career as a head coach.

When asked after the game, despite an initial humorous brush off, he opened up about how it felt to achieve the milestone.

“It was pretty good,” said Brown. “I really wasn’t thinking about it until one of the kids after we finally secured it, when we were taking the kneel downs, finally reminded me of it, so it was a nice thing.”

The game, which took nearly three hours and 45 minutes to complete, was back and forth throughout.

It wasn’t until the fourth quarter when the Minutemen would finally put the game away thanks to a redshirt junior running back Brandon Campbell (nine carries, four yards, one touchdown) touchdown with 9:18 remaining.

The UMass offense was all over the place throughout the game and struggled to find their rhythm at times.

Redshirt senior quarterback Taisun Phommachanh (20 for 30, 287-yards, three touchdowns, one interception; eight carries, 43-yards) struggled in the first half, but Brown kept the faith in the veteran signal caller.

“I didn’t say anything to him at halftime, but in the third quarter on the field I told him to lead us,” Brown said. “There’s not enough superlatives to talk about this guy, he is a first class individual.”

On whether or not his performance, especially in the second half, will help the rest of the season, Brown was optimistic.

“I think tonight was kind of a springboard as to what he’s really capable of, so it’s a good thing.”

For Central Connecticut State, sophomore running back Elijah Howard (14 carries, 46 yards, one touchdown; four receptions, nine yards, one touchdown) was fairly limited throughout the game on the ground.

Brown talked about the approach the defense took to help slow down the run game.

“We’re really varied,” said Brown. “We weak side rush ya, we front side rush ya, and we can balance you up and play.”

One of the biggest storylines coming into the game was the return of former UMass quarterback Brady Olson, who had a decent game completing 12 passes on 16 attempts for 157 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

Brown was complimentary of his former quarterback after the game.

“I had a good moment with Brady after,” Brown said. “I told him I think he’s playing really well and doing a good job.”

The Minutemen won the toss and deferred to the second half, giving the Blue Devils the ball to start the game.

A quick three and out was unfortunately highlighted by a scary injury to Blue Devils wide receiver Eli Daniels who required heavy medical attention for a lower leg injury. Several minutes  passed before play resumed as the redshirt freshman was carted off the field and brought to a local hospital.

A poor Blue Devils punt set up the Minutemen just around midfield, giving them perfect position to drive down the field in ten plays and set up the game’s opening score.

Redshirt sophomore running back Jackson Paradis (14 carries, 54 yards, one touchdown) punched the ball in from the 1-yard line for his first ever UMass touchdown to give them their first lead of the game.

After each team exchanged a few stalled drives, the Minutemen took the ball to the Central Connecticut 32-yard line, only for graduate kicker Jacob Lurie to miss a 50-yard field goal attempt.

The Minutemen defense forced another three and out to help set up their second scoring drive of the day, with Phommachanh finding graduate wide receiver Jakoie Keeney-James (five receptions, 95 yards, one touchdown) for a 15-yard corner end zone fade to increase their lead to 14-0.

Needing an answer before the game got out of hand, Olson led the Blue Devils on a five play, 75-yard drive ending in a Ricky Ortega (two carries, four yards, one touchdown) keeper from the goal line to cut the lead to 14-7.

On the ensuing UMass drive, Central Connecticut’s Deon McLean (eight total tackles) completely changed the tune of the game with a huge interception in Minuteman territory.

The lofted Phommachanh ball into double coverage was returned to the UMass 2-yard line to help set up an easy touchdown run from Howard to tie the game at 14.

The Minutemen responded right away with an impressive 11 play, 84-yard drive that ended with a two-yard touchdown catch from redshirt sophomore Owen Anderson to get the lead back to 21-14.

With just 39 seconds to go in the first half, a poor squib kick attempt from the Minutemen was taken 53 yards by graduate returner Jadon Turner to the UMass 27-yard line.

Just a few plays later, Olson found Howard for a two-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 21 going into halftime.

With a perfectly executed surprise onside kick, Central Connecticut kept their first half momentum going to start the third quarter to give them the ball right around midfield.

Senior wide receiver Paul Marsh Jr. (two receptions, 31 yards, one touchdown) hurled in Olson’s second touchdown pass of the day after an eight play drive to give the Blue Devils their first lead of the day at 28-21.

With much of the crowd stunned, the Minutemen went three and out immediately following the touchdown, with momentum seemingly staying only on the Blue Devils sideline.

If it was for UMass redshirt junior Ryan Barnes interception of Olson on the next drive, things could’ve gotten really out of hand for the Minutemen.

After a few drives of traded punts, the Minutemen finally evened the score with a beautiful 57-yard strike from Phommachanh to redshirt sophomore receiver T.Y. Harding (two receptions, 72 yards, one touchdown) to tie the game at 28.

The Blue Devils got right back into UMass territory on the ensuing drive thanks to a perfect 56-yard pass from Olson to senior receiver Michael Paskon (three receptions, 65-yards), though nearly gave the ball away if not for a Howard fumble being blown dead.

Unable to score in the red zone, Central Connecticut junior kicker Jack Barnum nailed a 25-yard field goal to give the Blue Devils their lead back at 31-28.

After Campbell’s touchdown run to give the Minutemen the lead back at 35-31, their defense held strong in order to seal the game.

Despite the near loss to a team that the Minutemen were undefeated against coming into today, they did find a way to win the game, which can’t always be said for this program.

Still, fans will be upset after the result which many thought would’ve, and should’ve, been a comfortable blowout.

The Minutemen turn their attention to Miami (OH) for a road tilt next weekend, while the Blue Devils will have a bye week before a road trip to Yale at the start of October.