The Professor - The Coaching Career of James Xavier

[Captain Canada]

Week 3 Preview: at Buffalo


Record: 2-0, 0-0 MAC
Head Coach: Pete Lambo
Offensive Scheme: Multiple
Defensive Scheme: Base 4-3

Team Leaders
Passing: CJ Ogbonna (27-47, 583 yards, 7 touchdowns, 1 interception, 13 carries, 30 yards)
Rushing: Jacqez Barksdale (23 carries, 148 yards, touchdown)
Receiving: Nik McMillan (7 receptions, 172 yards, 2 touchdowns)
Blocking: 3 sacks allowed, 35.5 PPG
Defense: Shaun Dolac (14 tackles, 1 interception)

Buffalo Projected Starters
QB #7 CJ Ogbonna, Senior | 6’2”, 220 lbs | 74 overall
HB #4 Jaquez Barksdale, Senior | 6’0”, 230 lbs | 75 overall
WR #0 Victor Snow, Sophomore | 5’8”, 170 lbs | 78 overall
WR #3 Nik McMillan, R-Sophomore | 6’1”, 190 lbs | 77 overall
WR #11 Taji Johnson, Senior | 6’3”, 215 lbs | 75 overall
TE #81 Jake Orlando, R-Senior | 6’6”, 255 lbs | 75 overall
LT #61 Tyrone Davis, Freshman | 6’4”, 315 lbs | 76 overall
LG #78 Tyler Doty, R-Senior | 6’5”, 330 lbs | 82 overall
C #66 Dom Polizzi, R-Senior | 6’1”, 295 lbs | 70 overall
RG #79 Trevor Brock, Junior | 6’6”, 310 lbs | 72 overall
RT #77 Caelan Shepard, R-Senior | 6’6”, 325 lbs | 72 overall
---------------
EDGE #0 Kobe Stewart, Junior | 6’3”, 240 lbs | 81 overall
EDGE #53 C.J. Bazile, R-Senior | 6’3”, 240 lbs | 74 overall
NT #90 George Wolo, R- Senior | 6’0”, 280 lbs | 76 overall
DT #98 Daishon Folsom, R-Senior | 6’2”, 285 lbs | 71 overall
OLB #2 Red Murdock, R-Sophomore | 6’3”, 235 lbs | 79 overall
MLB #52 Shaun Dolac, R-Senior | 6’1”, 225 lbs | 92 overall
CB #28 Marquis Cooper, R-Junior | 5’11”, 185 lbs | 81 overall
CB #5 Charles McCartherens, Sophomore | 5’11”, 185 lbs | 78 overall
Nickel #8 Jalen McNair, Senior | 5’9”, 190 lbs | 75 overall
S #7 Solomon Brown, R-Senior | 5’11”, 190 lbs | 80 overall
S #10 Marcus Fuqua, R-Senior | 6’0”, 200 lbs | 79 overall
K #27 Upton Bellenfant, Sophomore | 6’2”, 180 lbs | 78 overall
P #95 Ethan Duane, Junior | 6’1”, 220 lbs | 65 overall
KR #13 Messiah Burch, R-Freshman | 5’10”, 180 lbs | 81 overall

---

Coach James Xavier's Offensive Gameplan

"We're rolling into town against a Buffalo squad that is certainly feeling themselves after their upset victory against a ranked Missouri squad last week, and they are still undefeated. They are playing confident football, and defensively, they are flying around the football. We can't get lulled into a false sense of security and create turnovers. We need to find our identity on offense and establish our run game. We want to keep our passing game simple and take what their defense gives us."

[djp73]

Should be a pretty even match up

[Captain Canada]

‣ CFB 2024 Regular Season, Week 3 - UB Stadium, Amherst, New York
(1-1, 0-0 INDC) UMass Minutemen at Buffalo Bulls (2-0, 0-0 MAC)

---

MASS | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21
BUFF | 0 | 13 | 18 | 14 | 45

---

UMass a disaster on offense, aids Buffalo in absolute thrashing

"If you wanted a textbook example of a team beating itself, you saw it on the field just now," commented UMass head Don Brown after his team was thrashed by the up-and-coming Buffalo Bulls, 45-21. "This team can't give the opposing team this many opportunities to kick us in the teeth, and this was the perfect example. We need to get it together."

UMass opened the scoring with quarterback Taisun Phommachanh connecting with wide receiver T.Y. Harding in the first quarter, and the defense was holding stout. It seemed as though this could be the perfect game for the offense to finally find their bearing against competition worthy of their best effort compared to last week's Toledo.

Then, the turnovers started.

