{"id":206698,"date":"2025-09-07T04:04:28","date_gmt":"2025-09-07T04:04:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/206698\/"},"modified":"2025-09-07T04:04:28","modified_gmt":"2025-09-07T04:04:28","slug":"rock-bottom-umass-football-faces-tough-road-ahead-after-shocking-27-26-loss-to-fcs-bryant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/206698\/","title":{"rendered":"Rock bottom: UMass football faces tough road ahead after shocking 27-26 loss to FCS Bryant"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n

AMHERST \u2014 Back to square one.<\/p>\n

Things looked promising for the UMass football team last winter when Joe Harasymiak was hired to lead the Minutemen into the Mid-American Conference (MAC). Having coached on staffs at multiple Big 10 programs with an eye for teaching the defensive side of the game, this was supposed to be the year that UMass football started building up its reputation.<\/p>\n

All that went out the window when the Minutemen lost to Bryant, an FCS program, on a field goal as time expired at McGuirk Alumni Stadium on Saturday.<\/p>\n

The Bulldogs walked off the field with a 27-26 victory, while the Minutemen exited the gridiron in disbelief of yet another agonizing result.<\/p>\n

\u201cBottom line, we didn\u2019t make enough plays in the second half to win the game,\u201d Harasymiak said postgame. \u201cCredit to them, give all the credit to them. They showed up and made plays, we didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

Unless the Minutemen can pull off a massive upset against either Iowa or Missouri \u2014 on the road \u2014 in the coming weeks, their loss to Bryant will wear like a scarlet letter the rest of the season.<\/p>\n

UMass hadn\u2019t lost to an FCS program since 2021 (Rhode Island, Maine) prior to the Bulldogs\u2019 shocking win.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so happy for these kids,\u201d Bryant head coach Chris Merritt said. \u201cNobody gave them a shot to win today\u2019s ballgame. They played their butts off and I had a feeling throughout the week that we had a good matchup in what we were doing. Playing for each other, that\u2019s what we did.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Minutemen scored the first touchdown of the contest on a Tyler Martin 23-yard pick-6 with 4 minutes, 4 seconds left in the first quarter and held a lead up until the final minute of the third quarter.<\/p>\n

\"\"UMass linebacker Tyler Martin (5) celebrates with teammates after scoring a pick-six during the NCAA football game against Bryant at McGuirk Alumni Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, in Amherst. Staff Photo\/Daniel Jacobi II<\/p>\n

Bryant wide receiver Zyheem Collick hauled in a floater from quarterback Brennan Myer, then raced down field for a 72-yard score. Following a successful extra point from Bryce Soli (remember that name), the Bulldogs entered the final frame with a 24-23 advantage.<\/p>\n

The fourth quarter resembled the final act of a Mission Impossible film with several edge-of-your-seat moments.<\/p>\n

First, QB Grant Jordan \u2014 who played under center for a majority of the game for UMass as starter Brandon Rose suffered an injury during the first quarter \u2014 heaved a hope pass to Donnie Gray following a premature snap, which turned into a 41-yard gain for the Minutemen.<\/p>\n

That led to an opportunity for UMass kicker Derek Morris to put the Minutemen back on top with a 53-yard field-goal attempt. Despite missing both an extra-point attempt and a 38-yarder earlier in the affair, Morris nailed the long-ball, setting a new-UMass record in the process while also putting his team back on top, 26-24, with 4:11 showing on the game clock.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was a kick all the way and credit to [Morris],\u201d Harasymiak said. \u201cHis line that way was probably 30-32, he kicked it from the 35. Let\u2019s take ownership too. We missed an extra point. How much did we lose by? One. Every play matters.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bryant\u2019s next possession ended with an interception from Minutemen safety D.D. Snyder with 2:31 left in the game, however UMass gave the ball right back after a three-and-out possession.<\/p>\n

With 1:45 remaining in regulation, the Bulldogs blitzed up-field 78 yards on 13 plays \u2013aided by a Minutemen holding penalty that gave the visitors a free first down \u2014 before Soli sailed the pigskin through the up-rights from 25 yards out, to cap off Saturday\u2019s shootout.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no other option but to man up, to nut up, stick together and see what we got,\u201d Harasymiak said. \u201cWe got two out-of-conference games left, then we got eight MAC games, let\u2019s see what we\u2019re made of.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"UMass head coach Joe Harasymiak, left, walks off the field after losing the NCAA football game against Bryant 27-26 at McGuirk Alumni Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, in Amherst. Staff Photo\/Daniel Jacobi II<\/p>\n

Myer\u2019s final stat line read 22-for-44 for 318 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions as Bryant\u2019s QB. Jordan \u2014 who was subbed out for A.J. Hairston briefly during the third quarter \u2014 totaled 205 yards and an interception while going 13-for-22, and also ran for a score.<\/p>\n

Collick produced a pair of touchdowns for Bryant on three catches for 94 receiving yards.<\/p>\n

\u201cProud of the way [we] fought, we just didn\u2019t make enough plays,\u201d Harasymiak said. \u201cI think we underestimated how hard it is to teach people to win and that\u2019s what we just witnessed. We had every reason to win that game, but so did they and they made the play. Got to stick together.\u201d<\/p>\n

UMass (0-2) will take on the Hawkeyes in Iowa City, Iowa next Saturday. Kickoff at Kinnick Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n