The UMass Minutemen will travel to Liberty Mountain to showdown against the Liberty Flames for the sixth consecutive season.
The Flames and Minutemen will face off in Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, VA on Nov. 18th at 1 PM. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and LFSN Radio (The Journey 88.3 FM).
UMass will be the third consecutive home game for the Flames. For the last two games, Williams Stadium has hosted a crowd of over 21,000 in each contest.
UMass is 3-7 overall this season. Despite a seven-game losing streak that began on week 2, the Minutemen have won their last two games against Army and Merrimack. The Minutemen are also coming off a bye-week last Saturday.
The Flames and Minutemen have played annually since the 2018 season. The Flames are on a four-game win streak in the series and 4-1 all-time against the Minutemen. Last season, the Flames beat the Minutemen 42-24.
The Minutemen finished last season with a 1-11 record. This season marks the first time since the 2018 season that UMass has won more than one game. Since leaving the Mid-American Conference in 2015 to become Independent, the Minutemen have gone 16-70 overall. The Minutemen are one of three programs in Division 1 FBS that have never competed in a bowl game.
Head coach Don Brown is in his second season with UMass, but this is not his first time leading the Minutemen. Brown served as UMass’ head coach from 2004 to 2008.
Since beginning his coaching career in 1977, ten out of Brown’s sixteen coaching jobs have been as a defensive coordinator. Brown most notably served as Michigan’s defensive coordinator for the 2016-2020 seasons.
The Minutemen’s starting quarterback, Taisun Phommachanh, is in his fifth season in college football. Phommachanh spent three seasons at Clemson before transferring to Georgia Tech last season. Phommachanh has passed for 1,038 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions this season.
The Minutemen have averaged 204.6 passing yards and 154.9 rush yards per game this season. The Bulldogs’ defense has also forced thirteen turnovers this season, giving the Minutemen a current turnover ratio of two.
Three Players to Watch For
RB #15 – Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams is a Junior from Warren, Ohio. Lynch-Adams has rushed 201 times for 1,014 yards and 9 touchdowns this season. Lynch-Adams has also made 16 receptions for 90 yards this season.
WR #8 – Anthony Simpson has hauled in 45 receptions this season for 637 yards and 3 touchdowns. Additionally, Simpson has rushed 11 times for 93 yards and 1 touchdown this season.
DT #42 – Billy Wooden has recorded 43 tackles, 24 solo tackles, 5.5 sacks, 1 pass defense, and 3 fumble recoveries this season.
Upcoming Games
Nov. 18 – UMass @ Liberty
Nov. 25 – UMass vs UConn
As noted in the article, UMASS had a bye week so they have had two weeks to get ready for Liberty (study film and install a game plan). They are also getting healthy now (bye week helped). They have been playing better football lately so they have confidence. They beat New Mexico State who is the second best team in Conference USA. UMASS plays a tough schedule (Auburn, Penn State, Army (who they beat ….) If the Flames come ready to play and keep their foot on the gas they should be ok. I hope coach C can keep our guys focused.
I’m with you, Scott. Hope we’re prepared.
As you say, they faced those power 5s, but also the two toughest MAC teams in Miami and Toledo. We know about Toledo.
They also had a week off before beating Army. We just lost Kendy for the season which is a massive hit to our DL.
These players have been resilient though, and this coaching staff has effectively game-planned each and every week. It’s been an incredible ride, I know I’m grateful for it.
#LetsKeepEatin
#FlamesByFifty!