The UMass Minutemen hope to break Liberty’s three season series win streak this Saturday as they face the Flames for the fifth consecutive year. UMass and Liberty will play in Amherst, Massachusetts at 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 8 in McGuirk Alumni Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and LFSN Radio (The Journey 88.3 FM). The Flames are currently projected as a 26-point favorite against UMass this Saturday.
McGuirk Alumni Stadium can hold up to 17,000 spectators. UMass opened the stadium in September of 1965, but the stadium was given its name in 1984 to honor longtime athletic director Warren P. McGuirk.
UMass currently sports a 1-4 record. Their one win is against the Stony Brook Seawolves in UMass’ only home game so far this season. Last season, the Minutemen finished with a 1-11 record.
Saturday will be the fifth time Liberty and UMass have played. In 2021, UMass traveled to Lynchburg for a 17-62 beatdown. Liberty has outscored UMass 38-170 between the last three games.
This season is UMass head coach Don Brown’s second stint as UMass’ head coach. Brown began his coaching career in 1977 and served as UMass’ head coach in 2004-2008. Brown is known best for his defensive mind. Out of Brown’s sixteen coaching jobs, ten have been as a defensive coordinator. Brown most notably served as Michigan’s defensive coordinator for the 2016-2020 seasons.
UMass has struggled to effectively pass the ball this season. So far, the Minutemen only have 337 total passing yards to contrast their 911 rushing yards. UMass’ quarterback Gino Campiotti is credited with roughly a third of the Minutemen’s rushing yards.
Campiotti has rushed for 360 yards and 2 touchdowns and passed for 252 yards, 1 touchdown, and 5 interceptions this season. Campiotti and UMass’ starting running back Ellis Merriweather pose a valid dual threat to any opposing defense.
Three Players to Watch For
LB #49 – Jalen Mackie has delivered 18 solo tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 1 interception this season. Mackie is an aggressive senior and is likely UMass’ biggest threat to Liberty’s offense this Saturday.
RB #7 – Ellis Merriweather has had 56 carries for 219 yards so far this season. Last season, Merriweather rushed for over 1,000 yards and 5 touchdowns.
DB #12 – Josh Wallace has brought 18 solo tackles, 5 pass defenses, and 1 interception to UMass’ defense this season. Last season he had 32 solo tackles and 11 pass defenses.
Upcoming Games
Oct. 8 – UMass vs Liberty
Oct. 15 – UMass vs Buffalo
Oct. 29 – UMass vs Mexico State