All in all, Phommachanh would turn the ball over a total of four times. Two fumbles were lost when he would find his target just a second too late, and the ball would come out. Then, he would throw two costly interceptions - both ran back for touchdowns that decimated the Minutemen's chances of making this game competitive.

"It's a horrendous feeling losing like that," commented a visibly emotional Phommachanh. "I hate feeling like I let the guys down, and this is the clearest example of doing just that. They depend on me to come correct, and I try to do that every day. Today, the worst version of me showed up."

Offensive coordinator James Xavier was questioned on whether his offense installs were proving too difficult for his team to pick up. He was adamant that it wasn't the problem.

"The second you let that seed of doubt trickle in, I may as well hand Don [Brown] my resignation now," he said. "It's a complex system, but it is reliant on all of making the right decision simultaneously. We need to operate as one cohesive unit, and right now, we're not doing it. We've got a lot to clean up, and the hope is that this becomes an outlier. That this becomes our worst game".

Running back Jalen John added a touchdown in the second quarter, and Phommachanh scampered for his touchdown midway through the final quarter. When Coach Xavier was asked why Phommachanh wasn't replaced for another option under center, he was quick with his response.

"Ruining a young man's confidence isn't my favorite thing to do. He had an awful game; he's very aware of it. I wanted to allow him to grit his teeth and bear it."

UMass hopes to rally back next week when they play Central Connecticut State at home.

---

Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
T.Y. Harding, 3–yard pass from Taisun Phommachanh (Riley Moore kick) [6:59]

2nd Quarter
Upton Bellenfant, 47-yard field goal [8:55]
Jalen John, 1-yard run (Riley Moore kick) [4:39]
Jacqez Barksdale, 6-yard run (Upton Bellenfant kick) [2:14]
Upton Bellenfant, 38-yard field goal [0:00]

3rd Quarter
Upton Bellenfant, 17-yard field goal [5:36]
JJ Jenkins, 26-yard pass from CJ Ogbonna (Upton Bellenfant kick) [3:34]
Marcus Fuqua, returned interception 52-yards (2-point conversion) [3:09]

Quarter 4
Taisun Phommachanh, 19-yard run (Riley Moore kick) [5:57]
Jacqez Barksdale, 1-yard run (Upton Bellenfant kick) [1:40]
Shaun Dolac, 30-yard returned interception (Upton Bellenfant kick) [1:24]

---

Player Stats
QB Taisun Phommachanh: 17-32, 201 yards, TD, 2 INT, 1 rush TD, 2 fumbles (both lost)
QB CJ Ogbonna: 20-27, 278 yards, TD, 5 carries, 11 yards

HB Jalen John: 12 carries, 51 yards, TD
HB C.J. Hester: 6 carries, 26 yards, 2 receptions, 12 yards
HB Jacqez Barkdales: 22 carries, 91 yards, 2 TD, 1 reception, 7 yards

WR T.Y. Harding: 6 receptions, 36 yards, TD
WR Jakobie Keeney-James: 3 receptions, 105 yards
WR Victor Snow: 5 receptions, 78 yards
WR JJ Jenkins: 4 receptions, 78 yards, TD
WR Nik McMillan: 3 receptions, 55 yards

S Te’Rai Powell: 9 tackles
DT Tim Grant-Randall: 6 tackles, 2 sacks
OLB Gerrell Johnson: 7 tackles, 1 sack, 3 pass deflections
MLB Shaun Dolac: 14 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception, 1 touchdown
DT George Wolo: 4 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks
S Marcus Fuqua: 7 tackles, 1 interception, 1 touchdown

[Soapy]

Need more from the running game, Taisun not built like that (yet) to carry an offense

[Captain Canada]

Need more from the running game, Taisun not built like that (yet) to carry an offense

Once we got down, we had to start chunking off yardage. Clearly, the aerial attack wasn't there. This is Taisun's last year anyways, so this feels like an in-between year.

[Soapy]

Need more from the running game, Taisun not built like that (yet) to carry an offense

Once we got down, we had to start chunking off yardage. Clearly, the aerial attack wasn't there. This is Taisun's last year anyways, so this feels like an in-between year.

I still feel like once you get the hang of the offense, even with Taisun, it should settle into being an efficient enough offense to get yall to six wins, which would be the goal imo

[djp73]

Turnovers will kill ya

[Captain Canada]

Need more from the running game, Taisun not built like that (yet) to carry an offense

Once we got down, we had to start chunking off yardage. Clearly, the aerial attack wasn't there. This is Taisun's last year anyways, so this feels like an in-between year.

I still feel like once you get the hang of the offense, even with Taisun, it should settle into being an efficient enough offense to get yall to six wins, which would be the goal imo

The goal is definitely .500. The schedule is manageable enough.

Turnovers will kill ya

Ain’t that the truth

[Captain Canada]

Week 3 Top Stories
Stunned! Despite Florida State being the favorite, they couldn’t fend off Memphis on their own turf, falling 19-6
#2 Georgia topples #23 Kentucky in a convincing 45-14 win thanks to 4 sacks from Smael Mondon Jr.
Colorado remains perfect, powered by the immaculate Shedeur Sanders, who has yet to throw an interception
Oregon bottles up Boise State, Ashton Jeanty in a 52-21 victory, Jeanty managed 74 yards on 12 carries

---

Heisman Watchlist
WR Isaiah Bond » 2 receptions, 5 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 5 carries, 6 rushing yards, 1 touchdown
QB Haynes King » 20-29, 272 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, 14 carries, 88 rushing yards, 2 touchdowns
WR C.J. Daniels » 6 receptions, 76 receiving yards, 1 touchdown
HB C.J. Baxter » 19 carries, 156 rushing yards
QB Dillon Gabriel » 22-36, 304 passing yards, 4 touchdowns, 1 interception, 5 carries, 16 rushing yards

---

Biggest Fallers
#8 » #19 Florida State (L 19-6 vs Memphis)
#18 » #25 Washington (L 31-29 vs Washington State)
# 19 » NR Tennessee (L 27-20 vs Kent State)

---

Players of the Week
WR Shaleak Knotts (Maryland): 11 receptions, 242 receiving yards, 6 receiving touchdowns, 1 rushing touchdown
MLB Shaun Dolac (Buffalo): 14 tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception, 1 touchdown

[Captain Canada]

Week 3 Preview: vs Central Connecticut State


Record: 0-0, 0-0 FCS
Head Coach: Adam Lechtenberg
Offensive Scheme: Multiple
Defensive Scheme: Base 3-4

Team Leaders
NO TEAM LEADER STATISTICS AVAILABLE

Central Connecticut State Projected Starters
QB #7 Davon Wingate-Wilson, Senior | 5’11”, 190 lbs | 69 overall
HB #5 Blue Redmond, Sophomore | 5’9”, 188 lbs | 71 overall
FB #44 Ja’Don Kelly, Junior | 6’0”, 236 lbs | 68 overall
WR #9 Kaleb Sheffield, Junior | 6’0”, 192 lbs | 72 overall
WR #11 Donavyn Chandler, Sophomore | 6’3”, 190 lbs | 64 overall
TE #88 Kadarius Peterson, Senior | 6’4”, 244 lbs | 71 overall
LT #79 Montell Grant Jr., Senior | 6’4”, 298 lbs | 65 overall
LG #74 Marshall Allen, Senior | 6’2”, 291 lbs | 58 overall
C #78 Leonard Gill, Senior | 6’0”, 293 lbs | 67 overall
RG #66 Jaleel Jennings, Senior | 6’2”, 297 lbs | 61 overall
RT #59 Kyle Dorman, Sophomore | 6’5”, 300 lbs | 62 overall
---------------
DE #43 Brayshan Davis, Senior | 6’4”, 275 lbs | 65 overall
DE #58 Josiah Evans III, Junior | 6’4”, 250 lbs | 64 overall
DT #93 Demario Galloway, Junior | 6’3”, 305 lbs | 59 overall
OLB #4 Geno Oakley, Junior | 6’0”, 220 lbs | 70 overall
MLB #0 Alvin Spencer, Senior | 6’1”, 228 lbs | 76 overall
OLB #30 Shamar Guyton, Senior | 6’3”, 240 lbs | 69 overall
CB #21 Daylen Berry, Junior | 5’10”, 188 lbs | 75 overall
CB #2 Keon Longway, Sophomore | 5’11”, 183 lbs | 67 overall
CB #24 Marquez Lott, Senior | 6’2”, 195 lbs | 60 overall
S #23 Jayvon Perriman, Junior | 6’3”, 205 lbs | 68 overall
S #20 Quan Boozer, Junior | 6’1”, 200 lbs | 76 overall
K #89 Tommy Gaines, Junior | 6’0”, 191 lbs | 70 overall
P #95 Jameson Gibbs, Senior | 6’2”, 203 lbs | 59 overall
KR #31 Jayson Jeffery, Sophomore | 6’0”, 220 lbs | 79 overall

---

Coach James Xavier's Offensive Gameplan

"The goal is to not overlook competition. Stranger things have happened, and we're coming off an unfortunate performance. We're going to establish our game plan. Find a flow and stick to it. They may not be able to match us in terms of our talent, but they are going to bring a lot of effort and grit. Our goal is to shut them down from the get-go and find a rhythm."